How to choose your Makeup Artist for your Wedding Day.

In my 13 Years as a Professional Makeup Artist I don’t think I’ve ever met a bride who did not want her wedding day to be absolutely perfect to the last confetti throwing detail. They all want to look breathtakingly beautiful with gorgeous hair, beautiful skin and their dream dress. They spend thousands of Rand’s on the perfect photographer and dress but yet when booking a makeup artist and hairstylist they do not want to pay a “arm and a leg”.

Brides seem to forget that these two aspects of your wedding day look is always featured on your photos throughout your whole wedding day, start to finish.

Here are some of my tips to selecting the perfect Makeup Artist and Hair stylist for your wedding day.

1. Book in Advance

Don’t assume that all Makeup Artists and Hair Stylist will be able to assist you at a drop of a hat, for most of us who do this for a living we are booked up to 18 months in advance especially on all those very popular wedding months.

2. Start early

You cant expect that you will have amazingly perfect, flawless makeup on your wedding day, but your skin has never seen or got in contact with a skin care product ever. Find a good skin care product and stick to it. Drink a lot of water as that is the magic ingredient for good, hydrated skin. Now is also a good time to start waxing or threading that uni brow, eye brows and mustage, no amount of product will cover that.

About eight months prior to your wedding, start taking note of makeup artists and their works. Look at work before you start asking for prices. Do not pick your Makeup artist because they are cheap, book them because you love their work. If you’ve recently attended a wedding and you liked the makeup style on the bride, ask for the name of the makeup artist and do some research on their portfolio to assess whether you like what they do.

3. Do your research

Don’t choose your makeup artist and hair stylist because they are cheep, choose them because they are going to make you look like the absolute best version of yourself.

To every makeup artist that I know who takes their craft very seriously positive feedback from previous brides are extremely important, make sure to have a look at the Facebook reviews or Hello Peter to see if there are any red lights. Choose someone that takes your wedding day just as seriously as their craft. I have heard so many horror stories of brides going for the cheaper artists (Must say that not all hobbyist makeup artists do this) just to be let down last minute, because they were invited away for the weekend… When paying someone R250.00 for a mornings work, don’t expect to much commitment as this is not their livelihood.

4. Go for Makeup Previews

So you have found a couple of makeup artists and your not sure which one to choose, have a chat to each of them ask your questions like which products they use, do you get a touch up kit for the wedding day, do they travel to the venue on the wedding day etc. etc. in that way you can eliminate all the ones that don’t seem to be a good fit.

Make very sure that the person doing your Bridal makeup and Hair preview is the person that will be working on you, on the day of the wedding.

Now if you still have one or two to choose from go for a Makeup preview (Makeup Trial) not only to see if you are happy with the Makeup artist style of work and the products that they use but most importantly you and your artist need to feel comfortable with each other, he or she is going to be one of the last people with you just before you walk down the isle. You want someone that will have a calming effect on you and not someone that’s driving you up the wall. Make sure that even on the day of the Makeup preview you are very clear with your expectations and don’t be shy to voice your opinion good or bad. All we want is a happy client, and would much rather like the option of rectifying something that you are not happy about rather than loosing a client.

Take note though, that trials usually come at a fee, but finding your perfect Makeup Artist will be worth it.

5. Don’t forget about your hair

Your wedding look is incomplete without styled hair, and here’s a valuable tip, it helps when your makeup artist and hairstylist can work well together. Schedule a preview session when both stylist and artist can work concurrently on you, so that you can preempt possible clashes in opinions or flare-ups. Remember that weddings can sometimes be high-pressure work environments, and when big families or wedding entourages come into play, it really helps to know you’ve got people who’ve got your back no matter what.

On the other hand, if your makeup artist is doubling up as your hairstylist, it will be a good idea to check out his or her hair portfolio too, to make sure you like the hair styling as much as you like the makeup style.

Make sure that you meet everyone that will be a key stylist on the day of your wedding, your wedding day is not the time for surprises.

6. Bridal Retinue

Make sure to let your Makeup Artist and Hairstylist know how many people will be requiring this service on the wedding day so that a schedule can be worked out to ensure that all goes very smoothly.

7. Budget for this service

You have budgeted and saved for everyting else, dont forget about this very important aspect of your wedding day along with your photographer and dress this service is very important.

Always work out a budget before meeting your makeup artist and hair stylist. A good starting point would be to aim for quality and not cost.

Ask your makeup artist to help you understand what products they will be using, and what essentially you will be paying for some makeup artist apply makeup traditionally and others use Airbrush there might be a price difference.

Some brides go as far as to engage standby makeup artists in the unlikely event that their key makeup artist cannot turn up on the actual day. While costly, this will give the bride peace of mind and the confidence to know that she has a contingency plan in place.

When this is the case ask to see the Stand by makeup artists portfolio so that you can make 100% sure that you like their work.

With all this said, I do hope that you find the perfect artist for yourself and your budget 😉

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me Madeleine@makeupbymb.co.za / http://www.makeupbymb.co.za

Decisions, Decisions Airbrush or Traditional Makeup

So you have decided to get married, now comes the scary part BUDGET… lets face it, it is no joke to organize a wedding on a tight budget. But here you are caught between a rock and a hard place.

You want to look amazing and you want to get the most out of your hair and makeup. So whats the best options out there between Traditional Makeup Application and Airbrush Makeup Application.

Not too long ago I had a bride in my studio that wanted to have airbrush makeup done, when I asked her why she responded with “Because it sounds cool” and this made me think how much do our clients actually know about this medium of Makeup Application.

Once again this is my thoughts on it and I’m sure there will be plenty of Pro’s agreeing or Not agreeing.

Makeup is personal, very personal. I do get asked quite a lot about what my thoughts are on Traditional Makeup vs. Airbrush makeup. So I have decided to give you an artists perspective and feedback who specializes in both techniques.

So first things first, what I would like to state is this. If your artist is skilled and has done training in different techniques of makeup applications over their career span and understands and know their products and its abilities as well as have a good knowledge of skin types and how it reacts to different makeup. One application is in no way Superior or Better than the other technique.

While the following is an excellent explanation of each system of makeup and its results, bear in mind that all makeup is only as good or bad as the artist applying it. Application and skill will always be the more significant factor regarding any makeup service.

As neutral as this article attempts to be, other makeup artists may agree or disagree with it depending on their own personal experience. The actual makeup product does not make or break the look, regardless of what makeup medium is used. It is the artist and their method alone that truly create long-lasting, flawless and impeccable beauty, and therefore should be considered with more care than the product used.

I’ve always believed that a great Artist will be able to create Magic with any product Low end or High end products. I personally feel that Makeup Snobbery (if there is such a word is definitely a thing, and off course the judgement that goes with it.) But thats a subject for another Blog.

Makeup has evolved so much and every day it still keeps changing. Today, we have such a wide range of products at our disposal, the options are limitless. When it comes to events, be it photo shoot, wedding, etc the claims makeup lines can make to prove their product worthy of your hard earned Rand’s can be somewhat contradicting.

What is Airbrush

A small amount of a very thin makeup designed for airbrush use is put into a chamber of a gun. When the machine is turned on and the gun trigger pulled, a light spray of makeup comes out of the gun in a fine mist. The pressure of the machine the “PSI” determent how hard or soft the air blows out of the airbrush gun. Certain areas of the face will need a softer(lower) pressure than other parts of the face.

Water based airbrush liquid is great for oily skins as it has a matte appearance but can tend to be dry and sometimes “crack” or not be durable if applied incorrectly.

Silicone based airbrush liquid is great for dry skin and has a real skin appearance, is long lasting, moves and flexes with your skin. Great for humid weather conditions and very well suited for a more mature skin. This product does take a couple of seconds to dry.

Alcohol based airbrush liquid is generally used to cover tattoos or birthmarks, special effects or body painting.

Your foundation finish with Airbrush makeup can be thin or heavy depending on the application. There is makeup made specifically to be put through the airbrush gun. There is also ways of using your favorite foundation and mix is with an airbrush makeup thinner to make it possible to use it with the airbrush gun, I do not suggest this as it changes the pigmentation, consistency and the integrity of the product and then you might not get the desired final product.

Airbrush makeup has become extremely popular in the past few years in South Africa even though its been around for many years. Some brides tend to confuse Airbrush makeup with the airbrush effect in Photoshop.

Airbrush makeup is non-transferable, meaning that slight rubbing or brushing against something or someone will not cause the makeup to come off of the face. This also is a desirable feature especially when you have a special event and don’t want to worry about your makeup wearing off. But as much as this is a Pro its also a Con for Airbrushing. Should you shed a tear please know this airbrush foundation does streak and can not be fixed with a touch up, even airbrushing over the area will not blend the streak. Once the airbrush is applied, there is no moving it, so please make sure to speak to your makeup artist regarding this. I’ve found that this is more common with the water based airbrush liquid than with the silicone based.

Just like regular makeup, we recommend you blot when you feel this happening, do not wipe.

So just to recap here are the Pro’s and Con’s on Airbrush Makeup

Pro’s – Long Lasting, Camera Ready, Buildable Coverage, Fairly Quick to apply.

Con’s – Not for all Skin types, Some streak when wet, More Expensive, Loose facial dimension when applied incorrectly, Cleaning between changing colors is a bit time consuming, Power outages (hopefully your artist has one that works with a battery as well as with electricity)

Everyone’s skin is different. Their makeup application should be chosen accordingly.

Traditional makeup gives you a lot more freedom to make changes than airbrush. With the right artist, we can give you that airbrush look, without the airbrush. It will last. Regular makeup can last just as long as airbrush if applied correctly. It all depends on your artist and application.

Traditional Makeup

Traditional makeup comes in the widest variety of any other makeup, with every shade available. It’s also the most versatile of all the makeup and can be easily manipulated to change the effect that you want.

This particular makeup is the only makeup that can be applied many different ways, from brush methods used with thicker foundations, to finger tips used for light and well blended applications.

It can be liquid, cream, pressed or even mousse and it may even come in a stick form that you have to twist up. There is a product for each skin type and problem that should arise and so many ways to manipulate to achieve your desired effect.

Nothing but good research and trial error can lead you to the formula that’s right for you. Now a days the younger generations are huge makeup lovers and to eagerly follow Influencers on Instagram, You Tube and Facebook and don’t do much research regarding the products they so love. A huge problem in South Africa is all the fakes being sold and the younger girls and ill informed clients are none the wiser.

This is the one makeup that it totally dependent on the person applying it– even a good, high quality product can look awful if applied in a sloppy fashion. And a low quality, inappropriate formula can sometimes be adjusted with an experienced hand to create the right look.

And although, like its main competitor airbrush, it does rub off slightly or fade a little over the course of the day, it is highly bendable therefore anything can be fixed within seconds. It’s my personal belief, off the record, that this is the most versatile, therefore the best option, for wedding makeup.

However, if you take nothing else from this, understand, the best kind of makeup you can wear is the makeup that is customized to fit YOU.

In reality, that foundation may be great for their skin, but your skin has different properties, different assets, and different problems of its own. A great makeup artist won’t have a set way of doing makeup; she’ll have a variety of styles & methods to choose from so she can create the best look for you and your event.

So What Type Should I Choose? I go back to what I have stated a few times the makeup is only as good as the artist. Not only that, your skin has a huge impact of how your makeup will look. If you are getting married or have a big event coming up, take care of your skin. There is a glow and smoothness that only healthy skin can achieve. No makeup can give that glow. Drink lots of water, eat healthy before and you will see a difference in your skin.

Before you see Your Artist, Always have pictures to show your artist on the makeup you like. Build a Pinterest page on different makeup you like. How you describe what you want may not be how your artist perceives what you want. Pictures are key. Tell your artist about your normal makeup regimen. Do you usually wear makeup? For people that never wear makeup, anything can be a lot. Do you have oily to dry skin? What are your concerns? What is it that you absolutely don’t like, and what do you love? Communication is key.

And for the love of Makeup, after the application is completed and your artist asks you your feedback, please speak up, your makeup artist can not read your mind, if she is a professional she will not take it personally and go and sit in the corner of her room crying. She would much rather want to fix it immediately so that you both can be happy.

With all that said, have fun choosing your Makeup Artist, and your most suited application method and remember that research and communication is key.

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First blog post

How do I stay Motivated

This is probably one of the most frequent problems I see new artists have as well as one of the most frequently asked questions I get…How do you stay motivated?

Good question, honestly its not always easy its a daily choice you have to make. Especially with the industry being so competitive and the Economy being what it is.

The reality is being a Makeup Artist, is not just applying makeup. When you decide to become a makeup artist you need to understand that you will have to take on the responsibility of being your own Boss, Marketing Manager, PR Manager, Social Media Manager, Financial Manager and Personal Assistant and above all be able to deal with people from all walks of life. You need to know how to communicate on all levels of Professionalism. And this can be very overwhelming and one of the biggest reasons why a lot of new artists give up. Yes Makeup Artistry is very hard work.

This is where a lot of Young artists get it wrong, your clients do not just magically appear the day your receive your qualification. You have to work to get your clients by doing Marketing for your brand every day. When you have the client you have to keep them and make sure that the service you delivered will bring in more business for you by Word of Mouth, which in today’s terms mean Social Media recommendations.

This industry is truly an example of what you put in, is what you get out. If you sit around every day not practicing your craft, not looking for projects to join (and yes I am talking about all those TFCD requests, which by the way is a great way of networking, and building your portfolio) and just watching your favorite Instagram Influencer and dreaming of one day getting that awesome job, let me tell you now its not going to happen.

Set up a weekly/monthly marketing schedule. There are so many great marketing schedules freely available on the Internet that you can draw guidance from. Set a side some time every day to focus on your brand. Read, Read and Read its equily important as Blend, Blend and Blend. Im not talking about reading your favorite Mills & Boons book read other peoples success stories to keep you motivated so that you can see that they to had to struggle to get to where they are today.

I too have my off days, the important thing to remember is not to make every day a off day. Tomorrow you wake up to a new day, with great new opportunities. Try to remember that things like Social Media platforms just show you all the good stuff, all the highlights. It does not show you all the the quote rejections you receive from your clients or the photos received back from clients and you know in your heart that you could have done a better job.

Stop comparing your chapter 1 to another artists Chapter 13, we all have our own path to walk and lessons to be learnt. I showed my first portfolio to my students the other day and the relieve I saw on their faces was priceless. They then understood that this industry takes time, it takes time to perfect your skill (not that I think that its possible) you can only get better with each application, not perfect. It takes time and commitment to get your name out there, I personally only started seeing a steady amount of wedding bookings and photo shoot bookings come in after 3 years of being in the industry. You have to give yourself time.

With all of this being said, Im sure there will be a lot of people that do not agree with me, but that is ok 😉 I know what worked for me and I continuously try to learn how I can keep myself motivated when there are bills to be paid and its a very slow month…

I will keep on doing research, and learning how I can improve my services to my clients not everything that I do will show instant income but I will see it as planting a sead and watching my brand grow.

I hope you too, will have found some new motivation not to give up by reading this. We need passionate people like yourself to stay in the industry to keep it the Wonderful World of Beauty.