It’s your big day. You want everything to be perfect—and that includes your hair and makeup.
The idea of fighting with eyeliner or a curling iron on your wedding day brings fear to the heart of most brides. That’s why so many opt to hire a wedding hairstylist and professional makeup artist where the budget allows.
Chances are, it’s your first time hiring someone to do your wedding hair and makeup, so you might be a little lost on where to start. We got you, girl. Here’s how to hire a pro.
Wedding Hair Inspo
Do you want a wedding hair updo or braided wedding hair? Do you want both?
There are so many beautiful styles to choose from, so this is where you need to begin. You can find inspiration in wedding magazines, on Instagram, Pinterest, and more.
You can also find inspiration from red carpet styles and fashion shows. This is your chance to have your dream hairdo, so make the most of it.
You’ll also want to consider how your wedding hair will fit in with your overall wedding theme. If you’re going for backyard chic but want a Lady Gaga-worthy hairstyle, it might look a little odd, to say the least!
If you can’t pick just one style, collect some reference photos of similar styles. You can show these to your wedding hairstylist once you’ve chosen one. A good hairstylist will be able to take these reference photos and create a look you’ll absolutely love.
Makeup Inspo
Just like above, you’ll want to find some inspiration for your makeup too. We think it’s easier to start with your wedding hair inspiration and then find makeup to match, but you could do this the other way around.
You want the two looks to blend well. Like above, if you’ve got beautiful Daenerys braids with a modern, bold makeup look, it’ll look a little strange.
If you’re more bothered about your makeup than you are about your hair, then you may want to look at editorial makeup artists. These professionals can create bolder looks, more akin to something you’d find on the runway.
Find a Professional
As with all things wedding planning, the key to hiring the best wedding hair and makeup professionals is to get in there early.
The best artists will be booked up months or even years in advance. If you know your big day falls in the peak wedding season from June to September, then organizing your hair and makeup early will ensure you get a great experience.
How do you find them? The same way you find anything.
You can start with word-of-mouth recommendations. If you loved your friend’s hair on her wedding day, ask who did it!
There are also a huge amount of online wedding vendors you can trawl through to find local wedding hairstylists and makeup artists. Many of these platforms have reviews, so you can weed out the ones to avoid with ease.
Of course, there’s always Google. If you search ‘wedding hair stylist’ or ‘wedding makeup artist’ near me, you’ll be swamped with results in seconds. You can also check the reviews for these stylists as you search.
It’s worth knowing you should take online reviews with a pinch of salt. They’re easily manipulated, so word of mouth is still your safest bet.
If you do decide to go for a professional you find online, cross-reference their reviews on different platforms. This includes Google reviews, social media reviews, and any other third-party review sites you can find. It’s better to be safe than sorry on your big day!
For any professional you’re considering hiring, you should look through their portfolio. This is to make sure they can create the precise look you want. While some professionals might be amazing at romantic wedding hairstyles, they might be unable to create more modern looks.
Compare Prices and Check Availability
Once you’ve narrowed your search down, it’s time to check if they’re available.
If you’ve contacted a few and they’re all available, compare pricing. You shouldn’t let the cheapest quote lure you in. Often a cheap quote reflects a lower quality.
This isn’t to say a lower quote is always a bad thing. If you’re on a tight budget, you can use this to help guide your decision. You can often save money by hiring the same professional to do both your hair and your makeup.
If you’re having your vendor do the hair and makeup of other members of your wedding party, prices may vary a little more. If this is the case for you, it’s well worth getting some comparison quotes to ensure you’re getting a great service for a great price.
You should also send your potential vendor your reference photos. They’ll be able to give you a better idea of whether they can pull off the look you’re going for.
Schedule a Trial
You must have heard the horror stories of brides let down by their hair and makeup artist on the big day. The reality is, all of this could be avoided with a trial.
Schedule this as soon as you book a vendor. We also recommend scheduling it a good while before your big day. If you don’t like the work of the vendor, this gives you a bit more leeway to find a new one.
Your trial gives you the chance to get to know your vendor a little better, as well as see their work. A good professional will be able to advise you on hairstyles and makeup that will compliment your unique face. So don’t box yourself into one specific idea and ignore their advice.
It’s a good time to test the wear of your hair and makeup. It needs to last all day on your wedding day. So schedule your trial early in the day to ensure your look lasts.
Enjoy Your Big Day!
Your big day is your chance to be your best beautiful self, and your wedding hair and makeup is an important part of that. Hiring the right professional for the right price is key. Shop around, get recommendations, and always have a trial for the best results!
We have lots more hair and beauty advice on our blog, so make sure to have a look. Best wishes for your big day!
