12 Questions to Ask A Makeup Artist or Hair Stylist
With your Big Day drawing near, you're probably beginning the search for a wedding makeup artist or hair stylist. Finding the right artist or stylist is about more than just finding someone who is good at what they do–it's about finding someone who is right for you, who listens to you and gives you the look you want on your Big Day.
To help you through this process, I've compiled this list of questions for you to ask every wedding makeup artist and hair stylist you interview.
1. “WHAT BRAND OF MAKEUP DO YOU USE? IS IT HYPOALLERGENIC?”
If anyone in your bridal party has allergies, it’s important to know if your makeup artist’s products are hypoallergenic. The last thing any bride or bridesmaid wants on the Big Day is to have a bad reaction to her foundation!
2. “ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES?”
There are dozens of different skin shades and hair textures, and not every makeup artist or hair stylist has proficient in them all! If you have a diverse bridal party, you need an artist and a stylist who can make you and every one of your bridesmaids feel confident and beautiful.
3. “ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH MATURE SKIN?”
On a similar note, many makeup artists are only accustomed to young brides and bridesmaids. Not every makeup artist is prepared to make-over your mother- or grandmother-in-law. If a member of your bridal party or one of the family has mature skin, make sure to ask your potential makeup artist if they’re prepared to accommodate that person.
6. “DO YOU ACCOMMODATE BIG PARTIES?”
Not every makeup artist has assistants, and not every makeup artist is good at time management. You want a makeup artist who is confident in their ability to accommodate your party. If they do accomodate big parties (usually 8+) can they provide an additional makeup artist and/or hair stylist to help shorten the time?
7. “WILL YOU PROVIDE A SCHEDULE FOR MAKEUP AND HAIR ON THE BIG DAY?”
You have a lot to think about on your Big Day. The last thing you need to worry about is telling your own makeup artist or hair stylist how much time they’ll need and when to start. That’s for them to figure out.
These are important questions to ask if you want to find a makeup artist or hair stylist that fits your needs.
8. DISCUSS YOUR BUDGET.
It’s easy to get uncomfortable when talking about money, but it’s an important topic to address. Not every makeup artist has their pricing clearly printed on their website or brochure, and no bride wants to be hit with unexpected fees for parking, travel, or a trial run! Asking these questions should ease some of the anxiety and ensure you’ve covered all your bases.
7. “IS A TRIAL INCLUDED IN THE BRIDAL PACKAGE?”
A trial run is always a good idea. Make sure you know if you’ll be paying extra for one!
8. “DO YOU CHARGE TAXES?”
If they do, the total price quoted to you may be less than what is actually billed.
9. “IS GRATUITY REQUIRED OR OPTIONAL?”
Gratuity is great–but no one wants to be charged anything unexpectedly.
10. “DO YOU CHARGE A TRAVEL FEE FOR EACH ARTIST OR STYLIST?”
Make sure you’re clear on whether or not you’ll be paying extra for travel. It may not be clear on the package price presented to you.
11. “IS THERE AN EXTRA FEE TO DRY HAIR BEFORE STYLING?”
Most hair stylist who work with weddings do not offer wash and blow dry. You don’t want to be caught off guard and end up with dirty hair on your Big Day.
12. “DO YOU CHARGE FOR PARKING FEES ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING?”
If guests are required to pay for parking to get to your venue, your makeup artist and hair stylist will be required to do the same.
WHY PRISCILLAM BEAUTY?
No matter what, you want to hire a wedding makeup artist or hair stylist who is CLEAR and UPFRONT about their services and pricing. If asking these questions reveals hidden fees and confusing pricing, you might want to move on to the next candidate. You want a makeup artist and stylist you can trust, after all.
That’s why, at PriscillaM Beauty, we answer all these questions on our site. That way you know what you’re getting and how much you’re getting it for. Check out our wedding makeup pricing and wedding hair pricing.
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