How to Choose the Right Makeup Artist
Finding a good makeup artist can be difficult nowadays; there seems to be so many of us out there now. In the past year, I’ve had three to four different instances where I found myself running to a bride last minute to fill in for a makeup artist that cancelled or (God forbid) “had car troubles”. It’s scary hiring someone for one of the biggest days of your life, especially one that has the outcome of how your face is going to look in photos that will last you your lifetime.
Now I don’t mean to spark any nervous butterflies or stress anyone out, but choosing a makeup artist is a big deal. I’ve comprised a short list of some things to look for to help you make the best decision you can! Below are five things I think are important to consider when making your beauty decision for any big day.
1. Social media vs. Professional Website: Social media is an amazing marketing tool and a great way to showcase a portfolio. Artists have made a living utilizing it by showcasing their artwork. In the makeup business, it’s the same concept. You may have found an artist through a hashtag (yes, a hashtag, I have been discovered that way) and love their work, but do they have a professional website? Is there a link in their bio on their profile that leads you there? If not, you need to think about what that may mean.
If makeup artistry is your career, you’re going to want to have a professional website. There is only so much social media can tell you. You’re going to want to see a complete bio section, pictures that may not be on their Instagram, for example, and credentials, like where they went to school. Self-taught artists are great and there are some amazing ones out there but that’s something you may want to consider.
In addition, social media isn’t always the teller of all truths, so don’t let things like followers fool you. Just because someone has over 10k followers doesn’t mean they’re actually reaching that many people for things like their reputation, those kinds of things can be purchased and can leave people skeptical.
2. Does the artist you’re thinking about hiring have a contract: Contracts can be a deal breaker; they dictate what would happen in a worst-case scenario. If that artist wasn’t able to make it the day of your event, do they have a backup plan? Do they have someone that could fill in for them in case of an emergency?
If that artist doesn’t have a contract, make sure to think about hiring that person, carefully. It might mean they haven’t thought about the future and things that could potentially throw a wrench in your wedding day plans. If they do have a contract, make sure to read through it carefully. Having a contract, to me, is a sign of professionalism and how serious that person is about their career and the business they run.
3. Know the look you’re going for and don’t settle: When I meet my brides for the first time at their trials, about 50% of them come with a picture of the kind of look they are going for and the other half haven’t even thought about it, most know what they’re looking for. If that sounds like you, it’s probable that you have looked through a few Instagram profiles or online portfolios of a few different artist’s work.
If a cut crease is your thing and you found an artist who does amazing cut creases, then they’re probably the artist for you. However, if you’re a lip balm and mascara kind of person, yet you think that artist could probably bring the drama down a bit, there’s a good chance they’ll hear what you’re saying but may not execute the look you’re going for.
What makes an artist is their own personal style. Think about it, it’s pretty amazing that there isn’t one artist that is exactly alike. Each one of us has just one small characteristic that separates us from the other and the final result of that one characteristic could be the major difference between you not feeling or looking like yourself on your big day and being 100% happy with your makeup look. Don’t settle for an artist because you feel like it’s the end of the road and we’re all going to be alike, keep searching, the right artist is out there.
4. Ask about their sanitary procedure: Coronavirus has changed life for each and every one of us, artists especially. I’m going to make this short and sweet: if you see an artist double dip any product from their kit (i.e. mascara, concealer wands, lip gloss/liquid lipsticks) DO NOT HIRE THAT ARTIST. I don’t mean to be crass but the bacteria that live in the tubes of our cosmetic products can be scary. Bacteria love dark, warm places to live, a mascara tube is the perfect place for them to fester.
If an artist is working from a stainless-steel palette, you’re in good hands; also, if they are using disposables, that’s great, you’re good to go. Oh, they’re sanitizing brushes in-between clients? Yup, all good. To put it simply, asking about sanitary processes may be the most important thing to ask when hiring a makeup artist for your big day, or any event you plan on attending, so make sure you do it!
5. Communication is key: Pay attention to how an artist communicates. Are they easy to talk to? Are they genuinely listening to you and showing that in their work? It’s hard to tell someone that you don’t like their work, it can come off insulting and confrontational, but a true professional won’t be offended, they’ll be there to listen to you and make it right. If you have a situation where someone does get offended and tries to tell you what you want is wrong (yes, I have heard of this before) that artist isn’t for you.
Feeling and looking like yourself on any given day is important, your wedding day or any big event shouldn’t be any different. As artists and professionals, we’re here to help create a look that caters to you. If any artist is giving you any less than that, don’t give up hope, the right artist is out there for you.
