There are a lot of incredibly talented hair and makeup artists out there.
Give them a face, a head of hair and a reference image and they can create something beautiful.
But after more than 15 years of weddings, I’ve come to believe that being technically brilliant at hair and makeup doesn’t automatically make somebody a brilliant bridal hair and makeup artist.
Because bridal work is different.
It’s not just about what’s happening to the person in the chair.
It’s about the person in the chair.
And that’s something no makeup school can fully teach you.
Your wedding morning isn’t a photo shoot
Many of our artists, myself included, have backgrounds spanning TV, film, theatre, fashion and events.
In those environments, you’re usually working to a brief. There is a director, photographer and/or creative team telling you what needs to be achieved and so the person sitting in your chair is part of a much bigger production.
A wedding is completely different.
There is no character we’re trying to create.
We’re trying to understand you.
What do you normally wear?
What makes you feel confident?
What makes you uncomfortable?
When you show me an inspiration photograph, what is it you actually like about it?
Is it the makeup? The skin? The colours? Or is it simply that the woman in the photograph looks confident and you want to feel like that too?
Sometimes our job is actually pulling those answers out of somebody who doesn’t quite know how to articulate them herself.
That goes far beyond knowing how to apply foundation or create the perfect eye makeup.
Look for someone who listens before they start creating
One of the most important skills in bridal hair and makeup is listening.
Before I begin working with a bride, I want to know what she normally does with her hair, how much makeup she usually wears, what products she likes, what she’s wearing, how the wedding is going to feel and what she’s imagining when she pictures herself walking down the aisle.
Because “natural makeup” can mean ten completely different things to ten different women.
So can “glamorous”.
A great bridal artist shouldn’t impose their signature face onto every bride who sits in their chair.
They should be able to interpret your version of beautiful.
Personality fit matters more than people realise
There’s another question I think brides should ask when choosing a wedding hair and makeup artist:
Do I actually like this person?
It sounds ridiculously simple, but it’s important.
Your hair and makeup artist can be one of the first suppliers you see on your wedding morning. They may be with you for several hours, close by your side while applying your makeup and styling your hair while the room buzzes with bridesmaids and mothers, photographers and videographers, florals and dresses…
You want somebody whose presence makes that room calmer, not more stressful.
Someone easygoing.
Someone who is proactive.
Someone you can chat to.
Someone who knows when you need reassurance – and also when you need some quiet time.
I often say that ideally your artist should feel a little like having another friend in the room – a very useful friend who happens to have an enormous kit and knows exactly what time everyone needs to be ready!
You can learn a lot before you ever meet your artist
Pay attention to the experience you’re having from your first enquiry.
How clear is the communication?
Do you know what’s happening next?
Are your questions answered?
Does the business feel organised?
Reliability is incredibly difficult to demonstrate through an Instagram grid. The booking experience can tell you much more.
At CJC, Zoe coordinates our wedding bookings specifically so our enquiries, contracts, schedules and communication can be properly managed while our artists are out doing what they’re brilliant at.
Behind the person who eventually arrives with the hair tools and makeup brushes is a wider team making sure the booking works seamlessly.
Don’t dismiss an artist because you can’t see “your” look on Instagram
This is another thing I wish more brides knew.
Experienced wedding hair and makeup artists see a lot of faces.
We don’t post all of them.
So if you love an artist’s work but can’t see somebody with your exact skin tone, hair texture, or the particular hairstyle you have in mind then please ask.
Ask to see more examples.
The same applies if you have concerns about fine hair, pigmentation, mature skin, or anything else you’d like your artist to be experienced with.
A portfolio should give you confidence in someone’s aesthetic and ability, but it doesn’t necessarily represent the entirety of their experience.
Don’t choose your wedding look purely because it’s trending
This is one area where I will give brides quite a firm opinion.
Don’t follow a trend simply because it’s a trend.
Wedding hair and makeup trends come and go, but your photographs are going to last forever.
Of course your look can feel modern and it should feel relevant to you now, but before choosing something because it’s everywhere on Instagram or Pinterest, ask yourself:
Would I still love this if nobody else were wearing it?
You want to look back at your photographs in five, ten or twenty years and recognise yourself as who you really are – not simply who you were in the year you got married.
Technical experience still matters enormously
None of this means the actual artistry is secondary – far from it!
A professional bridal makeup artist needs to understand longevity, skin preparation, colour theory, photography, different skin types and tones, weather, lighting and how products behave over many hours.
A bridal hairstylist needs to understand texture, structure, balance, hair preparation, extensions where appropriate, veil placement and how a hairstyle will survive hugging, dancing, weather and a very long day.
Your makeup needs to photograph beautifully without looking like a mask in person and your hair needs to hold without looking like it has been concreted into position.
That’s experience.
But technical expertise should be the starting point.
Beautiful hair and makeup should be a given
Ultimately, when you’re investing in professional bridal hair and makeup, you’re not simply buying a hairstyle and some makeup.
You’re buying the preparation beforehand.
You’re buying the preview.
You’re buying the artist’s years of product knowledge.
You’re buying somebody who knows how weddings actually work.
You’re buying an experienced pair of hands when emotions are running high.
You’re buying someone who can look at the clock, realise photography needs to start in 20 minutes and quietly adjust without announcing to the room that everybody is running late.
And you’re buying the ability to sit in that chair and think:
I’ve got nothing to worry about here.
For me, that’s what separates a technically talented artist from an exceptional bridal hair and makeup artist.
The finished look matters enormously.
But how you feel while we’re creating it matters too.
Planning your wedding?
At CJC Hair & Makeup, our experienced team provides bridal hair and makeup across London, the UK and internationally, from intimate bride-only mornings to large, multi-artist and destination weddings.
EXPLORE OUR BRIDAL HAIR & MAKEUP EXPERIENCE
By Camilla Collins, Founder of CJC Hair & Makeup – Camilla founded CJC Hair & Makeup in 2010 and has spent more than 15 years working with brides and wedding parties across the UK and internationally.
