Choosing a makeup artist can be a stressful part of planning any event. This is especially true for your wedding day. You want to choose a professional who you will connect with and who can replicate the look you are trying to go for. Whether you desire a natural look or something more intricate and dramatic, you and your artist should be on the same page. I've put together a few pointers that I believe will help anyone looking for an artist feel more at ease about their decision.
1. KNOWLEDGE
This pointer should be a no-brainer. You want to choose someone who knows what they are doing. Unfortunately, we live in an age when anyone can log onto a computer and learn how to replicate a look (hello, all of you day-to-day contour fanatics. Thanks YouTube! lol). It is wonderful that there is such a vast array of technique to be found online--however, I'm certain anyone with some artistic talent and a little creativity can "paint a face". This does not necessarily make them a "professional". This will be further explained in pointer #2 because I feel so strongly about knowledge as it relates to cleanliness and proper sanitation methods.
Secondly, when it comes to knowledge, you want to make sure you choose someone who understands how many different products there are and what each product's purpose is. For example, there are water based and silicone based liquid face products. Silicone primer may be the best option to smooth out skin that requires this, but if someone incorrectly puts an incompatible based foundation on top, your makeup is not going to last 12 hours. It might even slide off in 30 minutes.
2. SANITATION
In my personal (and professional) opinion, this is THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER ONE importance in choosing a makeup artist. I have worked in salons, on sets, for bridal parties, etc. and it is unbelievable how many unsanitary artists are working as professionals. The thing is, in NJ, you DO NOT need professional schooling or licensing by the state to "apply" makeup to another person's face (Last time I checked, it was not needed when working on other industry professionals, but licensing is needed if you are charging someone in the general public for application). This concerns me and it should also concern you. To be clear, I have also worked with artists that do not hold a license but have done their research (props to them!) or have been taught the proper sanitation methods necessary to work in this field by other professionals. That being said, use your personal discretion and pay attention to these key points of sanitation.
- First things first, he or she will either wash his or her hands or use an alcohol based sanitizer.
- Your artist should have clean brushes and you should witness him/her clean the brushes after use on every single person.
- If he/she is using eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, etc., he/she should either be using disposables, scooping out product with a clean spatula, or sanitizing with 90% alcohol and wiping the product after use.
- Pencils should be sprayed with alcohol and wiped
For the sake of time, I'm going to move on to the next pointer, but I hope this gives you a strong foundation for the understanding of proper measures to ensure that there is no transfer of communicable and contagious disease. Let's be honest, we are dealing with human skin. There is always bacteria present and sometimes potential pathogens. We see everything from styes to acne to herpes simplex and it is our job as professionals to make sure we turn down a client if necessary, but also take precaution if there is no concern present.
To sum it up, you wouldn't let a doctor put the same spatula in your mouth to look at your throat as the patient before you. You also wouldn't want your doctor to touch your skin with gloves that he/she had on when they touched the sick patient's skin that was in that exam room before you. Bottom line: Don't let a makeup artist put a dirty brush or tool on your skin.
3. EXPERIENCE
Experience is important in every profession. However, this type of work is art. Relevance to the type of work you are receiving is more important than an amount of time an artist has been working. There are artists that work for 6 months and some may say their work is stronger in some aspects than someone who has been working for 20 years. My point is, the amount of time they work may not be that important, but their relevant experience is.
This is especially true if you are dealing with a special circumstance. If you want an artist who can cover tattoos, cover acne scars, stretch marks, vitiligo, etc., make sure that the artist is capable of doing that specific type of work for you so that you can achieve the results you desire.
This is also true for the type of makeup application you are having done. HD has become very popular in recent years due to HD videography and photography. Someone who just finished going to school for makeup will definitely have learned about these products and techniques whereas someone with more experience may not have learned this unless he has kept up on his education.
4. COMFORT
Lastly, you want to make sure you are comfortable with your artist and are confident in the application. Many artists have looks that they are known for. This doesn't mean they cannot give you what you want if the look is different. Be open and communicative about what you are looking for and they should be able to explain how to go about that type of look while still making sure it is fit for the occasion and photos/video (if necessary).
If you are uncomfortable at all, don't be afraid to speak up and/or try another artist. This is why trials are so important. An artist with any sense of professionalism is going to want to correct the situation and make you as content as possible. He of she will not make you feel bad, discuss anything inappropriate/too personal, or leave you unhappy when you walk out the door.
I know this post is long, but I hoped my pointers help you pick out the right artist for your event. Let the artist pamper you and make sure you have nothing to worry about on your big day. Be confident, beautiful, and stress-free knowing you chose the most compatible artist for you! :)
Best wishes,
Farah xo