Q&A With Hair and Makeup Stylists
About the Beauty Pros
Look Love Beauty: Sabrina Simpson and Charisse Holliday are the gorgeous, fun girls behind this company, specializing in both hair and makeup. They’re based in Charlotte, NC but are available for travel. “LookLove is committed to giving you the most personalized experience because no one should let a bad prom makeup memory haunt them forever. We legit wake up everyday so thankful we get to call this work. Seeing a bride look in the mirror and tear up because she feels so beautiful will NEVER get old.” Check out their website: https://looklovebeauty.com/
Alter Image: Owned by Jasmine but with a team of 14 beauty pros alongside her, this on-site glam squad offers both hair styling, as well as airbrush and traditional makeup. They are based in Charleston, SC but available to travel throughout North and South Carolina. “Not only do we come to make you and your bridal party look and feel fabulous…we want to connect, share a ton of laughs, and jam out with you to your wedding day play list!” Check out their website: https://www.alter-image.com/
Brides Side Beauty: Jessica and her team of 12 on-site wedding hair and makeup specialists are located in South Carolina. They specialize in airbrush makeup, hair styling, and even spray tanning. Jessica goes a step beyond day-of beauty by offering complimentary planning to ensure your wedding morning runs smoothly. “I will make a timeline and give suggestions on how to make the “getting ready” process as enjoyable as possible!” Check out their website: https://www.bridessidebeauty.com/
Cali Stott Artistry: Cali and her team are based in North Carolina and specialize in hair and makeup. Their team is driven by finding the unique beauty in everyone and making you feel your most confident. “Our job is to help make you feel exquisite and confident while making sweet memorable moments mixed with laughter. We delight in helping create memories with our clients, that take their breath away.” Check out their website: https://calistottartistry.com/
Q: How do you describe the type of hair/makeup style you want?
Look Love Beauty: We love when girls have done a little research on the ole Google to see hair + makeup they think is pretty, also see things they don’t like; that way we have a point of reference! However, we’ve had plenty of ladies who show us their dress, wedding color palette, jewelry, shoes, and don’t want to come up with the hair and makeup look because it is too overwhelming, and we are happy to do that as well. To answer the question, the best way we come up with a look is by seeing pictures of how the brides have liked their makeup in the past through photos, and enhancing that. It’s a discussion we have leading up to the trial and at the trial.
Cali Stott Artistry: I think sometimes it’s difficult to describe what you’re wanting, so I always suggest having brides send pictures of the hair and makeup looks they want. Then I make sure to take the time to review the looks with them so that I’m understanding their vision!
Q: How do you know if a stylist is the right one for you?
Cali Stott Artistry: There are so many talented artists out there, so one thing I think is really important, especially on one of the most important days of your life, is that you have an artist that can not only create the look you want, but also someone you can enjoy spending the day with. So for me it’s just as important that artists are talented AND fun to be with!
Look Love Beauty: You should look through pictures your artist has posted + has been tagged in on social media to see how things hold up over several hours. I think asking vendors their thoughts as well because you want your beauty team to be professional, reliable, and fun. It is your big day and you're spending basically your entire wedding day morning with them!
Q: How do you avoid spending a fortune on hair/makeup and avoid bridesmaids from spending a fortune as well?
Brides Side Beauty: Quality services aren't cheap and cheap isn't quality.
“In our opinion, going with a low-cost hair and makeup team is the easiest way to cause stress pre-wedding.”
In the beauty field as with most fields, the more experience you have, the more it costs because the value goes up with experience. If you have a "cheap" team, it's probably because they don't have much experience. And experience is VERY important for weddings. You need a team that is familiar with the flow and can anticipate issues and help to solve them. I know what my Bride's need before they do and they appreciate that. Now, if you are trying save a buck (which I get), you could go for makeup for everyone and have the party do their own hair down with waves. That alone will save about $100 per person.
Look Love Beauty: Ah. Tough question. Personally, this is something you should bite the bullet on. The beauty part of the budget is typically the least you’ll spend, compared to any other category of wedding costs. If you end up with a beauty team that doesn’t make you feel beautiful and confident, it could potentially ruin your day and all the money you spent on everything else! You should feel AMAZING on your big day! Find a team you connect with and LOVE.
Alter Image: When it comes to booking any vendor for your wedding, we completely understand that staying within your budget can be a challenge. The best advice I've heard was to pick your vendor, and then create the budget for them, as many vendors vary from skill, years of experience, and additional services they offer.
Q: Do you recommend brides get hair and makeup done last in the lineup with the bridal party, or in the middle?
Alter Image: I choose not to put a bride at the end of the timeline. In my opinion, on the wedding day there will be tons of emotions, and people will be pulling the bride in all directions (family stopping by, the photographer coming to get your detail items, and florist dropping off your flowers). Therefore, I always place my bride in the middle of the timeline for prep and either 3rd or 2nd to last in the timeline for final styling.
This allows your photographer to come in during your getting ready process without you having to hide from the camera before you’re already 50% prepped. Normally we try to have the photographers timeline synced so that once they are done with detail shoots, we have the bride back in the chair to finish hair and final touches for makeup, allowing plenty of time for the bride to have photos with the bridesmaids.
Look Love Beauty: We schedule the bride last, so everything is more fresh. However, because of first-looks, sometimes brides need to be finished before everyone else. It’s not typical, but just based upon the photographers schedule.
Cali Stott Artistry: I always recommend having the bride go last so she can be as fresh as possible and just spend the morning relaxing with her wedding party without worrying about ruining her hair or makeup.
Q: What are your opinions on a spray tan before the wedding?
Alter Image:
“Stick to what you are used to.”
If you’re someone who has never tried a spray tan before I highly suggest to all of my brides that they give it a try a few months before the wedding to come up with the perfect shade that you desire for the wedding day. If you test it out and find out that you love it, get it done a few days before your wedding so the color is fully set in and won’t come off on your dress.
Look Love Beauty: Well, this is something we offer, so we are huge fans of them! I think you feel so much better with a light glow. We have done our fare share of researching and trying out products to make sure they don’t transfer, and have formulas we have full confidence in putting on a bride. Spray tans should be done 2-3 days before the wedding day!
Cali Stott Artistry: Yes, absolutely! 1 month before have a trial run for your spray tan! Then book your final spray tan for two days before your wedding!
Q: How do you find your dream wedding look when you're not someone who spends a ton of time on hair and makeup?
Cali Stott Artistry: I get this from a lot of brides who don't wear a lot of makeup but want to look and feel special on their wedding day! I think it is really important to talk to your artist to make sure they understand the "natural" look you are going for and suggest starting lighter on things, and then build as you go to create the look that feels like you!
Look Love Beauty: We love using magazines or red carpet looks as a point of reference. Pin as many dream looks as you can, but also be realistic with what your hair looks like and styles that look most flattering on you AND your dress. It’s an entire package coming together and our job is to make sure everything is cohesive and reflective of your personal style.
Q: Is airbrush makeup worth it and why?
Brides Side Beauty: YES! Read our blog post on why! (Some reasons: it’s water proof, and therefore sweat proof; it feels light, yet can be full-coverage; it looks flawless in photos; it’s transfer-resistant).
Look Love Beauty: I’m not a fan of airbrush makeup. It can definitely give an even application and depending on the brand, it can be very long lasting. However, there is just no customization when working with it. We see a million different types of skin types and textures and need to be able to mix different products together to create the perfect base. Traditional cream and liquid foundation allows us to do that and with minimal clean up.
Q: Do most brides you work on treat their bridesmaids to complimentary hair and makeup or do you find most make it optional if they want to get glammed up and pay for it themselves?
Brides Side Beauty: We see both, there is no right answer here. I feel if you can afford it, the Bride should host for hair and makeup. After all, they are only there for your affair.
Look Love Beauty: This is totally up to the bride. I would say 50% of our brides cover the cost for their bridesmaids or cover a portion of the total, and the other 50% leave the option up to bridesmaids to choose if they want beauty, and leaving that cost to them.
Cali Stott Artistry: I have had brides do both. Sometimes they will treat their wedding party to a little pampering and other times they will just pay for hair or makeup and sometimes they will offer the services to their wedding party and see what they want to pay for!
Q: What is your favorite hair and skincare product you'd recommend I use leading up to the wedding?
Look Love Beauty: We both use Olaplex #6 to strengthen colored hair and #3 as a leave in conditioner. Moroccon oil is great for in between washes to put throughout your strands and throw up in a bun before a workout. Tata Harper has an amazing exfoliating cleanser, mask, and serum that is for sensitive skin like myself. Getting plenty of veggies and H20 is the best for glowing skin.
Q: Are extensions worth it?
Look Love Beauty: YES. Every. Single. Time.
Cali Stott Artistry: I love extensions and they help to create some beautiful updos or add volume and length to down styles!
“I think most brides assume that means you have to sell a kidney to pay for them! What I recommend for most of my brides is getting the kind you simply clip in that can be taken out at the end of the day and used again when you want to have fabulously long locks!”
You can usually find a set that works perfect at a beauty supply store! Just make sure they are 100% real hair, already have the clips attached and that the color matches your hair color!
Q: What kind of facials do you recommend pre-wedding and how often?
Look Love Beauty: Hydra facials are the only thing I recommend 1-2 weeks before the wedding. If you start with a new facial regimen, it should be started at least 6 months before the wedding because sometimes starting new products can bring things to the surface of your face that you don’t want there, and takes months to get regulated and used to those products.
Q: Does an updo tend to last longer throughout the night than having your hair styled down?
Look Love Beauty: Absolutely, yes. Hair styles that are down CAN hold throughout the night, but it depends on location and time of year. If you are getting married in Charleston with the crazy humidity in the warmer months, hair will most definitely fall by the end of the night. However, I only like my hair down and if it was my wedding day I would go into the day knowing my hair won’t look the same as it did fresh out of the makeup chair. It’s just something you have to be aware of so you aren’t disappointed later looking back in photos. I’m not saying hair all the way down will look bad at the end of the night; the curls just tend to be looser, but it’s still pretty to me! Good hair extensions will extend the life of a curl as well.
Cali Stott Artistry: This can be tricky and there are things to consider when determining if you want an updo vs having hair styled down! Updos do tend to last better throughout the night but if hair is prepped and styled correctly it can do just as well styled down!
Q: How do you best avoid frizz if getting married outside in a summer month?
Cali Stott Artistry: Your stylist should have a humidity spray what can help with the frizzy during the hot summer months!
Look Love Beauty: We’ve got a few magic products in our kits. One of my faves is Living Proof's No Frizz Spray. I used this in Puerto Vallarta Mexico on one of my beautiful brides and NO ONE’S HAIR FRIZZED! and it was a hot + very humid day!
Q: Do you think lash extensions are worth it or are glue ons the same thing?
Look Love Beauty: Personally, I like the look of glue on strip lashes. I’ve been using strip lashes since cheerleading days in high school. Charisse prefers individual cluster lashes that are glued on. If brides get irritated by strip lashes we can do individuals; these are easier + lighter to wear.
Cali Stott Artistry: Eyelash extensions are amazing especially for the honeymoon but they do require an upkeep! So if it isn’t something you want to commit to both financially and with your time, I recommend the false lashes that can be applied on your wedding day and look fabulous!
Q: What would you say is the average cost per bridesmaid for hair and for makeup?
Look Love Beauty: This is a range between $150-$275 in the CLT area.
Cali Stott Artistry: $75-$85 for hair OR makeup for the wedding party (about $150-$180 total per bridesmaid).
Q: Do you think having hair and/or makeup stylists stay through the photos are worth it?
Cali Stott Artistry: It depends on what your schedule looks like for the day! If you are getting ready early and having photos done before the ceremony and there is a lot of time in between, I think it is a great idea to have your artist stay to do some touchups so you are fresh and fabulous for the big walk down the aisle!
Look Love Beauty:
“This is the first thing we tell our brides not to pay for. After you are beautified for hours with your girls the morning of your wedding, the last thing you want to do is stop all the fun partying with all your loved ones to get a hair and makeup touch-up.”
The only way I think it’s worth it, is if you are doing and dress change and want to switch up the hair from ceremony.
Q: Best tips for non transfer long wear lipsticks?
Look Love Beauty: We line the entire lips as a primer to hold the lipstick color because we don’t love any 12-24 hour wear colors. Those tend to dry the lips out. Nonetheless, we are always testing out new products to see if there is something we should add to the kit. Lipstick is a relatively easy touch-up to, and only needs to be done 2-3 times throughout the entire day, and gives you a quiet second in the bathroom.
Cali Stott Artistry: Lip stains are the best! If you find a good brand the color will stay throughout the night! I usually recommend having a little gloss to brush over those luscious lips when they start feeling dry or to freshen the look up!
Q: What are your top 3 favorite nude/light pink lipstick colors?
Look Love Beauty: MAC - Peach Blossom, Charlotte Tilbury - Penelope Pink, MAC - Modesty
Cali Stott Artistry: I don't recommend nude or light pink colors for the lips to brides because it can wash them out in photos and can make them look like they have no lips!
Q: If my hair is naturally straight and I'm wearing beachy waves for the rehearsal dinner and wedding, should I wash my hair the night before/morning of so my hair is straight again and can be re-curled, or should I leave leftover curls from the rehearsal dinner?
Look Love Beauty: This is based on how your hair holds curl. I like when my hair feels nice and clean, so I would wash my hair the night before the wedding, after the rehearsal. Some girls know their hair and it needs to be 1-2 days old with product in it to hold. It is usually easier for us to work with clean hair, which is what we ask for, but there is always an exception to that rule.
Cali Stott Artistry: I ALWAYS recommend washing your hair the day of! Dirty hair means different things to everyone and what I have found is that it is just easier for me to "dirty it up" how i need to to create the style a bride is wanting. Preparing the hair with the right products and tools will help as well as adding some extensions!
