Hair and makeup trial was…OK. I must admit I wasn’t particularly blown away…but I thought I’d get yall’s input.
We started with makeup. At first, I thought it was just because I’m not used to wearing heavy makeup (I don’t wear much other than some foundation and eyeliner usually, and occasionally some eye shadow). The stylist said that it does need to be heavier to show up in the pictures, which I get…but the more I looked at the makeup, I dunno, I just didn’t think it was me.
Obligatory “before” makeup-less picture…
And here is the “after,” with the makeup on…You might be able to tell I am not particularly thrilled…
I think I was hoping for a more natural, “semi-smoky around the eyes but overall very natural” look. Kind of like the way I had in our San Francisco engagement photos…
I don’t know…maybe it was OK. I was really hoping I would like it, because the salon is located in the hotel I will be staying at the night before, so it would be very convenient and efficient. But I wasn’t quite sure how I felt.
Then came the hair portion of the trial, which I do think went a little better. I ended up wanting to try out a half up half down style, which I plan to use with either a white orchid in my hair or some pretty clips. I shared these inspirations with the stylist…
Here was the result…I thought it looked OK from the front and from the left, but I really didn’t like the back…
The front…I think this looked OK…
I also thought the left side was quite pretty…
But here is the back…I dunno, I feel like it is really big and “loopy”. I think I was hoping for thinner curls or something…
I also didn’t like some of the side views - This was the first hairstyle I got that I’ve ever been able to see the bobby pins…That shouldn’t be the case right?
Maybe I am being overly critical…What do you all think?
Should I book this stylist for hair, makeup, both, or neither? If you think I should get one or the other done elsewhere, is there any stylist in LA you would recommend that would do both hair + makeup for ~$120-$150 max total?
I liked your make up, especially with your hair done. It may look a bit dramatic without your hair done. I think that it is true that you may need heavier make up so you don’t look washed out in pictures. As for the hair, the profile views look very nice. I think maybe you’re not very fond of the back view is because it’s a little different from your inspiration pictures. The inspiration pictures have bigger and lose waves whereas yours are more defined. I think it’s very pretty nonetheless.
miss daffodil, if you aren’t happy 100%, don’t settle. each makeup artist is different with differing ideas of what makes a person pretty (or what they should enhance). that said, i think you look fine, but your unhappiness totally comes through in the pictures. the hair i’m not so worried about because you can tell her what is wrong and that’s more easily fixed. sorry can’t help you with any makeup artists other than the known favorites (i.e. more pricey) like joyce, etc. keep us updated!
I agree with furelysse, remember too that the curls will loosen up over the course of the night (especially if your hair is being done earlier in the day) - how did the trial look at the end of the day? I’d also give the hair stylist a break with the bobby pins - my hair stylist was very clear that on the day of she’d be way more careful and exacting than in a trial and that she would be sure that none showed for the big day. Call the stylist back and ask to just sit down and talk over the pieces that you’re concerned about. She may be willing to do a second trial or she may reassure you that she’s aware of those things and will do them differently day of. I think it looks lovely!
I liked your makeup, actually. The lip color is pretty. I like the idea of your hairstyle, but I think it would really “pop” if you added some extensions at the bottom to give it more dimension. With more hair to work with, I think your stylist should be able to give you more curls like you wanted.
Overall, I think the makeup doesn’t look nearly as dramatic as it must feel, although I think that the lipstick color may be part of the reason why you feel like you don’t look like yourself.
I think your hair looks great- but as others have said, if you aren’t satisfied, than it might be worth looking around.
hmmmmm…….
i really liked your makeup. it looks very natural to me. your before and after pic doesn’t look like you are wearing much makeup at all. to me, your features just seem a bit more defined.
after looking at the pic from your engagement, the look that you are after, i would consider telling your makeup artist that you want to appear as if you are wearing “no makeup”.
Not trying to be funny or anything, thats just the way your engagement picture appears. It sounds like you are going for a perfect complexion with no shine. so that would fall under the “no makeup” look in my book.
i think your hair turned out very pretty, but i agree that you should not be able to see bobby pins. keep hunting until your happy……but for the sheer convenience factor, perhaps consider trying the hotel salon again, show them the pics and tell them what you like and dont like. then have them try again.
you really can’t beat using the salon in the hotel in which you will be staying.
if you dont like the makeup + hair then dont go with this place. (and im not a fan of the make up)
I agree with you. I think the makeup is just OK. And you’re right, it makes you not look like you. Maybe…you can just do your own makeup? Or have a friend/relative do it? I think you look beautiful on your weddingbee profile pic. The deeper red lip color (is that just your natural lip color?) is much better than the bubblegum pink.
I thought the makeup was good; wonder if they did it “photo natural” so it would show up on wedding day? . . . you are right about the hair; perhaps looser/larger curls but more of them, as in taking smaller amounts of hair but make it less “loopy”.
You should feel beautiful on your wedding day and if this just wasn’t doing it for you, don’t settle. I think you may want to try a more muted rosey brown lip color instead of the shade of pink they put on you. Have you thought about asking Mrs Caramel about doing your makeup?
I think the left profile pic of the hair is pretty as well but if you’re going for the look of pic #2 for the back, you’ll have to ask for more curls overall, and tighter set. But I think it is similar to the 3rd pic of Jessica Simpson in regards to type of curl- maybe consider some clip-in extensions for more body & curl back there? I think the sideswept bang could be less heavy as well.
Being a makeup whore it’s hard to believe but you are SO BEAUTIFUL without makeup - this makeup did you no justice. Hair, eh, well, I tried 3 places so if you aren’t thrilled keep trying.
I actually really like the make up and the hair ! I’m sure it’d be easy enough to get them to hide the bobby pins ! As others have said though, if you are not happy, keep looking or talk to them, and see if you are reassured they know what needs to be fixed to make you happy !
I don’t really like the makeup look I like your before picture with no makeup. Just looks better to me. As for your hair LOVE THE FRONT and the look you were going for . As a previous hairdresser you don’t allow bobby pins to show EVER big no no. Maybe try a different stylist at that salon.
I agree with everyone that said you look GORGEOUS without makeup! You look pretty with the makeup too, but you look so unhappy…so I think you should keep looking for someone who can give you the “no makeup” look the earlier posters referred to. My best friend is Asian and had a very natural look for her wedding…I think she had her makeup done at an Aveda salon. GOOD LUCK!
I like your hair, I’m sure it would be more “clean” on the day of. I like the lipcolor of your makeup trial.
Don’t settle. To be honest, you have a beautiful face, and you’re very lucky to look so great without makeup. I don’t think the makeup from your trial shows off (enhances) your beauty as it should. It looks kind of like the makeup person didn’t know what they were doing.
Your hair looks nice though. But again, if you aren’t happy with it, then don’t settle!
I love your makeup! I think it came out lovely.
I agree I think there should be tighter curls back there. But the front turned out perfectly.
i think perhaps the makeup artist used too many pinks and blues vs. more netrual tones? i can tell it must have been heavy in person because it shows really well in the pic. i remember makeup people telling me i should look good for the pics so it would be ok to look clowny in real life, but what i really wanted was to look good in real life! so yeah the real life version can be very shocking. i ended up teaching myself how to do my own makeup cuz i don’t trust anyone else. of the makeup people i tried, the bobbi brown counter did the best job, probably cuz of their generally natural style…sometimes those artists take off-site booking…or you could ask mrs. caramel, or find out mrs. bee’s MOH’s info?
i think the hair looks good, but if you don’t like it, either ask them to fix it or try someone new. for my wedding, i didn’t want to keep spending money on hair trials, so i settled for my first stylist and told her how to fix things. but i do think i could’ve gotten a better stylist ;).
I actually really like your make-up!
Love the hair…. I think that the curls would loosen over time and would look more natural as the day wore on.
Hate the make up. Generally speaking, though, i’m biased against candy-colored, too-shiny makeup. I think whatever’s on your eyelids should be a little more matte? at most, a very subtle shimmer. Just my thoughts!
Hi Miss Daffodil! You should email me– I do plenty of wedding gigs around LA for that price range (both)– although I would totally understand if you want a real professional! I have lots of recommendations too, although they’re a bit more pricey. I feel like if you want everything to be perfect, you kinda have to pay the price, which is what I ended up doing. =\ I do think that your hairstyle was pretty, but I wish there was a bit more volume from the front, and heck yeah— bobby pins are not supposed to show at all!
If you’re not happy, I definitely recommend Joyce Luck in LA. She did my MOH’s and her bridal party’s makeup and hair (including myself). And it was fabulous. Very natural and you will look like the best version of yourself! She is a little pricey and she doesn’t get back to you right away..but keep being persistent.
I actually think you are very beautiful without makeup (jealous), so really the makeup does you no justice. It’s not so much that the makeup is bad, it just doesn’t enhance your features that well. There is something about the eye makeup that I don’t like, but I don’t know much about makeup. I can understand how you feel though. I rarely wear makeup, and when I do, I do so lightly so every time I get a makeover, I never like it that much.
As for the hair, I agree with you on the back view.
Maybe you should just be your regular self in your wedding because you look beautiful already 
I agree with everyone else, don’t book with someone unless they made you happy. It irks me that we are expected to pay X amount of money for a hair/makeup trial and it seems like the majority of the time the brides are unhappy with the end product. We shouldn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on trials to find someone. Isn’t there a better way?
you’re soooo pretty naturally without makeup. personally, i agree with a few of the above comments in that i don’t like shiny lids and prefer more neutral colors. i think if you went with more neutral tones it may bring your face more depth and contrast as opposed to a glittery pink feel.
i like the hair thought! it looks good to me.
[...] am going for my second hair trial this weekend (since that first one didn’t turn out too well!), and can’t wait to see what they will actually look like in my hair! [...]
I laughed reading the first comment about never seeing the bobby pins. totally true. my stylist his over a hundred standard sized ones in my hair for the trial. He used over sized ones and somewhat fewer for the actual day, and they were locked so tight with each other, I had to get my new husband to pull them out.
i think the hair looks really beautiful. the makeup is not natural. good luck!
Mrs. Daffodil, San Francisco/Los Angeles
Age and Occupation: 26, Nonprofit Strategy Consultant
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Resident Physician
Engagement Date: December 29, 2006
Wedding Date: May, 2008
Blogging Since: August, 2007
Venue: Church w/ floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Valley; Westin in downtown LA
About Me: I moved around a lot growing up, but consider myself a Southerner at heart. I love scrapbooking, dancing, doggies, and diet coke. I am all about personalizing everything and hence, I'm a DIY bride who is just loving the entire wedding planning process! Mr. Daffodil and I met in our college fellowship group and were "just friends" for three years before we started dating. We've been together for four years now and can't wait to get married in sunny SoCal, Mr. Daffodil's hometown.
you should never be able to see bobby pins! that would have bothered me as well. i love the idea that you took in, and think they could do better getting it closer to the examples you had. tighter curls would do the trick!