Wedding Makeup Timeline

Everything you need to know and consider when planning your makeup start time.

I get a lot of questions about what time we need to start makeup on your wedding day. While this process does not have to be complicated, there are a number of factors that go into determining the start time of your wedding day. (Spoiler, it’s usually earlier than you think.)

I will start out by saying all of this information is what I prefer to do personally as an artist. If I am not your makeup artist the information will be similar and valuable, however, your artist may do things a little different. It is always best to go with how they like to schedule the morning. 

I do a 2hr trial appointment with all of my brides about 4-6 weeks before the wedding and this is where we go over all of the details and map out the morning. Your start time will be finalized during this appointment. The week of your wedding I will send out a loose timeline outlining what times everyone will need to be ready for makeup. 

Questions I ask that go into factoring the makeup start time. 

• How many people are getting makeup done?

• Are you doing a first look?

• What time does the ceremony start?

• Are you wanting a lot of getting ready photos or photos with your bridesmaids?

• Where are you getting ready?

How many people are getting makeup done? As a good rule of thumb, the more people who need to get ready, the earlier you will want to get started. It is not uncommon to have a 7:30 am or 8 start. (I’ve done earlier). I budget about 45 minutes for each bridal party member and one hour for the bride. I also like to add a 30 minute buffer time between when I finish everyone’s makeup and when everyone needs to be ready. This way we are not rushing.

Are you doing a first look? First looks are so wonderful and intimate. I personally love them. This does however mean that you will need to be ready sooner because this event usually takes place about 1-2 hours before the start of the ceremony. Again, this means you will need to plan for an early start to make sure everyone is ready for early photos.

What time does the ceremony start? Going the more traditional route and not seeing each other till you walk down the aisle? Great! You may be able to start a tad later; 9 am or 10 am. But this still will depend on the size of your bridal party.

Are you wanting a lot of photos with your bridal party before the Ceremony? How many photos do you want with them? Do you guys have cute robes or flannels you want photos of? You still will probably want to start early to make sure there is enough time to have cute group shots with your girls.

Where are you getting ready? Will you be at a hotel nearby? Or do you have to drive at least 15-30 minutes to get to your wedding venue? Let’s avoid getting a speeding ticket on your wedding day, and make sure drive time is accounted for. If you’re getting ready at the venue do they have a time of when you are allowed to enter? Certain venues in Chico won’t let you enter until 9 am, others let you enter as early as 7 am. Make sure you talk to your venue and see when they let you in the morning of your wedding. 

All of these questions are things I go over with you during our trial appointment, so you don’t need to have all the answers beforehand. We will brainstorm what will works best for you and your bridal party. I personally tend to lean on the earlier the better side. This way we aren’t stressed for time, and you have plenty of time to hang out with your girls and relax all morning. 

If you are getting married and looking for an artist you can fill out my Bridal form here.

If you are getting married and already have an artist I hope you find this post informative and helpful for your wedding day. 

XO,

Annie

photo: @kalieciaannphotography

All you need to know about Henna Brows

What is Henna Brows?

I have always loved body henna. During my senior year of high school, I had a friend henna my upper back, arm, and leg to match a dress I wore for a school dance. Probably my favorite look for a high school dance. When I heard of henna brows I knew I would eventually add this service to my books. It took me a while to find a brand I liked, but once I did, I was just so excited! 

This is a great all-natural way to temporarily tint your brow hairs and skin. Of course, I have had a lot of questions about this service, so I figured I would write out a post all about henna brows and answer the most frequently asked questions.

I’m sure the first thing that comes to mind when I say henna is a traditional body henna method I mentioned above, known as Mehndi.

This type of henna has been used for generations. It stains the skin and turns to a warm red shade and slowly fades over time. This process occurs because the henna oxidizes, so as it fades the color changes and gets warmer in tone as it fades. Eyebrow henna is high-quality henna with other natural ingredients designed to not oxidize and will stay the same color on your skin and brows. Eyebrow henna ingredients work with the henna to make sure the color stays the same from start to finish.  

So why henna and not traditional tint?

Well, there are a couple of reasons why I chose this method over other tints. Traditional tints use harsh chemicals that can dry out the brow hairs. Henna is all-natural and can actually help nourish the brows.

How long will it last?

Henna can last 6-8 weeks on the brow hairs as long as you follow the proper protocol; Don’t wet your brow hairs for the first 24hrs and avoid hot showers or saunas.  Henna also lasts 1-2 weeks on the skin as well as the brows, where tint only stains the hairs. How long it lasts on your skin mainly depends on your skin type. If you have oily skin, particularly on your forehead area, it only lasts about a week. If you have normal to dry skin, it lasts about two weeks on the skin.

While almost everyone can get henna brows, there are a few contraindications. If you have broken skin or skin disorders near the eyebrow, G6PD deficiency, or Seborrheic dermatitis, or if you are allergic to henna, this service is probably not right for you.

If you are not sure if you will have a reaction or if it’s safe for you, we can always do a patch test 5-7 days before the service to make sure it’s right for you. 

If you are filling in your brows constantly every day and are looking to save some time in the mornings this is a great service. If you have gaps in your brows or areas that you are looking to grow in, henna brows can be a great solution to give you the full look you desire. 

Can you do henna over microblading or tattooed eyebrows? If you have old microblading done, you can also henna over the microblading as long as it’s not fresh microblading. I do not recommend this service if you have had microblading within a year.  

All my henna appointments include threading or waxing shaping to give you perfect eyebrows. 

Want to complete the lazy girl who has no time in the morning for a makeup look? Then pair henna brows with an eyelash extension service. Who has time in the mornings for makeup anyways? Well, this way your lashes and brows will look perfect every morning. 

Are you ready to book your service?

Just click the link here to get started!

Want Supermodel Eyebrows?

I have always been obsessed with good eyebrows. Some personal favorites are Cara Delavine, Addison Rae, and, Taylor Hill. They all have great bold, fluffy brows that stand out in such a lovely way.

So what’s the secret to their bold eyebrow looks? 

Eyebrow Lamination. This is the newest service that gives you fuller, fluffier eyebrows that are worthy of the supermodel status.

So what is eyebrow lamination? And how does it work?   

Eyebrow lamination is a three-step process that softens your brow hair’s natural structure then reforms the way they grow to give you more natural and fuller looking eyebrows. 

It takes about 45 minutes to complete. The first step is designed to break down your eyebrow hair’s current bonds and open up the cuticle.

Once this is processed we apply the setting lotion. This lotion helps reform your brow shape to make them go the direction you want and stay there. Think of it as a long-lasting eyebrow gel. 

For people whose eyebrow hairs grow straight out, or down, this service helps reposition those hairs to grow up and blend to the shape of your eye. Giving you a fuller more defined look. 

I also include an eyebrow threading within your appointment for flawless brows in one sitting. 

After threading a nourishing oil is applied to help bring moisture back into your hairs so they stay healthy and continue to grow. 

You are gifted with a brow balm specifically designed to help keep your eyebrows hydrated throughout the day.

A few things to keep in mind. This is not a permanent service, it lasts for about 6-8 weeks and then you will need to get touch-ups. 

Your eyebrow hairs are not permanently stuck in one position. Your hairs do still move like normal, this allows you to customize their shape.

Most of the time I like to just brush mine out at an angle. But sometimes if I want a more dramatic look they can be brushed straight up for a fluffier look. 

You can still use eyebrow products to fill them in if you like your eyebrows darker. 

My pro tips for getting the best lamination service:

• grow your eyebrows out and don’t touch them for 3-4 weeks. This gives them plenty of time to get nice and full. The results will be worth it trust me.

• Schedule a threading appointment with me first. This way I can determine if you are a suitable candidate for eyebrow lamination.

• I love filling my brows in with a pencil and then applying the nourishing balm. This gives them a bold and beautiful look (i.e. my supermodel dream brows!) 

Want to learn more about this service? Lets book your introductory threading appointment here

Connect with me on social media @beautybyanniemink

Thanks for listening lovelies,

Annie