Makeup By Inez | Central Vic Wedding Hair & Makeup

Inez from makeup by inez in castlemaine

Starting to think about your wedding hair and makeup? I recently caught up with Inez from Makeup By Inez, a talented hair and makeup artist in Castlemaine, to discuss what couples should consider. Known for her natural style that highlights each client’s individuality, Inez also prioritises cruelty-free, vegan products. In 2023 & 2024, she was named the #1 Bridal Hair & Makeup Artist in the Ballarat & Bendigo Wedding Industry Awards. If you're curious about finding the right artist for you or looking for practical tips for your day, read on!

So, Inez, how did you get into wedding hair and makeup artistry?

It just happened naturally. I did my flatmate's makeup for her wedding in the year I finished my makeup course (2012). This was in the Netherlands. After this, when I was travelling around Australia in 2013/2014, I did a few more bridal makeups for friends/acquaintances I had met through my travels. These all helped me grow my portfolio, alongside some styled shoots. 

When settling in Melbourne in 2015, establishing myself as a freelance artist took time, because I didn't have any local connections or network. Over time I've fine-tuned my values and what my business stands for, and confidently show this to the outside world. This has made a big difference in attracting the best couples (for me).

2020 was going to be a big year for my business, but we all know what happened 🦠 In 2021 I moved to regional Victoria. Making this move meant starting over again, but luckily I now have lots of work to show as well as great customer reviews. When people are looking for a hair & makeup artist in the area, they are almost certain to find me, especially if they're searching for someone who works cruelty-free or is able to work with vegan products

How would you describe your style and approach to bridal hair and makeup artistry?

My style is all about enhancing each person's natural beauty, while reflecting their unique taste and personality. Looking and feeling beautiful boosts confidence. All my clients look beautiful in my eyes, and I want them to look and feel like the most beautiful version of themselves. Effective communication is key, I discuss my clients' wishes and expectations thoroughly, both in words and visuals, ensuring they'll love the final look, and in the case of a wedding, they will also love their photos of the day.

How do you approach the planning / trial process with your clients?

I feel honoured when people choose me for such a significant day and I strive to make the process smooth and enjoyable as possible. This goes beyond hair & makeup. I help people find other vendors, I have looked after dogs, and try to be there for them when they need me. I feel being a wedding vendor can't be 'just a job', you really need to be part of the day whole-heartedly.

When I receive an enquiry and have availability, I send clients detailed information and a questionnaire. I then create a personalised quote. I offer a complimentary consultation, either in person or via video call. Once booked, I create a shared Google Drive folder in which we can collate and share information. We work on a time schedule together and plan a trial, ideally 2-3 months ahead of the date, so they've got most of their details such as outfits, styling, colours etc. sorted. I take a lot of time for the trial, and I take photos. Afterwards I send my reflections and the photos get saved on the shared Google Drive folder. We then fine-tune the style and make any necessary adjustments to ensure everything is perfect for the big day.

What tips would you give couples looking for their hair and makeup team? 

- Find vendors that align with your values (e.g. sustainability, animal rights, LGBTQIA+ friendly). These vendors are trying very hard to 'change the world', and it's super rewarding to work with and support like-minded people on one of the most special days in your life!

- Choose vendors you're comfortable with, especially if it’s a person that is playing a role on the day. Hair & makeup artists are spending a significant amount of time with you on the day, so it's important you feel comfortable around them. If your hair & makeup artist doesn't do consultations, you could book them for an event hair & makeup so that you can experience what it's like working with them. Plan this well in advance, especially if you want to get married on a weekend in peak season (Spring, Summer, Autumn).

- Make sure you have an idea what kind of hair/makeup the artist can do and that they can do it on all sorts of people. If a makeup artist or hairstylist only shows models in their portfolio, can they also work with non-models? Will their signature makeup that you love so much look good on your face? Ask them to see images of non-models they worked with (unless you are a model of course haha).

how Do you like the wedding morning to flow and how much time do you advise to allow for wedding morning prep?

I like to keep everyone on schedule 🤣 When I arrive there's often a sense of having all the time in the world, I make sure that I keep an eye on the time so that everything runs smoothly and stress-free.

It's important to align the hair and makeup timeline with the photographer's schedule. Make sure you know whether the photographer does documentary style photos while you are getting ready, or whether they need some extra time, for example to take posed shots, and if they do, who do they need when (e.g. they can't do that if one of your important people is still in the hair/makeup chair). Ensure you know these things and you've allowed time for them.

Reserve about 1 hour per person for each service, totaling around 2 hours for both hair and makeup. There are a few factors that influence this timing, but this is a good starting point to get an idea.

Is there any advice you give to clients to help their hair and makeup stay fresh into the evening?

Everyone's needs vary, so this depends on individual skin and hair types. If a person gets quite sweaty, they may need to just carefully dab the sweat off a few times during the day. If their skin gets oily/shiny, they may need to take some blotting papers or powder. For curly hair, a refresher spray might be useful to keep frizz at bay.

During the trial, we'll assess your skin and hair type to determine what will work best.

Most lip products do need touching up throughout the day, so it's good to have something for this. You could opt for a long-lasting lip product, but I definitely recommend trying this out a few times before the day, as not everyone feels comfortable wearing these. Some general wedding day advice - don’t do something new on your wedding day. Anything you'd like to do/try - e.g. fake tan, lash lift, lash extensions, hair removal, masks, hair colouring, anything - take ample time to try it out and make sure it works for you, and if it doesn't there's enough time to correct it before the day.

I carry full-size cruelty-free lip products with me, so my clients can purchase one to keep their lips looking fresh!

What questions would you want couples to ask you before booking you, in order to find out if you're the right fit for one another?

My dietary requirements? Just kidding haha (but I do really appreciate it if I get fed, it's one less thing to think about for me and helps me focus on my work) - also probably not a question people would ask before booking 😆

 During the whole process as described above, usually only the ones that are a fit end up booking. I work with a large variety of clients, which I love. There's no one specific question that would guarantee a good fit though.

I hope this feature has answered some of your questions and given you some insight into the wedding hair and makeup artistry process! To see examples of Inez’s beautiful work as a hair and makeup artist in Castlemaine or to see if she would be available for your day, head to: www.makeupbyinez.com