San Francisco Destination Makeup and Hair Artist
Makeup and Hair Artist
I often get featured in wedding Blogs like Style Me Pretty or 7X7. It is always an honor and a pleasure to see my work posted in these blogs, however I don't always hear about them. I decided to googled myself....and here are some of my recent published works I found!
A few days ago I received a lovely new product to review! What an amazing treat it was to receive a liquid hand soap that was hand delivered to me by Enoch Pacheco, founder of Castiel Cosmetics. As a business owner I really take notice when another business owner goes out of his way to hand deliver something. It speaks such volumes that this person obviously cares about his product and the people who will be using it.
He had me sold on his product right from the start, solely because the beautiful lilac liquid soap labeled “French Lavender" was delivered in a clear glass liquid soap dispenser and not some plastic bottle. Actually the soap dispenser was nicer than mine, so I went ahead and replaced mine immediately upon receiving it. So my boyfriend Laif used it first, and his reaction was, “Holy shit baby. This is awesome”. Ok, if a guy can get that excited over hand soap, well then there must be something in the product! That's just the thing, it's made from all natural ingredients. The product has a beautiful lavender scent that is not over powering like some artificial scents can be.
You know how some soaps can feel heavy and take forever to wash off your hands, and barely wash off in cold water? Well this soap is quick to lather up, creating that squeaky clean feeling. Then, it washed off in a second, leaving my skin feeling moisturized and smelling fresh! I didn’t have to use a lot of product to get my hands feeling nice and clean.
Ok. So, I did some research on the product and Enoch takes pride in creating a line that is 100% plant based and biodegradable with all natural ingredients. No colorant added, no artificial smells, no harmful chemicals that will go on your skin or down the drain and eventually into the ocean! His website explains exactly what is in the product and what is NOT. No harmful chemicals means I would feel comfortable washing my face with it, and even baby Angus’s face when he comes to visit. =) Enoch with Castiel Cosmetics is selling the French Lavender soap for just $5 that comes in that soap dispenser or you can get the refills for just $3. You are getting a chemical free, all natural plant based soap that is made right here locally in SF.
I am beyond grateful to Enoch for seeking me out and offering his fantastic soap to my home. I completely support this product and what it stands for. Great job Enoch and Thank you!
Check out Castiel Cosmetics French Lavender Hand Soap at http://www.castielcosmetics.com
Would you believe I had been searching for someone to make my promo video for almost 2 years? I found Whitney Dinneweth sitting in a diner at Eddies cafe on Divisadero St. in San Francisco. I had seen Whit in the cafe about 3 or 4 times and each time I saw him I had a pressing feeling that I needed to talk to him. Somewhat intrigued, I jumped right at the chance to interrupt his quiet breakfast….My first question to him was…” WHO ARE YOU?” I’m sure he thought, “who is this wacky chick” but responded with a very inviting smile, “I’m Whitney, who are you?” He was chatty and friendly and omitted an openness that made him easy to talk to. It was one of the universes funny little coincidences that he was a videographer. We became friends and exchanged work info right away.
When I meet someone for the first time, I sometimes have a physical response, either positive or negative. Meeting Whit felt like an awesome caffeine rush…maybe it had something to with his obsession for drinking copious amounts of coffee and I was picking up on that. haha…. What encouraged me to want to work with him was that I trusted his ideas of what we wanted to convey to the audience. He understood who I was as an artist and how we should deliver that story while keeping it short and to the point. Whitney was on board from the beginning and jumped in with his edgy style allowing me to have control while gently leading me in a beneficial direction. The guy is nothing short of a professional in understanding how to interact with people. He maintained a very relaxed calm energy and remained completely positive and focused. The first day we shot he brought his beautiful girlfriend Gretchen who became a great asset in relaxing me while being in front of camera. There are shots of her in the opening portion of the video.
Whitney Dinneweth is not only an artist but a master editor. I am sure this is why big companies such as Levis and Dockers hire him to create a more stylized upbeat look for their promo videos. “People respond to a more personal approach these days” Whit says….I guess that is why in one day of posting my video, it got almost 200 hits from Facebook alone….I received phone calls, emails and texts saying how much they liked it. My general feeling of the experience overall is I am grateful to have met this kid….a true artist with a true love for what he does. Very inspiring…
I am humbly grateful to you Whit….may the happiness in your success continue to find you. =)
For more of Whitney Dinneweth’s work visit his website at…www.abovethecutfilms.com
Special Thank you to:
Joy Taylor for her home and her gorgeous face. Natalie Aldajani for taking time from work to be in the closing shot. Sarah Shonkwiler for allowing us to use her beautiful apartment with a kick ass view.
The other night I was having dinner with a few friends at one of my favorite restaurants and an older gentleman asked me what I do for a living. I always get super excited when someone inquires about my profession because you never know what kind of reaction you will get, especially from a man. “I am a Makeup and Hair Stylist”…pause….searching his face…waiting….and… nothing. His eyes glazed over as if it weren’t even a real occupation I had described. It dawned on me that he, along with many others, have no idea what it is that Makeup and Hair people do. When I arrived home late that night, I checked a few emails and 2 out of 4 of them were from Brides asking for discounts on their services. Sirens in my head started to go off….Like the older gentleman in the restaurant, even some women don’t understand the work behind Makeup and Hair artistry. Let me break it down for you…
Imagine this: The doors open. The music begins. Everyone is standing. Your father takes the first step forward leading you down the isle. All 250 heads in the room turn to look at YOU! It’s not just the dress they are looking at, it’s your eyes, your smile, the way your skin is glowing like it never has before, it’s your hair and how perfect it looks. As you are walking towards your beloved you notice a confidence you haven’t felt in years or perhaps ever. It’s a total trust that everything leading up to this very moment was worth it! Even if the moment is quick it is the moment you have always waited for. As he lifts the veil over your head, the anticipation of seeing you starts to fade and is replaced by the admiration and amazement in how beautiful you look. He can hardly believe that you, the most beautiful woman in his world, has chosen him, and he can’t wait to start a life with you by his side.
OK, now that we have gotten all that pitter patter stuff outta the way, let’s get real here.
The year leading up to the wedding is stressful. Let’s face it planning a huge party for 200 plus people is really tough. It starts to become more than just a unification of your love. It becomes a production. Needless to say it is like directing your own movie in which you are the star! You have your work cut out for you. When you are stressed out, little unwanted guests start to appear on your face. It’s up to me to hide these intruders from crashing the party. Sometimes not an easy task. Along with the unplanned things that arise, it is your emotional well being that everyone tends to forget about. What about the bride?
Your mother is breathing down your neck about why you sat so and so next to your great Aunt Gertrude, your vendors aren’t listening to your wants, the dress isn’t even ready yet after the 5th fitting, and you have just about had enough of being pulled in all directions. Maybe things didn’t go as planned. Maybe the flowers turned out to be a complete disaster and not to mention how stressful it is all becoming because it’s costing you way over what you had budgeted. These are things that although I can not remedy, I do take into consideration and do my best to offer a sense of space and calm. When you hire me, you are not just hiring someone to make you look pretty….
My Energy
I had a lovely morning of meditation and yoga. I had you in my thoughts sending you positive vibrations. When I walk into your hotel room, I recognize the nervous energy and immediately place my hands on your shoulders and give you a solid squeeze. I’m here. You can let go now. Close your eyes and surrender to the moment of being cared for. I bring you some tea and ask all your bridesmaids, your mother, mother of the groom, photographers, videographer, etc. if I can just have a few minutes alone with the most important person of the day. I know you are nervous. I am very deliberate in how I take care of you. I remind you to breathe and stay present with me. For me, it’s not just getting the job done and getting out of there. I am totally and completely immersed in you. I am there to serve you one hundred percent. I know this day is important to you…and the only thing I have in my mind is your happiness and well being.
It becomes my mission and my goal to ensure that you are lead in that direction. If you need to vent I can listen. If you need to cry I will be right by your side with the kleenex, I am there to hold the space for you because a lot of emotions you weren’t planning on surfacing can tend to come up.
A lot of the times when working with people I can feel their nervousness. I have been doing this for 10 years and once in a while my hand will shake when I am not locking in my own energy. In other words, I have to have complete and total concentration on what I am doing at that moment, which becomes a meditation in itself. It is my understanding that when you are offering your undivided attention to something, it leaves very little room for error.
Understand that it is so much more than an art form. Sometimes when leaving a wedding artists tend to feel drained or sometimes even dizzy. Being that close to someone in an intense situation can really take a lot out of us. It is literally the act of pouring energy into you. If we are not mentally and physically prepared it can affect our performance. I have a healthy practice of yoga and meditation so that I can develop the focus and mental strength to become adaptable to the potential adversity that can arise on your day.
My kit
Ask any artist and they will let you know in a second how much they love their kit. The Makeup Kit is not just an ordinary Makeup box with product in it. It is like our child. We have watched it grow for years investing so much of our own personalities into it. Each artist’s kit is different. The products and tools we choose for our kit is what allows the magic to transpire.
My kit has products in it from my travels all over Europe. I have customized it to be at it’s best. I am always cleaning it and restocking it. I love my kit. Some of the brushes are custom hand made from Japan and each brush is around $100. Why would I need a brush that costs that much? Well, the hand made Hakuhodo brushes are like velvet on the skin. They have the ability to pick up just the right amount of product and dispense it with precision, where as synthetic brushes are cut through a machine and do not have the same blending power. My kit holds top of the line brands that I have tested on myself and have studied thoroughly. I don’t just throw any old drugstore product in my kit. I went through the distributor, asked for a sample, tried it on me, read blogs about it and studied the ingredients before I purchased it and added it to my kit for you. My products are not cheap. They are high quality and they cater to a variety of different skin types, shades and ethnicity’s. I must always take into consideration that each person’s needs are different. My kit will always will be stocked to accommodate a variety of clients.
My Time
I know you have been preparing for this day for over a year, which is why I have taken a lot of care in preparing for your day for over a decade. It is not just showing up on the day of the wedding. There is so much more that goes into it. Being a sole proprietor, I am responsible for all of my own homework. With new trends and the rise of technology in the beauty industry, I need to always be current on the latest products and techniques. In addition to my previous education in Esthetics, Makeup, Hair and various workshops, I am constantly attending lectures and classes to further my knowledge and growth as an artist.
As your makeup artist, it is my pleasure to answer any questions you may have at any given time. Which means I don’t have a set schedule. Emails and phone calls can tend to come in at all hours of the day and night. I do my best to get back to my clients as soon as I can and always respond with as much care and detail as possible. In addition to this I am writing contracts, preparing information and price packets, updating my website, making business cards, uploading photos, invoicing, blogging, Facebook statuses, twitter, and all other social media that are needed just to keep my business alive. I am constantly needing to be my own advertising agent as well as my own boss which means I have to have discipline to kick my own ass when I just don’t feel like doing anything. Might I remind you that I do not get a pay check every two weeks like most people do. This is not always easy…especially when the “slow months” arrive. It can be hard wondering if you will be able to make next months car payment, which also needs to be kept up and in tune so that I can travel to each location!
My Love
There were times when I wondered if it would be easier to work at a desk and have “security” of a paycheck, health insurance, vacation time. As Makeup Artists we understand that we are giving up the things that conventional jobs might offer. In return I feel completely and totally blessed to be doing what I do. I offer thanks everyday to the divine for the opportunity to serve you. I enjoy listening to your stories. I love hearing about how you met him and what goals you have set for yourselves in the future. I get to meet you and learn all about you, even if it is for just a few hours. I get to meet your families and friends. I get to be apart of a timeless experience that will color the memories for your life. Know that what I do takes a lot of work and energy however I am confident in the method behind my services because it is brought forth from a place of genuine love….an essential ingredient of success in any aspect of life.
So now you have a better understanding of what I am offering you on your very special day. My hope is for you to feel a little more assured in knowing you are receiving a luxury service and what that entails. My goal is to ensure that you look the best you have ever looked….and my intention is to help accentuate that from the inside out. =)
Many of you know I have a very beautiful, successful sister who lives in Seville, Spain. My sister, Cristina Hall has been dancing flamenco for the past 14 years throughout the world. I have had the honor to watch her grow over time, both as an artist and as an amazing and passionate young woman. It has been a journey indeed, at times very strenuous and complex on her uphill climb to success….one that has been filled with tears and pain along the way. In her dedicated endeavor to reaching her goals as a dancer, Cristina has always been a seeker of self knowledge and truth. She has always been very sensitive emotionally yet embodies a controlled fire that is unleashed when performing.
Whenever Cristina and I come together to create a concept for a shoot, its like that feeling you get after having way too much coffee. You know, the anticipation and nervous excitement that takes place where you can’t focus on just one idea….because with her, there are always hundreds! It’s like she sees the world in lines, shapes and colors that are tied to movement. She analyzes things with her heart and a story can always transpire. We sat and conjured up about 4 looks, then had to break it down to just 2 for timing purposes. Cristina had the idea of using masks as a prop …..what happens when the mask comes off?….our true nature is exposed. If you ask her about it she will tell you that she feels she is heard the most when she is on stage. It’s where she can drop the disguise and really be her authentic self.
During her last visit, I noticed a confidence in her that was stronger in both her dancing and in the way she spoke. It made sense in my mind that the looks for our shoot had to be both intricate in detail and bold as well as incredibly sexy. If you ask my sister, she will tell you that sexy is just not the way she would describe herself…however, I wanted the photos to show strength of her femininity as well as the seriousness of her art.
Cat Nguyen, our master of Photography, found a performing arts warehouse with built in stage lights to create the mood for the shoot and we put Cristina on a ladder to shoot her “Bata De Cola” (a long flamenco skirt) that we shot in some of the photos. Styling her was fun! I weaved in extension hair pieces to create a Victorian hair style. This was complicated because it was almost like wig making, which felt a bit pressured and unrehearsed. For cost purposes I used synthetic hair, which means no heat styling, so it was all molding with product and verbally coercing the hair to stay in place. (meaning lots of cuss words when things didn’t go right…hehe) Cristina has beautiful pale skin and I wanted to enhance that in the photos. For the first, look her makeup was a fun red smokey eye that made her intense green eyes pop and a classic blood red lipstick that took on a 19th century vampire-like character. The second look was a bit more relaxed. I took her look into a more Bridget Bardot direction. I had fun with the 60′s winged eyeliner and pale lips, and although I have done this look a hundred times, it looked very different on her. I took out the extensions and teased the crown of her head for height and thickness. This gave her free slow movement and added a very sensual vibe to her look. Her movements were soft and snakelike with a modern flare, allowing Cat to capture the poses as her subject would shift. Although she may never admit it….yeah, I saw her working the camera! =)
Check out the photos….
I was thrilled to receive an email a few days ago from the crew at “Style Me Pretty” that they would be featuring my work in their latest blog. Check me out!
http://www.stylemepretty.com/california-weddings/
Also check out the video with some great close ups on her hair and makeup….she truly was a classic beauty! =)
December 11th, 2012
I am proud to say that I come from a family of creative thinkers, outgoing personalities and innovative trend setters. One in particular that comes to mind is my incredibly gorgeous style savvy cousin Natalie Shirinian. Natalie is a Los Angeles based Public Relations Representative for some of the big name stylists such as Mary McDonald, Rachel Horn, Tobi Tobin and more. Her recent achievements have been two of her clients on the show Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorator, and setting up her clients in magazines such as Vogue, Departures, House Beautiful, and ELLE DECOR. Natalie takes pride in being selective in who she chooses to work with, then offering an undivided level of attention to artist exposure. She is the Founder of one of my favorite sites called Femme on Feast, featuring female chefs around the world and a blog called The Confessionals.tv.
When Natalie called and asked me to fly to LA and style Ashley and Andrea of I Heart Design By Avenue, founders and stylist of LA’s newest up and coming design firms, I got on a plane and was off to Beverly Hills. It was a pleasure working with such fun Artists with clear direction on what they wanted. The wardrobe styling was amazing and the Art direction flawless. I had a blast hanging out with the two stylish entrepreneurs and there was never a decent in creativity with the makeup and hair.
Natalie stopped in on the shoot towards the later part of the day and livened up the vibe when we were just starting to get tired. Watching her interact with her clients really brings customer and client relationships to a whole new level. What can I say accept I am so proud to be related to this gal….keep an eye out kids, this PR Maven is definitely on a path that goes straight up!
http://nescreativeservices.com/nes_creative_services.html
The Confessionals.tv
http://www.femmeonfeast.com/
Makeup and Hair Styling by Melisa Hall
http://www.iheartdesignbyavenue.com
I just stopped into West Coast Beauty Supply the other day to pick up product and couldn’t resist. For years I have been working with less than awesome cheap blow dryers from Walgreen’s and I just couldn’t take it anymore. The newest addition to my hair kit is the super light weight Solano 3500 lite Dryer. Its an Ionic dryer which cuts drying time in half and minimizes static electricity in the hair. Infrared heat dries hair from the inside out for overall healthier hair. It has a 3 level heat switch and a cold shot…..AND….sigh….IT IS LIGHT!!!!! I love it. It barely adds any weight to my hair kit. So what now? Off to wash my mane so that I can test out my fabulous dryer! Blow out anyone?
My recent Bride. Kaiya Reeve had done a trial with me almost a year before her big day. Her skin was flawless. The type of skin every woman wants. Initially we had gone with the airbrush foundation for a more mat finish, however we decided on a different look for the day of just weeks before the wedding.
I used the Luminous Silk Foundations by Armani and blended a cream blush color that I created using the Makeup Forever Flash Color Palette. I then added a touch of her cheek color to a neutral lip shade by Tom Ford called “Indian Rose”. The results were a very flawless “perfect” dewy skin. I couldn’t be happier with how amazing she looked up close and in photos.
Photos by Vero Suh Photography
July 18th, 2012
I woke up this morning to a big package on my doorstep. BIG SMILE! I decided to splurge and add another high end line to my kit….Armani’s luminous silk foundations. After doing a lot of research on a few high end lines, I hit makeup counters and got samples of a few different lines I was considering, and Armani won by a long shot. Sure its pricey at about $60 a bottle (I bought 8), however this sheer foundation leaves the skin looking absolutely flawless. What I love most about it adds such a beautiful glow to the skin without it being to heavy or greasy. Not only does this foundation look amazing up close but it photographs really well. =)
I just got back from working on a 3 day shoot in Napa Valley about an hour ago. Exhausted and feeling a bit down, as we all can from time to time, I was quickly uplifted by a very touching email sent from a Bride I worked with on my Birthday! I immediately got a rush of energy and reassurance as to why I truly love what I do. Nothing pleases me more than to see a smile of gratitude on a Bride’s face. There is no amount of money in the world that can give me that warm sensation in my heart that I feel watching a client take in an exciting breath as she sees herself in the mirror, and how beautiful she is. I get to be there. I get to hold the space with her in a way that is more than just beautifying her. I get to be apart of a memory that will always be hers.
This is one of the most thankful emails I have ever received and I am overjoyed and so pleased we got to work together on a special day for both of us!
Melisa,
I want to express my sincere appreciation for the fabulous manner in which you applied my makeup and styled my hair. I can’t say enough how truly happy I was with the outcome. Your work is beyond fabulous and what is even more impressive is that in addition to a superb job, you extend genuine kindness and
thoughtfulness to your clients. Thank you for going above and beyond the norm and for making my special day one which can never be forgotten. I’m still in awe that I was fortunate enough to work with you on your birthday – I am extremely grateful and thankful that you accommodated me so graciously. I must say that because of your excellent work – my photographs look amazing. I received a few shots and they look fabulous – thanks to you. I have received countless compliments by others on my hair and makeup. Everyone is in awe at how beautiful they both came out. At work, some have gone as far to say that they can’t even believe that’s me. I know, I’m offended, but I’ll get over it. You can be sure that many are the ears which have heard mention of your incredible talent. I’m already thinking of reasons as to why I need to go back west, just so that I can do another photo session and have you style and apply my makeup. Your talent and kindness are truly unmatched and I feel so blessed that I got to work with you on your very special day. Your open candor and that magnificent quality you have of making others feel at ease at such a nerve wracking moment is truly refreshing and heaven sent.
Thank you again for everything and for the truly exquisite manner in which you styled my hair and makeup, it was flawless and I am eternally grateful to you.
Sincerely,
Katherine
I had the pleasure of working with amazing Decorative painter / Designer, Caroline Lizarraga, . All I can say is this woman is AWESOME! The shoot was not only super fun to work on but inspiring for me as an entrepreneur. I got to hang out on set all day with Caroline and share stories of life, relationships and creativity. A full time single mother with a full time designing career, Caroline manages to keep a laid back attitude and strong sense of self, embodying a down to earth real beauty inside and out.
The concept of the shoot was put together by my two very favorite photographers Cat Nguyen and Sonya Yruel. Especially after meeting Caroline and understanding her work and her couture fashion sense of style, the idea of having a straight “head shot” didn’t really appeal to any of us. We wanted the photos to tell a story of who Caroline truly is. Not only can this “bad ass” gal create a Picasso painting out of a white wall, or turn your bland coffee table into a Gothic modern work of art, but she isn’t afraid to get her hands drenched in paint and plaster while doing it! She lived and learned to perfect her craft in Italy and not only was I completely infatuated with her positive energy but let me just say that I couldn’t stop drooling over her beautiful European clothes and Italian made shoes!
Check out Caroline’s work….
