​Be the Bridal Hair & Makeup Artist You Always Dreamed of...
 
As a bride-to-be you’ll no doubt be ogling gorgeous hair and makeup looks as inspiration for your big day, pretty much whenever you have a moment to spare. Up-dos, down-dos, glossy waves, smoky eyes, flawless skin...there are so many stunning styles to choose from and if you love applying makeup or styling hair yourself, you might well be feeling the stirrings of inspiration beyond your wedding.
 
It’s no mean feat, creating the most beautiful hair and makeup someone has ever had. Hair and makeup that leaves a bride looking like the very best version of herself, so that she can walk with confidence down that aisle. And although being a bridal hair and makeup artist is an absolutely wonderful job (who wouldn’t want to be a part of that incredible bridal party buzz time and again?!), there’s no denying it takes some serious skill. Fortunately, if getting married has got you thinking that creating beautiful looks for other brides is something that you would love to do in life, I can help! It’s never too late to start on the path to the career of your dreams, and my intensive five-day hair and makeup course will help you do just that, even if you’ve never tried it before!
 
Making Your Dream a Reality
As well as being an award-winning bridal hair and makeup artist, I also have another passion: to pass on what I know to others. So much joy comes from creating beautiful hair and makeup, whether that’s for a bride like you or on editorial shoots and filmsets! It’s creative, it’s satisfying, it’s fun and it can mean the world to every individual you work on.
 
My five-day course is held in the unbelievably grand setting of Nether Winchendon House in Oxfordshire, making this a luxury experience like none-other, and it is designed to suit all experience levels, from complete beginner to seasoned pro! Following the structure of the week, you’ll be given the opportunity to learn everything you need to know to go on to be a successful bridal hair and makeup artist and you’ll even be able to hone in on certain areas you really want to focus on, if that’s something you wish to do.
 
Thanks to the astounding backdrop of the grounds and buildings of Nether Winchendon House, alongside collaborations with some of the most talented wedding vendors, dress designers and photographers in the UK, one of the most exciting parts of the week is when everyone gets to showcase what they have learned in a professional, magazine-quality photoshoot. I am always blown away by the images that come back from this and I couldn’t be happier that my students go away with the most remarkable portfolio to get them started on the bridal hair and makeup artist journey.
 
Your Big Day
If you’ve got some time before you’re saying your ‘I dos’ and training to be a bridal hair and makeup artist appeals to you, it’s well worth considering jumping on to my course before your Big Day, to equip yourself with all the know-how you need to discover your own perfect look, whilst learning about what you can do for others. Working on models and seeing the innovative styles that your fellow students (and I!) come up with might just give you some ideas that you’d never have thought of otherwise.
 
But there’s no rush – although these are skills that may have a huge impact on one special day, you’re learning them to last a lifetime and it’s worth remembering that taking a step as simple as booking onto a course may just be the first step into a whole new world. A world where you leave the 9-5 you hate behind and launch into a career you adore. A career that inspires you and fills you with happiness each and every day! Why not combine your transformation from ‘Miss’ to ‘Mrs’ with an all-encompassing overhaul that encourages you to be who you want to be and do the things you love the most? What a way to celebrate your foray into married life!
 
The Course: What to Expect

• Perfect Prep & Product Knowledge
• Classic Bridal Hair & Makeup
• Plaits & Braids
• Vintage & Period Styling
• Professional Portfolio Photoshoot

​Unlike many hair and makeup courses out there, at The Hair & Makeup School you can expect five days filled with all the 1-2-1 support you need and everything tailored to your own, unique requirements. You can expect tonnes of hands on practice using the very best products and kit available in a really fun, friendly and exceptionally beautiful atmosphere!
 
The portfolio photoshoot on the last day is really something quite special – with the grounds of Nether Winchendon House as our playground we team up with Rosie Red Couture who provides amazing handmade dresses for our models to wear, Isabella Henry for bespoke award-winning hair accessories, Forever Bloom for one-of-a-kind bouquets and professional photographers for editorial quality snaps. The experience is one that you will never forget and that has the potential to change your life, forever!
 

​S/S 2018 is set to be the year of polar opposites in Bridal hair and makeup, which I love as this gives me the perfect opportunity to encourage my Hair & Makeup School students to play around with lots of gorgeous, contrasting looks!
 
Prepare to see a whirlwind of ‘wholesome’ brides embracing natural hair texture (particularly if you’re blessed with a head-full of gorgeous curls!) and makeup to match, alongside striking lips and brows paired with sleek up-dos complete with mirror shine.
 
Flower Crowns
 
Hair accessories aren’t always necessary for a great Bridal hair style – sometimes less is more. However, that’s not to say that the right accompaniment to your dream ‘do won’t really set the whole thing off. This is why I always like to play around with a variety of options during my Bridal hair and makeup trials.
 
Until recently, hair vines had been the hot accessory on the block for textured romantic hairstyles, but this year a bolder and brighter choice has taken the lead: flower crowns.
 
A flower crown is not a dainty daisy chain. I’m talking big blooms and foliage, usually atop of loose waves, so it’s not for the faint of heart as this certainly does make a statement! The thought of trying something so eye-catching might scare you a little, but give this look a chance as with the right dress and right setting it can add an air of woodland magic to a bride’s overall appearance like nothing else.
 
Touchable Texture
 
Creating matte and somewhat fluffy texture without it looking messy and accidental is more of a challenge that it looks! That natural finish with a positively fly-away edge is very easy to get wrong if it’s even slightly over or underdone and when teaching my hair and makeup courses at The Hair & Makeup School, Oxford, this is one of the favourite looks that my students love to learn how to put together. I always fall back on my trusty Wella Professionals EIMI Ocean Spritz Spray to get this texture just right.
 
Soft and deconstructed curls and waves either left loose or styled up is a particular love of mine and I really enjoy incorporating braids for even more texture. For 2018, this informal finish is often being put together with ponytails or hair up half down dos tied with a chunky ribbon, which is a great combo of pretty and edgy.
 
Lip Service
 
The lips are doing all the talking for S/S 2018 brides, whatever look you’re going for. ‘Natural’ brides are looking fresh with a bee-stung pout in sheer rose shades and coral hues, whereas the bold and beautiful are looking stunning in deep plums and vibrant orange-toned reds.
 
Often it’s eyes that take centre stage when walking down the aisle, but this year peepers are taking a back-seat, with just a sweep of lash-lengthening mascara and maybe a subtle eye-liner flick, in comparison to kissable lips.
 
Face-Framing Brows
 
Eyebrows remain fierce for 2018 – well defined and noticeable. For the chic and sleek look, I am making sure that my brides brows are shaped to perfection and thoroughly filled for a very definite face-framing effect. Anastasia Brow Pro Pallette is my go-to brow palette and one that a recommend to all of my students.
 
Rough ‘n’ ready brows are still in for those woodsy brides, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that deliberate bushiness equates to unkempt. To get this look right, eyebrows must be groomed first!
 
Hazy-Grey
 
If you’re a fan of a smoky eye, you might want to consider it’s ‘little sister’ for your wedding this year.
 
Using muted grey shades for a hazy look, ideal for day to night wear, this is a new take on a smudgy sexy eye. Before now, the alternative smoky eye was often made using neutral and taupe shadows but I am loving this stormy version.
 
A Bit of Sparkle
 
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bride who doesn’t have glitter as guilty pleasure, but you needn’t shy away from it this year as a subtle swipe of sparkle is totally in!
 
I’m not saying that it’s time to get your 13-year-old-self’s makeup kit out of the attic, but do feel free to embrace some fine glitter on your eye lids, sparkly nails or even some skin and hair shimmer with Captain Blankenship’s Sea Salt Shimmer Spray.
 

​I love how, unlike many other hair & makeup courses out there, every course I hold at the lovely Nether Winchendon House is so different. I tend to follow a general schedule that I have created with my students, so I know they’ll always have the best opportunity possible to get the most out of their time with me, but I also make a point of tailoring the course to suit everyone’s individual needs, because everyone is different and where they’re at or what they are hoping to get from the course always varies.

​One thing that really stood out for me during this last course is how supportive everyone is of each other. This is something I see happening every time, but the more courses I run the more I notice it as a recurring theme. I strive to create a really comfortable environment for my students to work in and I make sure to encourage questions and a real team vibe, but I can’t take all the credit for the way my students are always so friendly and loving. 

​Everyone who attends my five day hair and makeup course is certainly passionate about creating gorgeous styles, whatever their experience level or hopes for the future, so perhaps this is part of it. Whatever the reason, it is such a pleasure to be able to introduce such wonderful, like-minded people and see friendships blossom in a relatively short time. There’s no denying that the hair and makeup industry is a competitive one, but as my students so beautifully demonstrate, that doesn’t mean you can’t support others and work together.

​From grundging it up with edgy styling to throwing themselves into the realm of retro, my students really pulled it out of the bag at the end of this course and alongside the incredible dresses, props (including a delicious three-tier wedding cake!) and of course a choice of remarkable back drops in the grounds, the result of the shoot was nothing short of editorial. An amazing way to kick-start or build up that all-important portfolio!

​As usual, I was thrilled to be able to collaborate with a number of outstanding brands and individuals to help really bring all the styles to life, particularly during the photo shoots that take place on the fifth and final day of the five day hair and makeup course.
 
This time round we had heads adorned with divine accessories made by Isabella Henry Head-dresses, beautiful bouquets courtesy of Wild Rose Florist and Forever Blossom, a OOAK cake made by Cherry Tree Cakerie, dresses supplied by Rosie Red Couture and of course, stunning photography by Alexandra Jane and Hannah Veale Photography and Farah Alvious and Susan Taylor. We were even lucky enough to have a professional hand with the shoot styling with Natasha The Event Designer on the set!

​As always, the course went off without a hitch and the result was a group of amazingly talented professionals going off into the world with the confidence and skills to be the hair and makeup artists they have always wanted to be. I cannot WAIT for next time! 

 From the complementary and super-pretty notepads and pens for all the girls to make their notes in; the mood boards for each day that I put together to inspire; the elegant hair accessories provided by Isabella Henry; the wedding-ready blooms from Forever Blossom UK; the couture gowns by Rosie Red Corsetry…and so much more! I always make sure that everything is taken care of to the highest standard and guess what? It so pays off. For everyone.

​My Instagram feed was going crazy with all the posts from my students showcasing their beautiful work every day and their reviews of the course! Here’s just a few…

I have to give a huge THANK YOU to all of the wonderful people who got involved to make this course an absolute belter!
 
Magazine quality images by photographers Zaki Charles, Susan Taylor and Richard Wakefield
 
Bespoke award-winning Bridal hair accessories by Isabella Henry
 
Exquisite bouquets and blooms from Forever Blossom UK
 
Handmade Fairytale Couture by Rosie Red Corsetry
 
Dreamy location and backdrop of Nether Winchendon House
​

Tying the knot this summer? Congratulations! I absolutely love working with summer brides, creating beautiful ethereal, Boho and classic makeup looks with a lighter, more natural finish that is comfortable to wear in the heat whilst still looking great and providing a flawless finish, with stunning hairstyles to match.

How to Achieve Summer Wedding Makeup
Achieving the ideal summer wedding makeup takes real skill and amazing products, as the ‘less is more’ approach is often trickier to get right than a noticeable full face, and fresh, natural yet utterly gorgeous is usually what my summer brides are after. Prepping the skin correctly is key to applying makeup that looks great and is long lasting – essential for your wedding day, where you’ll need to be ready to look your very best from morning until night, for all weather forecasts.
I adore the fresh-faced look that is set to be the biggest trend with brides this summer, which focuses on a lovely healthy glow, gently flushed cheeks and lips and well defined but natural eyes and brows. A touch of highlighter can go a long way in bringing out an iridescent radiance and individual lashes carefully applied are my go-to for creating photo ready peepers with a ‘I just woke up like this beautiful’ appearance.

My Must-Have Products
As one of the UK’s leading, award-winning bridal hair and makeup artists, I’ve really been through the mill over the last 11 years, trying and testing all the very best products for hair and makeup out there! Finding the perfect products to create that dream look can be a challenge (not to mention an expense!), so I always love to share my must-haves with all of my brides and my students on my 5 Day Bridal Hair & Makeup Course, to make their lives just that little bit easier.
So many people skip one of the most important steps of professional makeup application – the skin prep. Getting the base ready to start applying makeup, by keeping your skin well hydrated and using an exceptional primer to create a smooth surface with minimised pores and wrinkles, makes all the difference to the end result. I love the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer as my best ‘all rounder’ and MAC Prep & Prime Transparent to combat oily skin and beat shine in those wedding photos.
Your eyes should be primed too, to ensure long-lasting eye makeup free from unsightly creases and smudging, but you’ll need an eye primer rather than a face primer for that. I always use MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot for this on my brides in either Soft Ocre, Painterly or Groundwork for darker skin tones.
Having just come out of months of harsh winter weather only to be bombarded with skin-drying air con and damaging UV rays can really leave you with thirsty skin that makeup doesn’t sit well on. For a major hydration boost I turn to my trusty iS Clinical Hydra Serum – a fantastic product suitable for all skin types that is designed to provide an intensive injection of moisture to dry skin. Hair can become equally drab and lacklustre for the same reasons and for this, I love using Mythic oil by L'oreal to promote silky texture and mirror shine.
For those popular ‘Beachy Waves’, you need a fantastic salt spray that creates an undone texture whilst hydrating and protecting your locks. Ocean Spritz by Wella is my number 1 choice for this and works brilliantly every time.
My Personal Favourites:
Budget: Boujour Healthy Mix Foundation
Sensible: Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara ‘A Raincoat for Lashes’
Extravagant: Anastasia Beverly Hills Sun-Dipped Glow Kit (highlighting kit)
Change your look: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof – grey liner
 
DIY Brides: When to buy your makeup and start practicing
If you’re a DIY bride and you’re going it alone with your summer wedding makeup, you can’t start practicing soon enough! Practice really does make perfect, and as that’s what you’re after for your big day you’d better get to it! If you want to apply your makeup like a pro, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to take a course beforehand so you really know what you’re doing. My 5 Day Bridal Hair & Makeup is suitable for all experience levels and will take you through, step by step, how to create amazing Bridal looks.
One big tip I’d have to give is: don’t just do your usual makeup for your wedding day. Of course, you want to feel comfortable and still look like you, but remember, this makeup has got to look amazing on camera as well as in person, so that requires some extra work.
Try different looks out and take photos of each so you can see how they look and refer back to the images later. It’s great to experiment with different styles as you don’t know what you’ll fall in love with until you try it, but whatever you do, don’t experiment on the day! Give yourself plenty of time (months, ideally!) to get really comfortable and confident with creating your desired look.
​
Using a Bridal MUA - why and what to look for
Your wedding day is a pretty huge deal and it’s going to be absolutely spectacular! But there’s no denying that almost every bride feels the pressure on the morning of the main event.
Hiring a Bridal MUA helps take the stress out of needing to get things right to look your best and instead, puts that responsibility into the hands of a professional who you trust and have already trialled your chosen look with. Hiring an MUA allows you to sit back, relax and enjoy a little pampering on one of the best and most special days of your life
When searching for your dream match of wedding MUA, you must of course love their work and the look that they create for you, but it’s equally important to genuinely enjoy their company and feel comfortable around them. You wedding is an intimate day – you’ll be feeling teary, emotional and maybe even a little bit vulnerable! So you want to have someone that you feel in safe hands with.
 
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For your professional photoshoot we will provide you with stunning bouquets of flowers for your bridal models!

I want your work to been shown off at it’s very best in your portfolio images and that’s why I’ve teamed up with couture designer Rosie Red Corsetry to give you the opportunity to dress your models up in truly spectacular outfits, to really look the part.

Show your brides-to-be examples of a full, wedding day look in your portfolio and demonstrate how your hair and makeup styles contribute to a stunning finish.
​
Rosie Red Corsetry offers luxury, bespoke gowns hand-made right here in Oxfordshire and has a vast celebrity following thanks to these garments being real show-stopping, unique pieces – the dream accompaniment to your individual hair and makeup designs.

​You can expect the highest standard from my 5 day intensive course. Training from 9am – 6pm each day, with only the very best products and equipment and me to hand  to  teach you how to use it all, you’ll finish the week feeling confident to take on any Bridal Hair and Makeup challenge.

Day 1
Enjoy a thorough introduction to Bridal Hair and Makeup Artistry, where you’ll discover how to offer your clients an excellent consultation for the very best results; all the best prepping techniques and product knowledge and how to create the most popular classic Bridal Hair and Makeup look.
​Watch demonstrations on live models and recreate the looks on the best quality training heads and each other. Once you've done a full hair makeup look on your model you will be taking photographs with professional lighting,  dresses, bridal hair accessories and for that finished bridal effect you will have the use of stunning bouquets of flowers. Building your portfolio is key in this industry to start showcasing your work to your future clients/brides so this is why i ensure everyday you will be building your portfolio and walking away from this intensive course with a stunning portfolio of your hair and makeup styling.

Day 3
Plaiting and braiding is an essential string to add to your hairstylist bow, so i dedicate a full day to learning how to create a variety of braids also with incorporating twists. Knowing how to plait and braid and twist the hair beautifully, either as a stand alone look or incorporated into a hairstyle, this will set you apart from the intense competition out there in the bridal hairstyling world.

Day 5
The stunningly beautiful surroundings of Nether Winchendon House provides more than just a glorious and inspiring place to work – it also gives you the opportunity to get the most remarkable photos of your work on the final day, with a professional photographer, so that you go away with an incredible Bridal Hair and Makeup portfolio to really kick-start your career. 

i can provide you with models or you’re more than welcome to bring your own, to dress up in fantasy bridal and couture wedding dresses provided by Rosie Red Corsetry. We also get to make the most of the wonderful flowers available to pick in the gardens, which offers the perfect finishing touch to your bridal hairstyles!

 
​• Award-winning Bridal Hair & Makeup Artist
• Senior level hairdresser
• Period styling expert
• 11+ years experience
• Trained by Brushstroke Hair & Makeup School

​Who you are trained by will make all the difference to your future success, so selecting the right (or wrong!) trainer can change the entire direction of your career as a Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist.  With this in mind, I’m sure by now you’re probably wondering who I am and why training with me is the best decision for you.

From contemporary looks to period styling, I will take you through how you will create beautiful Bridal Hair and Makeup looks, step by step, in-depth and at a pace that suits you. I adore styling brides and so I still also work regularly as a Bridal Hair and Makeup artist, alongside teaching my course, and as such I am continually developing unique styles and innovative skills which I can share with my students.  You will leave the course with the foundation for a great career and with a stunning start to your own Portfolio!
 
When you choose to train with me, you’re choosing to train with someone for whom Bridal Hair and Makeup artistry is so much more than just a job – it’s a vocation. 

Im very proud to be the winner of the south east Hair & Makeup Specialist of the year 2016!! What a great year it has been in so many ways!! The most amazing part of it all is that i love my job! Being a hair and makeup artist has given me the most amazing career ! x