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
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!
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The standard is so high at 'The Hair & Makeup School' Only expect the best training and portfolio building opportunitys. Contact us now for limited spaces on the next course! 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. The start of April marked another hugely successful course for The Hair & Makeup School, with students from all backgrounds diving straight in and wowing me with their talent, dedication and progress over five fun-filled days. Tailored to You 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.
Love & Support 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. Making it their Own
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! Astounding Collaborations 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!
After an absolutely incredible 5 days training with talented students of all experience levels, I am so excited to share a run down and the amazing results of my most recent 5 Day Bridal Hair & Makeup Course, held at the ever-beautiful Nether Winchendon House! Take a look at what’s included on my intensive 5-Day Bridal Hair & Makeup Course here I know that for me, whether we’re talking about creating perfect bridal hair and makeup looks or amazing night out looks, it’s the little things that make all the difference. 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. From day one, the atmosphere was absolutely buzzing with talent, creativity and excitement and it showed in the fantastic work produced.
Throughout the week, we covered everything anyone would ever need to become a successful Bridal Hair & Makeup Artist:
What My Students Said |
The VenueIt is such a pleasure to be able to hold my courses at Nether Winchendon House, one of the UK’s top wedding venues. Having such a spectacular setting really makes the images of my student’s work stand out from the crowd. With access to the beautiful, sprawling gardens and lavish rooms as your photo shoot backdrop, these portfolio images will really help to give your clients a clear idea of how the hair and makeup that you can create for them will look on their wedding day, which is a huge selling point! As an added bonus, we are able to make use of the wonderful flowers that grow in the grounds of Nether Winchendon House, which makes the most perfect finishing touch to many bridal hairstyles. |
I encourage all of my Bridal Hair & Makeup students to take photos of all of their work throughout the week. On the final day you will have the pleasure and invaluable experience of showcasing your work in a full photo shoot with a professional photographer. Complete with the enchanting venue and fantasy-esque bridal gowns, the images you’ll get of your work will be magazine worthy and unlike anything that any other course can offer. |
| Suitable for All LevelsFrom absolute beginner to seasoned pro, my courses are designed to bring you into your own with individually tailored tasks that follow the expertly structured schedule, to make sure that you are getting the very best out of the course. I understand that each and every person that chooses to attend one of my courses is unique, with different goals and abilities, so my personal assessment of all of my students makes for a bespoke training experience like none other. |
Welcome to The Hair & Makeup School! |
My name is Holly Preston – I am 'The Hair & Makeup School' founder and head tutor. I pride myself on being able to offer you an exceptional learning experience, tailored to suit your needs and skill level, within the stunning surroundings of Nether Winchendon House. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced Hair and Makeup Artist, you will find that embarking on one of my intensive courses here at The Hair & Makeup School will advance your career within the Wedding industry and update your skills. But with so many different Hair and Makeup courses out there to choose from, I know it’s important for you to be sure that you’re getting the very best training for your time and money. |
Hair and Makeup is my passion and after 11 years of working solidly in the Wedding Industry, in TV and on editorial shoots, I am proud to be able to call myself an accomplished Award Winning Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist - and I have loved every minute of it!
Regardless of your experience level when you come to me, I know that my students will always come away from my 5-Day Course with new-found confidence and a professional ability to deliver amazing results. Because of this, I am happy to offer all of my students a place on my own nationwide Hair and Makeup Team to kick-start your career as a Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist. Enjoy working as part of a group at some of the very best and exclusive UK Wedding Venues until you find your feet as a sole artist and when you’re ready, you’ll have the opportunity to take the lead on your own Bridal parties! For more on my 5-Day Hair and Makeup course, take a look at the course page. For upcoming course dates, get in touch! |