“How experienced are you?”
All our artists must have at least 2 years experience doing professional makeup for weddings and special events in order to be a part of our team! Once on the team, our owner Nikki works one-on-one with each artist until she is properly trained up to Dollhaus standards.
“Where are you located?”
We have two locations: Santa Ana, CA and San Antonio, TX. The Dollhaus Beauty Co. Santa Ana has a Beauty Bar located inside at 1145 W. 17th St. Santa Ana, CA. We are working on getting a studio for our new Texas location in 2024. Our services are by appointment only, so be sure to contact us before dropping by.
“Do you do hair?"
No, we don’t, but we are located directly next to a salon and we have many contacts in the industry that we can recommend.
"Do you offer airbrush foundation?"
We do not. Airbrush foundation has been marketed to brides over the past 15 years as a premium experience, although the performance and wearability of the product really depends on the formula of airbrush liquid that you put into the airbrush machine. Makeup artists can charge more for it because the experience sounds luxurious, and also because the equipment and products cost more to maintain. However, in our experience, most airbrush foundation does not last longer, look more natural or flawless than traditional long-wear liquid and powder foundation applied with professional brushes (plus, airbrushed makeup needs to be blended out with brushes after being sprayed on anyway!). It is messier (over-spray can get on clothing and hair) and more time consuming to change out shades in between clients. It is difficult to mix shades should a client have a neutral undertone.
We are proud to offer our makeup services at a competitive rate in our area for the years of experience we have, and guarantee our applications will last just as long as any airbrush makeup would! If you are interested in trying out airbrush, I recommend booking a trial with an artist who specializes in that, as well as booking a trial with us. You can decide on which method you prefer!
"Do you do a trial run before the day of the wedding?"
Yes! We highly recommend a pre-wedding trial run so you can preview what your makeup would look like on the big day! A trial ensures we can communicate effectively, nail down the details of your dream wedding makeup look, and that we can not only meet, but exceed your expectations. Because we believe in the importance of a trial, we offer trials at a discounted rate in the studio ($150). Trials are 75-90 minutes long, which gives us time for a consultation, full application, and before and after photos. If we do a trial, we can be sure it will come out exactly as you want for your big day!
"Where do we do the trial?"
We offer 75-90 minute trails at our studio in Santa Ana (The Dollhaus Beauty Co.) for a discounted rate of $150. For our Texas location we are mobile, or our clients may opt to have their makeup done at our artist’s home in Converse, TX.
“Do you offer makeup for my engagement party, dress shopping day, engagement or save the date photos, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, etc?”
Absolutely! These wedding-related makeup appointments can even be used as second or third trials where we experiment with different looks. These pre-wedding makeup appointments are available for $125 each time. If these are acting as trials (where we’ll be spending an extra 30 minutes together and we’ll need to write down the details of the look after, the cost is $150).
"How do we organize the order of hair and makeup on the day of?"
The best way to organize wedding prep is to have the dry and normal skin type bridesmaids and mothers go first on makeup, the bride going second to last, and the oilier skin type bridesmaids going last. Whoever will be photographed helping you into your dress (usually mom, sister or the maid of honor) should have their hair and makeup completed before you. For photo schedule purposes it’s actually best for you to go second to last, not dead last.
“Besides the actual makeup application, what is included in your pricing?”
-We come to you, complete with portable lighting, a comfy director’s chair, supplies and all the makeup we need to get you glammed up…no matter where you are! Just ensure your face is freshly washed when we arrive and we’ll take care of the rest.
-24/7 access to us via email and text to ensure we are always on the same page and that no detail, concern or question pertaining to your event is left out.
-Suggestions for creating your day of hair/makeup timeline so everything runs smoothly.
-Longer appointment time slot for the bride; nothing will feel rushed.
-Suggestions for pre-wedding skin prep so that your makeup wears longer and applies smoother on the day of.
-Connections to some of the most experienced and professional vendors in the So Cal wedding circuit!
"So you guys can travel to me on the wedding day?"
Yes! Travel fees do apply, but long as you are at least a party of 3, we can travel to you. Wake up, have your coffee, wash your face and we’ll be right there to glam you up!
"Where are you located and how far do you travel?"
For our California location we are located in Santa Ana, CA and we travel most places throughout Southern California. Our Texas location serves the greater San Antonio and Austin areas. Travel fees are $1/mile roundtrip from the artist’s home address to your location.
"When should I book with you?"
As soon as you choose your wedding date, book your venue and have an idea of how many bridesmaids may be interested in getting their makeup done! Most brides book their wedding hair and makeup 6 months to 1 year in advance, but it doesn't hurt to reach out if your wedding is this month!
"How do I reserve my date with you?"
Contact us with your wedding information here for a personalized quote: CLICK HERE
"What if I'm a bride without a wedding party?"
We currently do not travel out of the studio for just one client, but brides in California without any attendants are able to take advantage of our In-Studio Bride Only Package HERE. Please note our minimum to travel out of studio is 3 clients.
"How many people can you accommodate in one day?"
It depends on how much time we have. Depending on how many people are in your party and the time we need to be ready by, we may need to bring a second or even a third makeup artist to complete everyone in a timely manner. One artist can usually handle 5 people alone, so if your party is larger or there is a short window in which everyone needs to get ready by, we may need to bring on a a second artist.
"Are lashes included?"
False lashes (strips) are included in each person's makeup application. We carry a wide variety of lash styles from very natural to dramatic. Individual false eyelashes or premium double lashes are available as well, but as more time consuming to apply.
“What if I have lash extensions?”
Lash extensions are great for everyday wear, but they’re not ideal for weddings for several reasons, mostly because it’s hard to control shadow or glitter falling into them and because we aren’t able to use waterproof eyeliner or mascara, which is a must for weddings. If you have lash extensions, we recommend skipping a fill before your trial so we can experiment with false lash strips, which bring more glamour than what you’re used to seeing on your eyes every day. You and your artist can chat more about lash extensions when we meet for your trial.
"Will my makeup hold through the entire celebration?"
Yes! We use all long-wearing sweat-resistant, water-resistant makeup that requires waterproof makeup remover to take off at the end of the night. Our professional mattifying setting powders and sealing setting sprays lock everything into place. Makeup may require minimal powder and lip touch-ups but for the most part it will wear extremely well.
"Do you offer on-location touch-up services or touch-up kits?"
We do not offer touch-up kits as they usually get forgotten, lost or just don’t get utilized during the event. For a flat rate charge, we are available to travel to the ceremony and/or reception location and perform touch-ups on you and all of your bridal party members! This is an especially great add-on for brides who think they may get emotional. We offer this service for a minimum of 2 hours or a maximum of 4 hours. During the time we are with you, but not actually touching up anyone, we like to take as many behind the scenes photos and videos as we can for you! We can Airdrop or text these photos and videos to you before we leave the location or the next morning so you will have some photos to look at before you get your professional photos back in 1-3 months.
“Should I tip my makeup artist and hairstylist? If so, how much?”
Although gratuity is never expected, it is always very appreciated & helps support small business. The beauty industry standard is 15-20%. If you choose to tip your beauty pros, this can be done in the form of cash or Venmo on the day of your event!
“What do I need to do to prepare my face for a professional makeup application?”
We will have a helpful skin prep suggestion sheet for you upon booking and also make specific recommendations for you at your trial!
"I'd like an artist more experienced with working with women of color."
You found the right team! Our team is diverse, and we love working with diverse parties. All of us have at least 5 years experience with makeup professionally, and we’re all either licensed cosmetologists or estheticians. We have worked on thousands of faces in our time: all races, eye shapes, ages, and genders. There’s nobody that we don’t feel comfortable working on or with!
"Can I reserve an artist experienced with working with LBGTQ+ weddings?
Our team is very inclusive and we support all those planning to celebrate love! Please let us know if you have any preferences regarding pronouns, or any other information you’d like us to know about you and your loved ones.
"This wedding includes loved ones with disabilities you can and can't see."
Please feel free to let me know what accommodations you or your party may need. We will do our best to make sure everyone is comfortable and can enjoy their personalized glam process!
"Why is it so important to hire a professional makeup artist for my wedding?"
The day you get married is arguably the most important day of your life. It's the day when you should feel the most confident and the most beautiful. You've spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars finalizing every detail of everything...all of your closest family, and friends will be gathered together to see you in your moment of glory! You'll never have had so many photos taken of you...in fact, your face will be in almost every picture, and your face will be the first thing all of your loved ones see! Not your dress, not your jewelry or shoes...your face. Which is why hiring a professional to do your bridal makeup is one of the most important decisions you will make regarding your wedding.
A professional will own the tools of the trade and have years of training under their brush belts. True professionals use professional brushes and prestige makeup brands...we aren't talking BB cream, chapstick and mascara. You're gonna need something more heavy duty...prestige makeup brands are high performance, and they have to be. On a wedding day there is dancing, smiling and laughing, drinking, eating, hugs, kisses, sweat, and tears of joy. Everything needs to wear flawlessly for 8-12 hours. Makeup is long-wearing, not bulletproof, so touch-ups are necessary to control shine, but for the most part, the makeup won't budge.
Well what about getting it done at the mall? Like at the MAC counter?
While making an appointment at your local makeup counter may sound like a good idea because it's the most cost effective option, you may want to think again. There’s no need to drive all around town risking the possibility of hitting traffic, or stressing out about not being able to find parking at the mall when you have 100 other things to worry about on the biggest day of your life. A professional comes to you! An on-location artist will pamper you and create a relaxed environment. Having that relaxation and pampering before the ceremony is an important stress reliever.
When you go to a makeup counter, there is typically loud music, customers interrupting and other distractions. The environment is less than ideal for prepping a bride. Plus, you have the possibility of encountering one of three artists: the new artist who has little to no experience, someone who is very talented, cares, and has been there for years, or someone who will give you a rushed job resulting in "meh" makeup because they need to get back to selling. Do you really want to take that chance on your wedding day?
A counter makeup artist's primary goal is to sell makeup, not do makeup (they are a retail business, not a salon service facility), so most are trained on sales and not artistry. Even if they are skilled artists they typically don't genuinely care because: a) they don't know you and are not invested in you or your event b) they know you will be purchasing the minimum amount because most makeup appointments do c) you most likely will not tipping them because most appointments don't. Makeup artists make approximately 2% commission on sales, so they make about $1 from performing your service with minimum purchase, so pleasing you is not their primary focus. They will most likely step away from your appointment session to help walk-up customers in order to achieve their impossibly high sales goals. They can’t take the time out for you the way a professional would in a private environment, due to the pressure from management to meet their quotas. Besides, think about the makeup testers she's going to use on you...everyone touches these, and they may not have been sanitized correctly. A professional brings their own kit and sanitizes each product before use on every client because their reputation depends on it.
Here are the bullet point differences of hiring someone to come to you, and going to the mall:
-A private make up artist will travel to your home or location and will be on time.
-A private make up artist will work around your schedule and will be available in the early morning hours or later night hours.
-A private make up artist will cater only to you and your guests in a comfortable relaxed environment.
-A private make up artist will not try to sell you anything.
-A private make up artist will care to use proper sanitary techniques and may have a higher level of expertise in artistry skills.
-A private makeup artist will take her time with your makeup.
-A make up counter artist will only be available usually in between 10 AM to 5 PM, or 11 AM to 5 PM on Sundays.
-The counter make up artist will need you to travel to them, you'll have to spend time and gas driving to the mall and then have to find parking. (The artist also may be late for her appointment because after working for MAC for 6 years, my co-workers were 10-15 minutes late for their shifts 90% of the time.)
-However if YOU are 10 to 15 minutes late for your appointment your appointment maybe given away to someone else.
-A counter make up artist may have to step away from you to help other customers who come up to the counter to buy products.
-A counter make up artist’s job is to sell you products, no “do your makeup”; it is a retail business, not a salon; they have a incredible sales pressure on them to sell you approximately $125 during the hour they are with you.
-The mall is very distracting, noisy environment
-The counter make up artist may be new to doing make up, or she may be experienced; that is a risk you take.
-If you don't like how your make up turns out, you have just wasted time and money only to go home and do it yourself or have another make up artist attempt it.
Often times, the amount of money you spend getting to the mall, having your makeup done and purchasing your items turns out to be about the same amount of time or money you'd spend having someone come to you. Having a private artist travel to you is a luxury service, but it is sometimes worth the convenience and quality!
"What about my cousin or my family friend? She's really good at doing makeup, she watches YouTube all day and always buys the latest makeup products! Someone also was posting on Craigslist for $40 per person...I've already spent so much money on this wedding I may have to go with one of these options."
The beauty industry is bigger than it's ever been due to the rise of Instagram and other social media outlets. We have access to all kinds of information regarding makeup that we didn't have access to 10 years ago. Things have changed! I absolutely believe that people have friends and family close to them who are knowledgeable and truly skilled at doing makeup. But be sure to ask if she does makeup on other people. Not just for her friends for prom, I mean brides. Does she understand how to time manage, how to sanitize her products, and does she have a kit specifically for clients or is she using her own makeup from her bathroom? Does she have a professional director's chair and portable lighting in case the room is dark? Is she reliable? Will she show up on time? Will she use the correct foundation on you or will you be left looking ghastly white or orange in photos? Do the products last on the skin and look natural? Will she listen to what you want with your makeup or will she do her own style? Does she have a contract with both your signatures in place protecting you in case she has to cancel?
A $40 makeup artist from Craigslist may cancel on you the day before your wedding because it's not worth it for them to show up at 8am for what she's charging, or she may show up, have you sit on the edge of the bed in your hotel room and use her own mascara on you and dollar store lashes. These are all very important things to consider before letting a family member, friend, or an inexperienced artist do your makeup for your wedding.
Look for an artist who has a website with a photo portfolio, minimum 5 years experience, and a good reputation. Always do a trial with them. Pay attention to your artist's timeliness in communication with you, punctuality, sanitation practices, and professionalism. It should never take longer than an hour and 20 minutes to do a full face of makeup unless you are experimenting with different eye and lip ideas, so if your artist seems slow they won't be a great fit for a wedding (which is an event with a schedule and deadline). If she requires both of your signatures on a contract, suggests a trial run ahead of time, and charges between $100-$300 for bridal makeup and $75-$100 for bridal party member makeup, she's likely a good choice. It truly costs this much to run a legitimate makeup service business.
We understand weddings are expensive ($30,000 on average in California for 2023 according to TheWeddingReport.com!), but purchasing the makeup and tools we use in our makeup kits is also expensive. Beauty school, workshops, and seminars are expensive. Trust us, bridal beauty is not something worth cutting corners on. Keep searching until you find the right artist for your style and budget!