If someone’s offering full wedding hair and makeup for £50, something’s off. 

Professional wedding makeup artists and hair stylists have years of experience, top-notch products, insurance, and kit costs to cover.

​Rock-bottom prices often mean corners are being cut — or even worse the “artist” might just vanish once they’ve got your deposit. 

Barnet + Boatrace tip: Look for pros who show real client work, reviews, and behind-the-scenes snaps — not just stock photos and a shiny discount banner.
​

If you’ve ever reached out to a Wedding Makeup Artist or Hair Stylist (or any other wedding professional) only to hear… nothing — you’re not alone.  

It can be frustrating to feel left in the dark, especially when you’re planning for an event that's important to you like a wedding, prom, or a photoshoot.

​Here’s why ghosting happens, what it might mean, and what to do if it happens to you!

The wedding industry can be extremely fast-paced and demanding.

Popular Makeup artists and Hair Stylists often juggle multiple bookings, are managing their social media as well as busy trawling TikTok and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest trends that you present them with at their Preview or Trial appointment.

​Sometimes, life gets hectic, and messages slip through the net.  While this isn’t an excuse, it’s helpful to remember that a delayed response doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ignoring you.
​

Silence from your Wedding Suppliers can mean a few things:

They're fully booked:  Popular suppliers sometimes don't have room in their schedules to take on more clients and they may have overlooked replying to you.  

At Barnet + Boatrace we encourage all enquiries to be sent via our website contact form as this pops you straight onto our enquiry and bookings system which notifies us immediately on our phone and sits as a priority in our 'To Do List' until we've replied - which we'll always do, whether we have availability for you or not.
​

​High Message Volume.  Well established wedding suppliers often showcase their services on various different platforms such as Hitched and Bridebook so can receive a lot of messages which means occasionally some enquiries may get lost in the shuffle.  (Another reason we encourage you to use our Contact Form on our website)

Personal or Technical Issues:  Life happens and sometimes unexpected events or even technical issues (always check your Spam, as our reply can often be hiding in there!) can cause delays in responding. 
​

If your Wedding Supplier doesn't respond quickly,  here are a few steps that you can take!

1. Follow up.  Send a polite follow up message after a few days.  It's possible your message was missed and a gentle nudge can help prompt a reply.

2. Have Back Up Options:  It's always wise to have more than one supplier in mind. Especially if you're booking your wedding on a popular date such a bank holiday weekend or Saturday in the Summer season.

3. Read Reviews and Ask for Referrals. Look for artists with a  reputation for reliable communication.  If they are exceptionally good you'll read this positive feedback in their reviews.  

Professional Wedding Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists will understand that communication is key. 

​Even if they’re booked, a quick, honest response like “I’m fully booked for that date, but I appreciate your interest!” or even the recommendation of another reputable makeup artist or hair stylist shows respect for your time.

​Look for wedding suppliers who prioritise timely responses and value your trust.

Being ghosted isn’t fun, but understanding a bit about what’s happening behind the scenes can help ease the frustration.

​When you find a Hair and Makeup Agency who communicates well and respects your time, it’s worth keeping them in your contact list for future events!

​Hands up if you read alllll the reviews before booking your venue, your florist, your caterer, your photographer, your photographer..... as well as your wedding hair stylist and makeup artist? 🙋‍♀️

If you’re shaking your head, you’re not alone!  Most brides don't prioritise booking their hair and makeup artist for their weddings as overwhelm and wedmin fatigue can start to kick in!

Reviews should still play a huge factor in your decision with who to book for your wedding hair and makeup as you’re planning one of the most important days of your life and you should want to feel reassured that you’re in safe, talented and friendly hands.​
​

​Your wedding hair and makeup team are likely to spend the whole morning with you which sets the tone for the whole day. From the moment you sit in the chair, you want to feel relaxed, confident, and excited.

Reading reviews from other brides who’ve already been in your shoes is the best way to know whether our makeup artists and stylists are the right fit for you.

We're proud to provide our professional skills to every wedding we're part of.  From your initial contact with us, combing through the finer details on your Booking Form, analysing your shared images and Pinterest Boards and preparing for your Preview Appointment or video consultation to then meeting you and the important friends and family who will also play a big part on your wedding day.

Reviews remind us why we do what we do and and they help us keep connecting with amazing brides, grooms, groomsmaids, bridesmen and mums across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire!

Winter is a season of wonder, and there’s no better way to embrace its magic than by tying the knot amidst sparkling snowflakes (if you're lucky!) and crisp, cool air.

If you're tying the knot this season you may want to follow these 4 Simple Tips to ensure that you make the right beauty choices and look radiant against a winter wonderland backdrop!

Whether you're a dab hand at applying your own makeup or hiring a professional make sure you consider these 4 things.   You'll thank us when you look back on your wedding photos in years to come!

Hydrated Skin: The cold (as well as central heating!) can really dry out skin so always prep with a rich moisturiser and hydrating primer.   One we'd recommend is Bobbi Brown Enriched Face Base or if you're on a budget Primarks dupe "Vitamin Enriched Primer" is pretty damn good too!

Hydrated Lips:  Just like skin - lips can get really dry too, especially if you're outside twice a day to walk your dog!  A challenge for Professional Makeup Artists is applying a matte lipstick to flaky, dry lips! 

Arm yourself with a good lip balm  (preferably with an SPF) and apply regularly.  Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream is a winner as well as budget friendly Blistex!

To find out how we can help you with your Winter Wedding Makeup and perhaps your hair too - get in touch with Olga, today!
​

Earlier this month, 5 talented Hair and Makeup Artists from Devizes, Bristol, Swindon, The New Forest and Wimborne were invited to the beautiful private Manor Estate in Wiltshire to take part in a Hair and Makeup trade trade test and training day.

Olga (founder of Barnet + Boatrace) organised the day with the assistance of Senior Makeup Artist Becky Lankester as part of her recruitment process to ensure that all future freelancers are a good fit for her Award Winning Wedding Hair Styling and Makeup Team.

​As more referrals and rave reviews roll in, Barnet + Boatrace is not only offering it's wedding hair and makeup services in Dorset and Hampshire but throughout Wiltshire and Bristol and Swindon too. 

Olga always endeavours to get the right mix of people in her team to maintain the 5 Star Google, and Facebook rating that her and the team have so passionately gained. 

Olga loves to meet all new freelancers face to face and see them in action before they meet their first Barnet + Boatrace Bridal Client.
​

​
​When booking your Hair and Makeup Team for one of the biggest days of your life it's important you can trust that they have these 5 essential qualities!

1.  Reliability. 
No-one wants to be jilted before they even get to the altar!  Every bride wants to feel confident when booking with us that their hair and beauty team will turn up at the right place and on time with a smile on their face.

2. Have high hygiene standards and a well stocked kit.
We find our brides love to see a good variety of premium quality products and tools in our hair and makeup kits as it helps gives them confidence that we are well prepared and can do a good job. 

We use a mixture of long lasting commercial and industry brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Kryolan, Illamasqua, TIGI, Maria Nila, OSIS and more! 

Hygiene plays a major part too - clean kits only and no blowing on brushes - EVER!

3. Do a good job (in a reasonable amount of time)
Instagram and website galleries are great to give you an idea of the Makeup Artists and Stylists capability or signature style but sometimes you just want to see someones work in real life, filter free. 

Timing is also key as this plays a crucial part in selecting the right team for larger wedding jobs and putting together an accurate timeline for brides. 

Whilst an experienced Makeup Artist may only take 30 minutes to complete your bridesmaids glow up, a Graduate Makeup Artist may take up to an hour. 

4. Look and act the part 
It's a fact that most wedding Hair Stylists and Makeup Artists are up at the crack of dawn. 

We need to not only make ourselves look presentable (as we're well aware we may be in the background of your wedding prep photos for the rest of your life) but often have to travel up to an hour or more to get to you, and sometimes we frustratingly get stuck behind a tractor or other traffic too!

So if we're suitably dressed and still smiling when we arrive, we're good to go!

5. Remain Flexible 
Brides often change their minds like the wind (no offence!).

We understand it's tricky making so many decisions for your big day! Therefore we set the task for a popular half up, half down style with a quick turnaround into a messy bun to see how our stylists dealt with this under the heat! (they did well!)

It was a successful morning had by all.   All of the makeup artists, models and stylists all enjoyed themselves and did a great job and have all been successful in being offered freelance roles with Barnet + Boatrace.

Pippa who manages the Manor Estate for weddings and corporate events did a great job at hosting us and even stepped in as a hair and makeup model last minute too.  She was so impressed and emailed Olga to say "I will definitely be recommending you and your team for weddings here."

Becky Lankester Senior Makeup Artist also commented, "I feel so lucky to be able to call this my job, and being a part of such a great team with so many talented artist makes you feel so inspired.

I love seeing all the artists work and how their individual style comes through. I love sharing tips and tricks that I’ve learnt along the way from being in the bridal industry and it’s a privilege to be able to say that I love my job."

If you're looking for a friendly and reliable Makeup and Hair Styling team who you can trust your wedding hair and makeup requirements with in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire or Bristol - please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Your wedding day is fast approaching. You’ve spent months, maybe even years, planning every detail down to the color of the napkins, the perfect flowers, the song for your first dance as well as how you'll be rocking your hair!

But what you didn’t plan for was getting sunburned just days before your big day!

As professional hair and makeup artists we see this situation more common than you might think, especially during the summer months (even with our British summer!) when outdoor pre-wedding events such as beach and boat days or barbeques can lead to unexpected sun (over) exposure!

If your burn is visible you may be concerned about how it will affect your appearance on your wedding day so here's a few tips on how you can manage it so that you and your loved one can still have the wedding day that you've always dreamed of:
​

1. Apply a cool compress to the affected area. This will help reduce the heat and prevent any further damage. 


2. Moisturise with aloe vera gel which you can purchase from most chemists.   It is particularly effective for sunburn due to its soothing and healing properties.  If you can get it straight from the plant - even better!


3. Hydrate!  Burns can dehydrate your skin, so drink plenty of water to help your body recover and keep your skin hydrated.


4. Pain Management.  Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help manage discomfort and reduce inflammation. Avoid products with lidocaine or benzocaine, which can irritate the skin further.
​

5. Avoid Further Irritation. Wear loose, breathable clothing to avoid irritating the burn. If the burn is on your face, avoid makeup as much as possible and avoid even more exposure to the sun!

Fortunately if you've booked a skilled professional makeup artist for your wedding they'll be able to work wonders with skincare suitable for sensitive skin and colour correcting and camouflaging products to minimise the appearance of redness as well as any peeling!

Note: Egyptian Magic Cream for a very dry or flaky nose is a fave with us!

If you've caught the sun on the back of your neck and were dreaming of a 90's inspired Pammy up do to show off your backless dress, you may want to consult with your stylist to tweak your hairstyle to draw attention away from the affected area.   

A knee jerk reaction would be to wear your hair down to cover it instead but Sunburnt skin is often hot skin so opting to wear your hair down could make it feel worse.  Ask your hair stylist to adjust a high bun to a slightly lower one nearer the nape of your neck with a few loose tendrils could be the simple tweak that's needed to disguise the burn!

We all have a 'good side' or angle that we prefer for photography.  You may want to discuss this with your photographer if you are particularly self conscious of any visible sunburn.

You may think your photographer will just edit any sunburn out. However, we spoke to Rachel Elizabeth Photography for her feedback and she comments "As a photographer, I’ve seen firsthand how sunburn can affect both your photos and your enjoyment of your wedding day.

​While I do my best to tone it down during editing and might even touch up a few key photos, it’s a time-consuming process and sometimes may even need to be outsourced to a professional retoucher.

I’ve had brides who have had peeling skin or patchy tan lines, and others who got sunburnt on the day itself. In some cases, brides have even needed to take a break for a cold bath and a rest because of the discomfort.

To avoid this, I always recommend using SPF to protect your skin, ensure your photos turn out beautifully, keep you comfortable and having the best day!"

Getting burnt before your wedding day can be a painful and stressful experience, but with the right steps, you can recover quickly and still look stunning on your big day.

​Remember, while the burn may seem catastrophic now, in the grand scheme of things, it’s just a small bump in the road.

​Focus on the love and joy that your wedding day will bring, and soon enough, the burn will be just a funny story to tell.

If you're looking for an experienced professional makeup artist or hair stylist for your wedding who knows how to handle your hair and beauty needs when the mercury rises - get in touch with us today!

When it comes to planning your wedding day beauty look there's no room for compromise. While hiring a solo makeup artist or hairstylist might seem like the best option, there are undeniable benefits with booking through a reputable agency like Barnet and Boatrace.

Let's explore the 5 reasons why!
​

One of the most significant advantages of booking through an agency is gaining access to a diverse and talented team of Hair and Makeup Artists.

Unlike a one-person operation, an agency can provide you with multiple options to choose from such as an Asian Bridal Specialist, a Glam Makeup Specialist or a whole squad of Wedding Hair Styling and Makeup Specialists which is ideal if you have a large wedding party. 

​An agency will ensure that you find the perfect Makeup and Hair Team who align with your vision, budget and style.  

Last Thursday we were pleasantly surprised although slightly confused to have received an email from Hitched UK to say that we were a Hitched Wedding Award 2024 Winner!

The award represents the highest rated wedding professional in the category for Beauty, Hair and Makeup as reviewed by real couples on Hitched in 2023.    

You have to be in it to win it right?  As a general rule we have a 'no entry' policy so we were a little apprehensive about the authenticity to start with!

Throughout the year we receive a lot of spam emails enticing us to enter various awards or stating that we've already won one. 

Diving deeper it seems that most organisers require a fee to enter or claim the award and heavily rely on the entrants to canvas for votes from previous clients which isn't really our kinda vibe.

LOVE the idea of getting married? Loathe the associated wedding admin aka wedmin?! 

Whether you're at the start of your wedding planning journey or excited to be close to tying the knot, there's no doubt that you and your partner have sifted through a shed load of emails between the two of you.

With multiple quotes, contracts and booking forms flying into your inboxes from a mix of professional wedding suppliers, we understand that wedding planning can become a little bit overwhelming and even, dare I say it.... daunting at times!

" What deposit do we need to secure the Makeup Artist?"
" Can we add on more people at a later date?"
" What date is my wedding hair and makeup trial?"
" When's the final balance due?"

With so many questions flipped between you and decisions to make, couples often start by setting up a joint email and WhatsApp group for all wedding comms.  This keeps everything centralised so that the two of you are kept in the loop. 

The majority of our clients tend to request both wedding hair and makeup with us to keep both services under one hat.  After all, hair and makeup come hand in hand don't they?

Not only does this cut down the number of suppliers to liaise with but it makes things a whole lot simpler to organise such as joint hair and makeup trials and sorting out timelines for the day. 

Keeping all things hair and beauty with one company and one point of contact to oversee each booking ensures a smooth and seamless process.  

We have recently streamlined our process one step further by introducing our new Client Portal for all upcoming weddings. 

It's a gateway to all of your important documents held in one central place. 
​
You and your partner can access your hair and makeup quote, booking form, agreement as well as view links to important diary dates such as your Wedding Hair and Makeup Trials. 

Not only that you can view your invoice and easily check what payments have been made and when the next one is due.

No more sifting and sorting through email trails for key information!

All of your data is accessible with a unique link to you and is password protected too. 

Get in touch with us today to get your wedding hair and makeup organised like a pro!

If you're doing dry Jan you're most likely to be binging on Netflix rather than binging on booze! Is anyone else hooked on 'Fool Me Once' like us?

There’s been lots of social media hype on Facebook's MrsGloss&TheGoss group surrounding Maya Stern's wardrobe (played by Michelle Keegan) as well as her gorgeously styled hair and natural makeup look.

We've done some digging and managed to pull together a link for you to all to her cosy coats courtesy of Grazia Magazine as well as spilling the beans on the tools and products used after tracking down her Makeup Artist on set Laura Flynn.

The question on most peoples lips is what lippy she's wearing.  Laura reveals all on her instagram. 
"So we used @charlottetilbury lip liner in shade 'iconic nude' and a hint @maccosmetics velvet teddy on top for the wedding and gala scenes (but throughout the rest of the show it was the liner with a balm on top so it was nice, natural/low maintenance every day look.)"

At Barnet and Boatrace we love this combo as the perfect solution for anyone who doesn't like the feel of lipstick (too drying) or gloss (too sticky) but wants a very natural yet hydrating look.

"Go to products for the tousled hair were a combo of @ghdhairpro and @ghd creative curl wand using @hairbysammcknight and @bedheadbytigi after party (always with a bit of height at the crown.)"

At Barnet and Boatrace we love the 'old school' TIGI Bedhead products.   If you're looking to recreate the look at home check out 'Just My Look' as they have an amazing sale on this iconic range right now!

If Michelle Keegan is on your Wedding Pinterest board and you'd like us to re-create her natural hair and makeup look for your wedding day then drop us a message - we'd love to hear from you!
​