Being
a makeup artist and hairstylist anywhere in the world would be a
fantastic gig to have, but in the city of Toronto, working in the
bridal industry is especially wonderful because of the intense
multiculturalism of the city. When you provide wedding makeup and
hair services for brides in the Greater Toronto Area, you are
constantly enriched by diversity and beautiful traditions. And the
result is that you become well versed in requirements and specific
requests that different cultures make.
When working with South Asian brides, makeup and
hair services are often required for multiple occasions, such as the
Sangeet (a large pre-wedding party with filled music and dancing),
the traditional wedding ceremony, and the reception- all regarded as
separate events. The colors worn are bright, bold and rich- with a
new outfit for each event. Jewellery is heavy and eye-catching.
Makeup is often dramatic and glamorous- skin is kept as fair as
possible. For the traditional ceremony, hair is worn up in a high
bun with lots of volume for the ceremonial dupatta setting to drape
over. Lips are often red or a shade that is close to it. For the
reception, the bride has free reign over her look and often feels as
though this is the event that is a best reflection of her
personality. As of late, for most receptions many brides op for hair
down with some variation of curls and volume.
Chinese weddings are more conservative but equally
as beautiful. There are two parts- the wedding ceremony, and the tea
ceremony. The tea ceremony is very important and is where the bride
is formally introduced to the grooms family. Often the traditional
Chinese red dress is worn along with hair up to show off the
beautiful high collar on the neck. Hair typically is adorned with
flowers. For the wedding ceremony, a white dress is often worn and
the bride may or may not change her hair and/or makeup. The makeup
for each is soft but pretty. Eyes are softened and made to look as
big as possible (a frequent request from East Asian women). False
lashes are almost a definite. Lips range from red to soft pinks and
peaches.
Western brides (typically of Caucasian and
African-American backgrounds) are generally the most played down in
makeup and hair wedding looks. The trend has been towards a natural
but uncontrived look. So soft, romantic, tousled hair that looks
slightly unfinished and effortless, whether that be swept up or left
down. Makeup is simple and typically plays into the natural beauty
of the client. The aim is simply to enhance and polish the everyday
look. The most common goal for Western brides is, “to look like
themselves but on their best day”.
The beauty of working as a Toronto Bridal Makeup artist and hairstylist is that the vast cultural diversity keeps you
on your toes and forces you to become an expert in various cultural
expectations. It is a wonderful way to stay educated on the
differences that exist between different cultures, but more
importantly, it highlights that across any culture- a wedding day is
important, and all women aim to look their best and truly feel
beautiful. Which is exactly where I come in.
