Why Bridal Makeup is Expensive - Misykona

Hiya Beautiful People,

I am a bit upset and I will tell you why in a bit.

Ok, Ah ha! , yes I am upset, never mind I am indeed upset. Alright, here is the reason for my annoyance – I have virtually lost count when it comes to number of phone calls I get from intending brides, I humbly tell them my rates and here’s the usual responses/ questions — “Haba just for makeup ?” or ” why are you so expensive?” I bet if you are a professional in the beauty industry you can easily relate to these responses.



Why is it that the general public have no problem paying a top musician 2 million or more for a few hours of entertainment as against paying measly thousand to makeup professionals that are in no wise less important that the musician ? – Infact I am now very angry.
Even in my anger I see that the blame is not entirely on the clients, I mean how does one explain a makeup artist posting a deal for bridal makeup for N2699 on one of these popular deals sites .I was livid, that is not a deal that is selling your birthright like Esau did , like what exactly are they paying for ?? – The eyebrows alone? Does he/she live next door to all the intended clients?? Does anyone have the right answers??
As the saying goes “Good work ain’t cheap and cheap work ain’t good.” We all love deals right? so do I but then I put the fear of God when I bargain people down as well , the situation is going all the way down no thanks to the saturation of the industry. Soon and very soon I am positive that industry killers will understand that there are still some professionals in the industry that actually see it as a business and not a means to an end or is it an end to a means now ??

This is my business and it’s supposed to pay my bill therefore I treat it as such and not as a charity or hobby. I hope to do a follow up post on the business of bridal, I have also taken the liberty to compare what makeup artists charge in Europe and the rest of the world, expect that soon too.

Now the big question is why do some of us charge the rates that we do? It’s actually pretty simple as I will try outline some of the factor that determine the cost.

1. LOCATION: Before you can get a rate off me, I have to know where you intend to dress from. This is important so factor in the timing, cost of getting there etc. If it is out of state, I need to be sure you will be willing to provide accommodation and other logistics- all of these costs come from whatever I charge the client.

2. PRODUCTS: When you need a makeup artist to work on your face, of course you don’t expect he/she to come and start asking if you have foundation, matifier or powder .As a professional, we arrive at venue with a fully stocked kit to cater to all your needs .The rest of the work is to pamper and make you feel like a princess for your special day.
You also have authority to decide which choice you want – traditional makeup application or airbrush; some are even specific with the brand of makeup they want. There you have it, imagine having to buy different brands just to satisfy a client trust me when I say it costs a fortune, for instance I bought some MAC cosmetics foundation for N10000 and Kat Von D foundation for N17000 and I had to buy in different skin shades. These products don’t particularly last a lifetime before you say Jack Robinson you are ordering for another batch , so I hope you are getting a clear idea of what it takes to be a professional and I have not even included makeup tools like makeup brushes , brush cleaner, makeup wipes etc. Lately, the exchange rate has gone up and product prices have doubled , this affects my pricing as well.

3. EXPERTISE: You most definitely are paying for my expertise just like with every other skilled professional .Product knowledge, standard products, techniques & makeup that will last all day .P.S I always review my prices regularly to reflect my current level of experience and skill; I have clients calling to consult about skin issues and what they need to do and not do before the event. An unquantifiable factor that falls under expertise is my time; sometimes I have to be up 3am to arrive at client’s venue at 4am.

4. PROFESSIONALISM: I show up at the clients take off point even if it has been reported in the news that Lagos is under water .I don’t just show up, I show up on time, I am at your mercy once we have an agreement – that professionalism is also unquantifiable yet we try to have the client pay a bit for this.

I have one advise for intending brides though, when an artist charges you peanuts, be afraid, be very afraid. I can tell you for free that he/she might deliver a shoddy service or will not give you the undivided attention you need on your big day; it’s your choice really

So for all you intending brides, choose well and choose wisely and then for you makeup artists making this less of a profession – God is watching you in 3D.

BLOGGRS COMMENT

I can relate with her though, makeup game is really exorbitant.

Help! It's Four Days to my Birthday. What age should I choose?

When I saw her, I had no imagination or inkling that she could fit as my baby sis. I had admired the old sophisticated lady in her milky gold attire, walking subtly as if avoiding the stains from the escalator in the Cinema, and I have managed to produce the compliments that always slipped from my mouth, "you look great dear," I had managed to say producing a smile and she had smiled back almost as if she had forgotten something. "Thanks dear, today is my 18th birthday and am suppose to look great." So she says matter of factly.

See me see gbege, did I hear eighteen or eighty years? It's just too poor to be eighteen and old. I comot cap for naija babes, we ain't white joor, we are lucky to have an enduring gene if we live healthy. Why change your age and make the younger generation feel unaccomplished, imagine a poor lass trying to meet up in the name of balancing with her mates. All these people in the media world and so called role models be lying for Africa. As small as Lupita looks, she is thirty two, why will that old Nollywood or is there a possibility that footballers and media people should flock together.
Aunt be twenty three forever.

So it's four days to my 16th birthday, and still I can't be older than my Aunts. Please help me as am bothered already? What age should I celebrate? Imagine my Aunts are eighteen, can't I be ten or twelve at most.
Honesty, I want to tell you what our Anty dem cause when they lie about their age.



1. MATERIALISM : Okay think of it, to think that your mate or younger one own a house in a self made outcome, doesn't it make you want to hustle by fire by thunder? Dear Anty, it makes us lead to make it by hook or crook, that why University kids want cars, houses and all.

*IT MAKES US OLDER : We become older than you are because we keep thinking and aging when we see our end results are not as fast coming as yours, the stress of failing out of track gives us stress, and bad health conditions, thereby making us older than we are.

*IT CONFUSES THE WORLD : The world become confused because as you lie, so we will lie and generations to come will lie about age and upcoming ones won't have a direction because we are all tryna make it at a tender age, and we all become age mates.

NOTE
It doesn't mean people don't make it in life at an early stage, but mehn! we are talking about false age in naija. Old generations don't want to hustle and make way for thee younger generation. CEO, Msc, Phd, and mother of 3 and yet, we are eighteen.

I dedicate this post to young people like me possibly twelve or fourteen years of age, do not let our Aunties distract you, life na jeje, but above all, what age should I choose? Considering the fact that am just a University graduate; no Msc, CEO and blah! Blah! Blah!

Is Physical Curse a Sin?

Am just trying to share my thought for today. I am very religious because I was born into a religious society and family and so I inherited religiousness if there is a word like that, I therefore became a Christian at birth and presently. And the holy scripture; the Bible had thought me something : "Suffer not the witch to live," "The lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace." 

Then I learn different prayer points, the pastor will say, "Pray! Children of God. Any evil arrow against my blessings and progress, Thunder of the Holy Spirit! Strike them down." And we will pray and shake heavens and hope that the thunder had struck them all through faith. Many members returned with testimonies of how they had watched with both eyes to witness the Holy Spirit striking them all. But at other times, nothing happens, especially to my own enemies. 

Then my question is this, why is it that when I physically declare to someone who had hurt me, "Let thunder strike you!" In exchange for the pains, I am made to confess, to repent, to plead for forgiveness for what seem to me as a prayer too. Is it now to declare a physical battle in the physical? Is this curse only allowed in prayers and not face - face encounter. Dear readers, please share your thoughts on why it is now a curse to pray those secret prayers in the physical realm. 

Happy Sunday.