Dulhan by Shikha Arya

1. What are the trends in bridal make-up these days?
Makeup trends differ according to brides' regional background in South Asia and the in-look even depends on an individual's taste. Brides today are more willing to experiment with the eye-makeup and contouring, but almost all modern brides don't want a white mask anymore. So, even-toning the skin and matching it 100% with bride's real skin color is my first priority and specialty.
Using make-up to conceal skin-flaws, slimming down the face, reshaping the nose and contouring cheek bones are some of the special features of my work, and very much in demand, since so much importance is given to perfect memories to be captured on film. This is one day in a girl's life that she must look her possible best, and I'm there to assist her with her dreams.

2. What are the trends in bridal hair these days?
Most of my Hindu & Sikh brides ask me for a simple slick-back hair with a bun for the ceremony. And usually the part has to be in the middle to support the tikka. For the reception, brides from all regions of back home, are very experimental today. From up dos to beehives, from braiding to extensions, from layers to curls, from highlights to color, brides today are game to anything out of this world. Amazing results can be achieved once hair extensions are added to thin hair, and exclusive features like this is what sets our Moulin Rouge Salon apart.

3. What are the trends in bridal henna these days?
Bridal Henna has come a long way in the past few years. Away from the traditional brown mehndi, henna today is being explored in colors like black, white, mehndi leaf green, and more. Colors like turquoise, burgundy, gold, silver, blue, etc., matching with the brides' outfits are being filled into the mehndi patterns as well.
Arabic mehndi designs have been hot for a while now. Henna tattoos on the back, around the belly button, arms and other areas are also making their way into the bridal scene. And yeah, glitter outlines over the mehndi in silver, gold and other metallic colors is big too.

4. Are brides matching their make-up to their clothes?
Most brides do match/contrast their lipstick color with their Lehnga or Sari, but they want their eye make-up and blush color to be in the neutral hues range. My Muslim dulhans are much more interested in matching the color of the eye-shadow to their lehnga/sharara and their jewelry.
But then again one cannot generalize, everyone has an individual taste, I always give my opinions and finally cater to the bride's decision. Due to my background in fashion modeling makeup, I am being instrumental in bringing the hi-fashion look in the Desi wedding industry.

5. How do you handle make-up for interracial weddings?
Most non-Desi brides marrying Desi guys are looking for that authentic Desi-Dulhan look anyway. So, without excessive make-up, and keeping the skin tone consistent, I give them the traditional touches with bindis and hair accessories I especially import from London. If their is a Christian or Jewish ceremony as well, I give them an even-toned face with minimum color or otherwise if that's their preference. Desi brides marrying a non-Desi groom have similar tastes and requirements.
The look is usually discussed in detail and all the intricacies decided upon at the makeup trial at my salon. At the trial, I take my time and show them several different looks until they are satisfied and then all those specifications are locked-in for the big day.

6. What do you recommend in terms of daily make-up for the Brides-to-be?
According to me the brides-to-be should stay away from the heavy make-up a few months prior to the big day, as that can cause skin breakouts. If your work environment requires presentability or your social commitments make it necessary to support a made-up look on a regular basis, you can use some of my helpful tips for makeup, while preserving a healthy skin.
One should purchase non-allergenic and natural makeup products without cutting corners. Natural makeup products with a light base of foundation are recommended. One could also try a tinted moisturizers instead of the foundation, which have enough coverage to smoothen and even-out your skin tone. If there are areas where you feel you need more help, you can apply a concealer with a brush.
If one must use make-up on a regular basis, our salon prescribes a four-month regimen of microdermabrasions and herbal facials to restore the vigor and vitality of your skin and put back the nutrients and life into the skin while removing the dead skin layers.

7. Why are we South Asians so shy to put on make-up?
Hey, I disagree with that. We Desis love to put on make-up and get dressed up. Desi girls have the most variety of outfit choices. We all just need an excuse to party... a wedding, a garba, a house party, and out come the jewelry, the lehngas, the cholis and make-up kits. As a matter of fact, the makeup-shyness may apply to our western counterparts even more so, won't you agree?

8. What's your opinion on the necessity of spa treatment?
The brides-to-be are ultra stressed out in today's fast paced world. Juggling the daily workload, overtime, school in some cases, social commitments combined with sleep deprivation, physical strain and on top of everything else, the stress of single-handedly planning the entire wedding can take a toll on one's skin and physical health, initiate breakouts and add a lot of under-eye baggage.
Spa treatments and natural remedies are highly recommended to counter the effect of daily stress and aging. I believe this is the highly sought after and the secret 'fountain of youth', right here.
At Moulin Rouge Salon, brides-to-be can indulge themselves and benefit from self-pampering options like... Full body Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Holistic & Himalayan Massages & Scrubs, Microdermabrasion Treatments, French Manicure & Pedicure, Shehnaz Hussain's Herbal Facials, Multani Mitti Packs, Hot Oil Hair Treatments, Aromatherapy and much more. We also have some of the above services combined into a package that a groom can gift to her fiance'... "Pamper my Dulhan".

9. How do you work with the mother of bride/groom-to-be?
When it comes to mothers of the couple, I work according to their skin quality and tone. My focus is on covering up any skin flaws and/or wrinkles and even toning the skin. I cater to their taste as to what extend they want to support a made-up look. Most moms prefer to look simple to a certain extent, and with my makeup techniques, I try to give them a glamorous and elegant yet natural look. Now once in while I do have moms who are Shehnaz Hussain's fans and want a very royal look, I love the opportunity, as long as they make the time.

10. Any advice for the brides for their wedding day?
a) A bride should try her best to delegate as many responsibilities to other family members or professional wedding planners for the big day as possible, and have a tightly written detailed schedule of the day to be executed by the key people, so that she can be relaxed and stress free.
b) Get at least 8-10 hours of sleep the night before the wedding to avoid the extra baggage under the eyes. A crowded and noisy house is a natural phenomenon, so check into a hotel room the night before. If you have an early morning ceremony and you have to get up at 4am for makeup, try to change your sleeping pattern a few days before, if possible.
c) Give your makeup artist & hair stylist an extra hour, for all those unpredictable last minute trouble-shootings and to avoid any stress caused by possible delays. The bride should be punctual too, showered and all ready to go at the decided time. Delay in brides' getting ready can throw the entire day's schedule off track.
d) Makeup artist should always work on the bride first, and while she is being photographed, other family members can be worked on, unless separate assistants are arranged for.
e) In a Hindu wedding ceremony, the groom should be suggested to use the sindoor sparingly, so as not to drop too much of it on her nose. The makeup artist could be arranged to stay the entire day, but still sindoor can sometimes leave a stain.
f) The bride can have her best friend or sister carry a small make-up kit with the right shades of foundation and lipstick, among other essentials and a first-aid kit.
g) Exhaling once in a while really helps, trust me, and keeping a smile on all day for the cameras makes a good make-up artistry look even better.
h) Having excess to a cellular phone on the other 364 days of the year maybe enough, hehe. Yes put your maid-of-honor in-charge of that, or someone who can answer 90% of the inquiries. Relax enjoy and let yourself be the queen for the day, that you are.

11. Advice for the brides-to-be on hiring a Make-up Artist?
Hiring a good make-up artist should be high, way high on any bride's priority list. It may sound like a cliche', but I should stand corrected when I say, that every bride would like to look their potential best on the biggest day of their life.
And needless to say that high-priced and ever-so-important departments like photography and videography totally depend on the outcome of the makeup artist's talent. And it's frightening to know for a fact, that a wrong makeup artist can actually hide the natural beauty of a bride under the layers of his/her makeup.

So getting a make-up trial from each make-up artist on your list is essential. Recommendations and portfolio/website views alone are not enough. One should actually have a separate budget put aside for trials. Asking the right questions over the phone before getting a trial can narrow down your list. So, here is the recommended list of questions:

1) How many years of experience do you have in the make-up industry?

2) How may brides have you served so far?

3) Do you own a salon or work out of your home?

4) Do we have to come to your salon or home on the day of the wedding or would you come to our home or banquet hall?

5) Do you drive to the location yourself or do you require a ride?

6) Do you have a formal education in make-up/hair artistry?

7) What beauty services do you offer? Make-up, Hairstyling, Mehndi, Bridal Dressing, Waxing, Threading, Facials, Massage, Manicure, Pedicure, Nail Tips, Skin-care, Hair-care?

8) Do you come personally or do you send someone?

9) Do you give trials and if so are they free or do you charge for them? I would like to get a trial from the artist that is actually being assigned.

10) Do you have a website where I can see some samples of your work? Or is there a portfolio available at your location?

11) Do you also get the bride’s mother, sister and other relatives ready? Would you have any extra charges and do you bring assistants for that?

12) What brand of beauty products do you use?

13) Do you hypoallergenic products?

14) Are you able to hide bride’s skin flaws efficiently?

15) Would your make-up look just as good in photos as it would in person?

16) Do you blend together a few liquid foundations to get the skin-tone right?

17) How long does it take to get a typical bride ready?

18) How long does it take for you to do a whole new hairdo and touch up the make-up for the same day reception?

19) Do you stay for touchups for the entirety of the event? If yes, do you charge extra for that?

20) Do you charge any transportation charges?

21) How much would you charge according to my requirements?

22) How much do you charge for the reception, if it is on the same day as the ceremony?

12. Lastly please give me details of your beauty salon, experience, expertise, any specialization areas, Website, etc.

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