On Deck: The Blog Spot

What Your MUA Wants You to Know

There are things I wish someone had told every client before they ever sat in my chair.

This isn't a moment of complaining — I absolutely love and adore this work. The trust that comes with someone letting me touch their face for one of the biggest days of their life? I am always honored to be a part of their special day. But there's a gap between what clients think goes into this job and what actually goes into it, and closing that gap makes the whole experience better for both of us.

So here it is. The honest version.

Skincare prep starts days before your appointment — not that morning

I say this in almost every consultation, and I'll say it again here: your skin the morning of your appointment is the result of what you did in the days leading up to it, not what you do in the two hours before I arrive.

A rushed exfoliation the morning of, a new product you tried for the first time last night, skipping water for a week and trying to make up for it with one big glass before I show up — none of it works the way people hope it will. Skin needs time to calm, hydrate, and settle. If you're breaking out, flaking, or inflamed the morning of, there is only so much any artist can do to camouflage that in real time, no matter how good the products are.

The clients whose skin photographs the most flawlessly are almost never the ones with naturally "perfect" skin.

They're the ones who gave their skin a few days of consistent, gentle care beforehand — cleanse, moisturize, SPF, hydration, and nothing new or aggressive right before the appointment. That's it. That's the secret.

"Natural glam" and "full glam" mean different things to every artist — please bring reference photos

This one is an underrated discussion, in my opinion. It's about making sure we're actually speaking the same language before I ever pick up a brush. As someone who works across different genres of makeup, my full glam and yours will definitely have different meanings.

I have had two clients book "natural glam" in the same week and want completely different things — one wanted a soft, no-makeup-makeup look with barely-there lashes, the other wanted a full contour and a bold lip but just no glitter. Both are valid interpretations of "natural." Neither is wrong. But if I don't know which one you mean, we will spend more time consulting instead of having a clear understanding of your vision.

Reference photos solve this instantly. I'm not looking for you to want to look exactly like the photo — I'm looking at how much coverage, how bold the eye is, how dramatic the lash is, whether there's contour, whether there's shimmer. It tells me more in ten seconds than a written description could tell me in ten minutes. Bring two or three; it genuinely makes the consultation better for both of us. From there, we'll have a realistic discussion about what you love most in the reference photo and what that execution will look like with your facial features.

Rescheduling last minute costs us more than you think

I understand life happens. Genuinely, I do. But I want to walk you through what a last-minute cancellation or reschedule actually costs an artist, because I don't think clients always see this side of it.

When I hold your date, I'm turning away every other client who asked about that same day and time. That's not me being precious about my calendar — that's the reality of a one-person, one-face-at-a-time business. If you cancel a week out, there's a real chance I can't fill that slot, which means the income for that day is simply gone, along with the product I may have already prepped or purchased specifically for your look.

This is exactly why contracts and deposit policies exist in this industry — and it's not because artists don't trust their clients. It's because a business built on appointments has to protect the time that was reserved, even when the reason for cancelling is completely understandable. If something comes up, the earlier you can let your artist know, the more likely there's a way to work it out that's fair to both of you.

Deep, rich, melanin-rich skin needs specific formulation knowledge — and it's okay to ask about that upfront

This is the one I feel the most strongly about, because I built my entire specialty around it.

Not every artist — even talented, experienced ones — has real, hands-on knowledge of how to match and blend for deep and rich complexions. The industry has often left deep, melanated consumers out of complexion products, from undertone ranges to the depth of foundation shades. For artists who aren't well-versed in this area, it's not a character flaw or a lack of effort. It's often just a gap in training, because so much of the industry's product development and education has historically centered lighter skin tones. The result is well-meaning artists who genuinely don't know that a foundation can be the "right" depth and still go ashy because the undertone was never correctly formulated or matched.

If you have deep or rich skin, it is completely fair — expected, even — to ask a potential artist directly about their experience with your skin tone before you book.

I highly encourage it. It builds trust before you invest your time and, of course, your money into that appointment. Ask to see real portfolio work on similar complexions. Ask how they handle undertone matching. A confident, secure artist will never be offended by that question. If anything, it tells them you know what you're asking for — and that makes for a better working relationship from the very first message.

Your trust is earned in the consultation, not just the chair

A lot of clients think the "real" work starts once they sit down and I start applying product. Honestly, some of the most important work happens before that — in the consultation.

That's where I'm listening to your vision, learning your skin, understanding what makes you feel confident versus what makes you feel like you're wearing a costume. It's where I answer your questions honestly, including the hard ones — like whether a look you saw online will actually translate to your face shape or skin tone. If an artist rushes through this part, or brushes off your questions, that's information. Pay attention to it.

I want every client to feel like they can trust me before I ever touch their face, not just hope it works out once I do. I have been a makeup artist for over 12 years, and I can't tell you how many clients have sat in my chair and shared that they — or someone they know — have had a truly traumatic makeup appointment experience. I honestly and truly believe that is a valid trauma. It only takes one time for trust to be broken, and several positive experiences to regain even half of it. So I don't take trust lightly. That trust is built through communication, transparency, and an artist who's willing to have honest conversations, even when the answer isn't the one you expected to hear.

At the end of the day, this industry works best when clients and artists are honest with each other from the very first message. I'd rather have a slightly uncomfortable conversation upfront about undertone, pricing, or timing than have either of us disappointed on the day that matters most.

Ready to book — or still have questions?

If you're booking your next appointment and have questions about any of this — prep, pricing, my experience with your specific skin tone — ask me. I'd genuinely rather you ask than wonder. Reach out and let's talk it through before your date is even on the calendar.

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With Love,

Derrica