Hair and Makeup Suppliers: A review for Chinita brides

Hair and Make Up – the one I dreaded booking the most. I have ZERO experience with hair and makeup. No idea what looks good on me, no idea who are the good HMUA, have sensitive skin and scalp (I don’t do well with some products, I itch!) and also, I really didn’t want to spend a lot on it – because gosh, sayang in my mind!

So in essence, I wanted an HMUA who was affordable (meron pa bang ganito?!?), worked well with Chinese eyes (my eyes are so small! I always want to make them bigger), and whose products wouldn’t result in me breaking out

Below are my reviews for the five HMUA I’ve worked with over the course of my tinghun, prenup, wedding, and reception.

 

KRIS BACANI

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisbacani/

Peso Power (booked December 2022):

• Php 6,500 (normal event rate – airbrush) + Php 2,500 OOTF for Makati
• Php 42,000 (bride + 2 heads – airbrush) + Php 10,000 OOTF for Tagaytay

I booked Kris for both my tinghun and my wedding and absolutely LOVE her. I don’t know much about hair and makeup, but what I do know is (1) her hands are so light – I barely feel her doing my makeup, and her eye makeup is SUPER on-point, (2) while I don’t much about makeup, I do know I always get a ton of compliments when it’s Kris who does my makeup, (3) super long-lasting makeup – on my wedding, I had my makeup done at 8:30AM, and it lasted all the way to 12 midnight. This was with super minor retouches lang!

I’d describe her makeup style as natural enhancement. She makes you look better without significantly altering your look. Like when you see yourself, it feels like you except BETTER LOL.

Tinghun makeup

Prep shoot makeup

Ceremony makeup

 

 

WINSHAYNA RIVERA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winshaynayoungmakeupartistry/

Peso Power (booked December 2022): Php 3,000 (normal event rate – airbrush) + Php 600 OOTF for Makati

Booked Winshayna for my grandma, aunt, and cousin during my tinghun – she’s super bubbly and friendly, and arrived 30 minutes before the call time. It’s hard for me to assess her makeup itself because she made up 3 women of different age groups (literally one in her 20s, one in her 60s, and one in her 80s), but overall no complaints from the three and I think good na for her price point. Although I don’t think eyes are her forte. I will say though – Winshayna takes FOREVER to reply. I wanted to book her again for my Manila reception, but she never replied! When she finally replied, it was a week before the reception already and I had booked someone else na. Sayang!

In the photo below – Winshayna did the makeup of my aunt (left) and my cousin (right). Kris Bacani did my makeup (center)

 

ERVIN BRAGA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyervinbraga/

Peso Power (Booked May 2023): Php 2,000 (normal event rate – upgrade to airbrush). No OOTF for Tagaytay

Ervin was recommended by my wedding coordinator, and I got him to make up my entourage + ninangs. Hmmm, there was an initial misunderstanding actually because our contract stated that all the makeup would utilize airbrush. But my first two bridesmaid – hindi siya nag-airbrush! And when we complained, the makeup artist (not Ervin Braga – he arrived later, once there were more people to make up already) tried to reason his way out of it pa, saying actually hindi talaga airbrush ang contract, then when we showed the contract, he tried to say na ah lagyan nalang ng “airbrush layer” – which I don’t even know what that means? Anyway, thankfully, after that (once Ervin Braga himself arrived and clarified things), all succeeding makeup was airbrush already.

Thankfully, all the makeup (both airbrush and traditional) was done well, and lasted all the way till nighttime. To be fair, OK sila gumawa – magaling din sa eyes! My bridesmaids and ninangs asked for his contact number afterwards, saying they’d book with him again for their Tagaytay events in the future.

In the photo below, Ervin Braga’s team made up my 3 bridesmaids (orange, yellow, peach). Kris Bacani made up me (white) and my maid of honor (lavender)

 

DRED POSTIGO

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dredpostigo_makeup/

Peso Power (booked March 2023): PHP 8,000 (prenup rate – 3 looks – airbrush) + Php 3,500 (OOTF to Tagaytay)

She’s SO nice. As in honestly, out of all the makeup artists I’ve worked with, Dred is the friendliest and most ma-chika. I really like her haha! In terms of the 3 looks, OK naman – she works fast and can change up looks quickly (although medyo subtle lang changes). I don’t think eye enlargement is her forte either – makes sense coz I don’t think Chinese people are her usual clients. She also knows a bit about hairstyling, and she was helping her hair stylist a bit in figuring out how to add more volume to my hair (my hair is sooo flat).

What I love the most about Dred though is she’s like a behind-the-scenes content creator! Haha, ang ganda ng reels na ginawa niya from my prenup. While the photographer was taking pics, she was also snapping her own pics and videos – which she shared with us after. Kakatuwa!

Makeup Look 1

Makeup Look 2

Makeup Look 3

 

 

SALLY UY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeupby_sallyuy/

Peso Power (booked December 2023): Php 5,000 (normal event rate – non-airbrush) + Php 1,200 OOTF for QC

Tbh, Sally is the least talkative makeup artist I’ve worked with haha. She literally just works – hindi siya ma-small talk. OK lang din naman with me, but I guess it’s not something I’m used to. Her hairstylist that day was super ma-chika though haha. Sally’s specialty is this bridal glam look – which isn’t my typical look but tbf looked really nice on me. I guess my only issue is the mascara started to run before the program started! I don’t know why? Sally also did my sister’s and my mom’s makeup and they didn’t have the same issue.