FAQs | Alana MUHA

Head to the Contact/Book tab at the top of this page, fill out all the fields that apply to your booking with as much info as possible and click send. The more info the better!

It's as easy as that!

From there, I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can to communicate any further details with you & secure your booking.

I do not take bookings through any other format other than this website so if you try and book me via text, phone call, social media's etc you might just miss me!

If you need to contact me more urgently via one of these other methods, please state your full name, the type of booking you are after, whether you are after makeup or hair or both, for how many people, timings, location and all other details I could possibly need to know regarding your urgent booking.

Please avoid phone calls where possible. If you do require a call, let's arrange a time :)

The timeframes I have given in the service pages are the general outlines of an appointment time with me however these can vary. Timings can differ depending on multiple factors including: the service you are after, the complexity of a look, the thickness/length of hair, the amount of people involved etc. This can all be discussed in further communications.

HERE IS A QUICK GUIDE ON HOW BEST TO BLOCK OUT TIMINGS:

Start by working backwards from the time your event starts, then factor in some or all of the following:

- Travel time from prep location to event venue.

- 15-30mins buffer time, the last thing we want is a stress at the end due to

varying factors causing times to go over.

- 30mins for getting dressed, a sip or two of bubbly, photos, bathroom runs,

hype up time with loved ones etc.

- The amount of time pp based on the service/s they are after.

- 15 mins set up time for the Artist/s.

During your booking time with me we will chat about all things you; skin type, skin conditions, allergies, hair type, hair conditions and anything else that should arise.

We will have good in depth chats about the look you are after so we can bring to life the makeup and/or hair look tailored to all your specific requirements and wishes to get the best, most flawless finish that helps you feel your most confident and beautiful. You don't have to know anything, I will guide you through the whole service :)

Processes can vary for each different service offered however I can always guarantee a good time, quality vibes and lots of glamming!

Have a think about what makeup looks you have worn in the past that you feel the most confident in. Whether it's your go to every day makeup or something you have done for a night out or something another MUA has done for you that you loved. What was it about these looks that you loved?

On the flip side, think of looks you have had in the past that you didn't love so much. What was it about these looks that you didn't love?

Have a think about the outfit that you will be wearing, the colours, maybe even the overall theme of the event, what is the vibe that you are going for? Is it soft and understated, maybe more bold and dramatic or something in the middle.

Think, are you a stick to the comfort zone kinda person or are you a bit daring and wanting to try something new, bring something different to your special occasion?

With all of these in mind make sure when you are searching to use key words like "Neutral tones" "Natural makeup" "bold makeup" "winged liner" "smokey eye" "bridal glam" "night out glam" "mature skin" "light/dark complexions" etc.

Some sites to use when finding your inspo imagery are of course google and pinterest which are fab in many ways however they can often show lots of heavily edited images which of course isn't exactly achievable in the real life. My recommendation would be to go onto any Makeup Artist's Instagram or even tiktok because this way we will be looking specifically at the makeup on a much wider variety of canvases and not just the celebrity that is wearing it. Even better, if you are booking me have a look through my work (link at the bottom of this page or in my portfolio on this site) it really can't get more accurate than that!

When scrolling the results make sure to keep an eye out for people that look similar to you with a similar hair colour, skin colour, face shape, ethnicity, maybe even eye colour etc. This helps to set more realistic expectations for your glam.

Avoid any images that have heavy editing or aren't real life humans unless you are wanting to re-create or get inspiration from a specific character or artistic expression.

Make sure the inspo images are clear and the makeup is easy to see.

Please note Neutral makeup doesn't always equal Natural makeup.

Have a think about what hair styles you have worn in the past that you felt the most confident in. Whether it's your go to every day style (up or down) or something you or someone else has done for you for a special occasion that you loved. What was it about these styles that you loved?

On the flip side, think of styles you have had in the past that you didn't love so much. What was it about these styles that you didn't love?

Have a think about the outfit that you will be wearing, the colours, the neckline, maybe even the overall theme of the event. What is the vibe that you are going for? Is it soft and understated, maybe more bold and dramatic or something in the middle.

Think, are you a stick to the comfort zone kinda person or are you a bit daring and wanting to try something new, bring something different to your special occasion?

With all of these in mind make sure when you are searching to use key words like "hair down hairstyles" "updo's" "braiding" "long hair styles" "short hair styles" "bridal hair inspo" "special event hair inspo" "curly hair styles" "simple hairstyles" etc.

Some sites to use when finding your inspo imagery are of course google and pinterest which are fab in many ways however they can often show lots of heavily edited images which of course isn't exactly achievable in the real life. My recommendation would be to go onto any hair stylist's instagram or even tiktok because this way we will be looking specifically at the hair on a much wider variety of canvases and not just the celebrity that is wearing it. Even better, if you are booking me have a look through my work (link at the bottom of this page or in my portfolio on this site) it really can't get more accurate than that!

When scrolling the results make sure to keep an eye out for people that look similar to you with a similar hair colour, hair length, hair type, face shape, ethnicity etc. This helps to set more realistic expectations for your glam.

Ideally provide front and back images of the hair.

Avoid any images that have heavy editing or aren't real life humans unless you are wanting to re-create or get inspiration from a specific character or artistic expression.

Make sure the inspo images are clear and the makeup is easy to see.

My best tips for getting the most out of your pre-wedding trial are:

MAKEUP

Come with a fresh face free of makeup and if possible style your hair similarly to how you would expect to wear it on the day so we can best visualise the full look.

If you are planning on getting a spray tan for your wedding day I recommend organising a tan trial before your makeup trial both to make sure you are happy with the tan colour/service and to help you visualise how your desired makeup look will appear on the darker skin tone as it can vary significantly.

HAIR

Come with clean, dry hair (2-3 day is fine as long as it's not too greasy) and if you know you will be wearing makeup on the day, if possible come wearing makeup so we can best visualise the full look.

Bring along with you any hair accessories you might want included in your style for the day as well as your veil should you have these.

BOTH

Wearing a top/dress with similar colours and maybe even a similar neckline to that of your gown on the day, will help you to picture how the look will suit your full vision with your neck, shoulders, back and décolletage areas. Feel free to bring along with you any additional accessories you might want included in your look for the day including your earrings and/or necklace etc for additional visualisation.

In the lead up to any big event make sure you take extra special care to treat your skin with all the love it deserves.

Cleanse 1-2 times a day (morning and night).

Exfoliate with a gentle chemical or physical exfoliant 2-3 times a week or when you feel your skin is feeling dull, flaky, rough, bumpy and/or sandpaper like. Take extra care around the sides of the nose, chin and between the brows. Exfoliating the night before the event is most ideal to allow for the smoothest, most long lasting application. Avoid morning of incase of irritation.

Mist, tone, serum and moisturise right after you cleanse/exfoliate for optimal results.

Hydrating mask's and night creme's will be your best friends in the lead up to your event. If you don't have either, use a thick layer of the moisturiser you already own. This will help to plump up the skin which will in turn help your makeup last longer. This is particularly good for dry skin but important for oily skin too (and everything in between).

Be sure to be using skincare that is tailored to your specific skin requirements.

Make sure your hands are freshly clean before decanting any product and massaging into the face.

If you have sensitive skin and have very specific products you need applied, bring these with you and we can chat about how you like them to be used. I will accomodate your needs as best as I possibly can.

If you feel the need to pick at your skin (lets be real we all have our weak moments), avoid doing it right before your appointment to prevent any open skin.

I wouldn't recommend going experimental with new products or treatments right before your booking date incase of potential allergies or negative skin reactions. Find your go to routine in advance and stick with that surrounding the event.

Do not use Retinol, Vitamin C or other similar actives on your skin 48 hours or even 1 week prior to your event. These actives can eat through the makeup and cause it to separate particularly around the nose.

Avoid face masks the morning of the event (unless you don't mind washing the serums right off) - this can negatively effect the application. The night before is completely fine.

Waxing or any other forms of facial hair removal will help create a more flawless finish to the skin makeup however I would avoid doing it the day of your application. This can cause a patchy and uneven finish.

If you want a specific lippie colour/brand for your event I recommend sourcing that prior to the day, this is a good note to pass on to any other party members involved in your booking if they want specific lippies also.

Wear clothes that are easy to remove without disturbing the makeup when finished. Button downs are always a great option! I can provide a cape if necessary.

It's recommended to wash your hair 1 or 2 days before the event so it has a bit of natural oil and texture to work with. That being said, super greasy/dirty hair is a big no so please ensure you er on the side of clean rather than dirty. If you prefer freshly washed hair no problem, we can make this work.

Avoid using shampoo's and conditioners that contain silicones and sulfates as they are known to be big factors in drying out the hair and can cause build up around the hair strands which weighs them down and can prevent the hair from holding a curl.

When washing your hair ensure you shampoo twice from the roots down giving yourself a good head massage to stimulate the scalp. This encourages healthy hair growth and can help any flaking. Rinse thoroughly and follow with conditioner focused on the ends of your hair - ideally no product on the scalp to prevent excess oil. It is super important to thoroughly rinse all product from the hair before drying and adding any other post-wash hair care.

If you have dry/frizzy hair - when washing make sure to apply generous amounts of conditioner and rinse out thoroughly. I also recommend following up your hair washes with leave in conditioner, hair oil, hair masks and/or any other hydration focused product for a good few weeks before your event to encourage healthier, more hydrated hair.

Hair is to be dry for your scheduled booking time to save on time.

If you have curly hair that requires specific products and attention and you feel you have this under control feel free to do so before your booking. This is optional, regardless of how you prep beforehand I will be there to help you achieve your hair goals.

Provide any accessories/extensions/veil you are planning to wear with your look unless you have arranged something with me previously.

Wear clothes that are easy to remove without disturbing the hair when finished. Button downs are always a great option! I can provide a cape if necessary.

In my many years of experience in both weddings and special events I felt there wasn't all that much difference between the two.

I found that while yes sometimes within my bridal bookings the bride would want to go for much more of a glam look than the bridesmaids and mothers etc, I have also noticed many weddings where it was reversed yet the bride would still pay a higher rate than the rest of the bridal party.

Many say that weddings involve a lot more admin time than special events however in my experience it's all relatively similar.

With my special event bookings if it is a booking with multiple people I usually only liaise with 1 person yet everyone chooses what level of glam they want being aware of the different pricing for each level. To me I see it no differently for weddings and so I decided to keep the pricing the same throughout my site giving my clients the power to choose the exact level of glam they are after with the full understanding of the pricing for each category.

Not at all!

As much as I love capturing all your gorgeous faces and sharing my work with the world you are fully entitled to say no to having your photo or video taken. During your booking process you will have the opportunity to select your preferences on the topic and I will honour this preference during your booking :)

Please note that for pre-wedding consultations, or any occasions where the look created needs to be remembered, images and/or videos will need to be taken to document the look we created to be able to most closely re-create the look again. If you choose to not have photo's or video's taken this will be honoured and the images will not see the light of day again.

I am more than happy to share with you any photo's or videos I take of you and you are welcome to share on your platforms also!

Make sure to tag me so I can see them all and re-share!

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY

I always carry a diverse shade range in my professional kit to suit every skin tone and am often putting the "art" in artistry by mixing shades together to achieve the most perfect colour match for every unique individual in my chair. There is never any need to bring your own shade match, ever!

I have experience working with all types of hair including 4a 4b 4c ranges. While I am not specifically trained in these specific hair types I am always excited to style any head of hair that sits in my chair no matter how challenging it may be.

Inclusivity is very important to me. My services are always 100% LGBTQ+ friendly and neurodivergent friendly.

BEING A CRUELTY FREE ARTIST

I am a 99.9% cruelty free artist.

If you haven't heard about 'grey area' brands by now, these are brands in which sell their products to China. What's the problem with this you may ask? China has a law that requires all products entering their country to be tested on animals before retailing. When buying products in Australia (and various other countries) from brands that sell to China they are technically cruelty free however by purchasing from these brands it is in a way supporting animal testing.

I have personally made the conscious decision to avoid buying from these brands both personally and in my professional kit as this most aligns with my values.

As for the 0.1% this is because my kit contains some products that classify as "grey area" brands due to being gifted or bought before I became actively aware of the information above. In an effort to avoid waste these products will remain in my kit until they are empty and will not be replaced.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES

Whilst it is unavoidable to use certain disposables in my professional kit I have a conscious mind of areas where I can limit my environmental impact and am continuously working on improving these methods where I can.

Always open to healthy conversations surrounding these topics :)

I stock a wide variety of world renown brands in my professional kit, including but not limited to:

Hourglass, Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Smashbox, Tarte, Juvias Place, Morphe, Mecca, Mecca Max, Too Faced, La Roche Posay, Go-To, Stila, Huda Beauty, Rituel De Fille, XO Beauty, Suva Beauty, MAC, Glow Recipe, Lisa Eldridge, Weleda, Antipodes, Danessa Myricks, Davroe, The Nak, KYK hair, RnCo hair, Paul Mitchell, CoLab, etc.

As you can probably imagine this list is forever morphing and changing. Besides being cruelty free and ethically sourced I am not married to any brands in particular.