For hair and makeup artist Kate Howard, creating the perfect bridal look is all about enhancing a bride’s natural beauty, making them feel themselves… the very best and most beautiful version of themselves, that is!
A self-confessed wedding addict, Yorkshire-based Kate travels across the UK to glam-up brides and their #squads, thriving on the buzz of the big day and the satisfaction of boosting confidence by making leading ladies both look and feel amazing.
As a glowing-skin enthusiast and boho hair lover, the skillful artist specialises in soft romantic looks whilst incorporating elements of a bride’s unique style and personality.
Today, we’re finding out more about UNVEILED Network member Kate’s signature style as well as quizzing her on her kit, upcoming trends and her top bridal beauty tips, which are golden!
Hi Kate!
Hey! I’m Kate, of KH Makeup Artistry, a hair and makeup artist based in the Yorkshire Dales with a love for radiant, glowing skin and beautiful boho hair. I believe in enhancing natural beauty and helping brides to feel confident, comfortable and absolutely beautiful on their big day!
Where did your passion for beauty come from?
My passion for hair and makeup started when I was training as a beauty therapist; after having a tiny taste of the makeup industry in my course, I just LOVED it! I went on to train further in editorial, fashion, bridal and TV makeup and found my favourite was always being around brides and their lovely bridal parties on the big day! So I focused on becoming a bridal specialist and being able to give brides a wonderful experience when it came to their wedding hair and makeup!
Why do you like working with bridal clients in particular?
Working with brides and their bridal parties is like nothing else! The morning is such a happy, giggly atmosphere, and there is so much love floating around on a wedding morning between the bride and her friends/ sisters/ mums and all those close to them. Being able to help the group relax and feel pampered and beautiful is such a lovely feeling!
Describe the service that you offer?
I offer wedding makeup and hairstyling for all the bridal party! I also work on shoots with private clients and occasional editorial work, which is super fun!
Do you have a signature style?
I would describe my signature style as romantic, fresh, and enhancing natural beauty when it comes to makeup. I love soft and warm makeup that is radiant and timeless for brides. In terms of hair, I would describe my signature style as romantic, boho vibes: nothing too structured or traditional – something perfect for a relaxed and modern bridal look.
Where do you find inspiration/ keep up with the latest trends and techniques?
I love keeping up with trends using Instagram, magazines and taking inspiration from other artists. Being within an industry with so much creativity, there is always something new and different floating around! I LOVE this, but I do love to balance the trends with timeless beauty when it comes to weddings!
How can a bride or groom make sure that their skin is in the best possible condition before their big day?
Having a good skincare routine is absolutely essential! Find what works best for you and work with this up to the wedding – no last-minute facials or beauty treatments! Anything you want to try out before the big day, try it in advance!
I work closely with a skincare brand called Tropic, which is all-natural and ‘nasties’ free skincare, as I’m a big believer in using natural ingredients on the skin.
Why would you recommend a makeup trial?
A trial is always important to get the look right before the big day! At my trials, we chat a lot about what makeup and hairstyles you usually wear and how we can keep your bridal look an enhanced version of this. My aim is to keep brides feeling like themselves but the best version of themselves. It’s a great time to chat about the whole vibe of the wedding and make sure our beauty look is in keeping with the wedding style, dress and smaller details such as jewellery etc!
Tell us a bit about the products that you have in your kit?
My kit consists of a lot of Charlotte Tilbury products! But when asked this question, I always like to explain to brides that I have such a range of products in my kit so that I can work with different skin types to give different desired looks as this all influences my choice of products when doing someone’s makeup.
My hair kit consists of Kenra Professional and Maria Nila (another all-natural brand!) I love to use products that help with hold whilst giving a super soft and relaxed finish. None of that ‘crispy hairspray’ finish.
How does it all work on the wedding day?
Time scales for the big day often depend on the time of the wedding, how many members of the bridal party will be having hair or makeup done and whether the party will be travelling to a church for the wedding or staying at the venue!
Prior to the big day, I create a loose schedule for the bride so that she can see how things will run throughout the course of the morning. Roughly, I usually allocate 30 minutes to set up after arrival, 30 minutes per person per service, and one hour for the bride per service, plus a little half-an-hour buffer at the end for last-minute touches!
Can you do make up for the wider bridal party too?
Absolutely! The more, the merrier on a wedding morning! For bigger parties, I sometimes bring along my fabulous second artist, Ness.
What are your top tips for clients when planning their wedding day makeup?
- It’s never too early to start looking for ideas – use Pinterest, magazines, Instagram but make sure you are tailoring them to be similar to your own personal makeup and hair routines. You’ll want to feel like yourself but the most beautiful version on the big day.
- Know your skin – take a note of what works and doesn’t work on your skin before your bridal trials, as this is really helpful information for your hair and makeup artist.
- It is just as important (if not more important) to know what you don’t like when it comes to hair and makeup as what you do like!
And your no-nos?
- No last-minute facials, dermaplaning or any other beauty treatments before the big day!
- Don’t fill your inspiration board full of ideas that aren’t similar or are totally different to your own hair length, colour, skin tone, eye colour etc.
- Trial your fake tan before the big day if you are having a tan.
What trends do you see emerging in bridal makeup in the coming year and beyond?
I am absolutely seeing the bridal ponytail being a big inspo idea for the next year! Along with bridal headbands – I absolutely love a headband, and there are some really beautiful bridal ones to choose from.
Makeup-wise, I can see more minimal makeup being popular for brides. In the past year, lots of people have been wearing less makeup, working on their skin and self-care a lot more, so I can see the focus shifting onto beautiful, flawless skin with minimal eye makeup or soft subtle colours in eye make-up. The glossy lip is here to stay; we have waved goodbye to a matte lip that feels very flat. It’s onto the glossy lip in rosy neutral shades for plumping and moisture-rich finishes!
How can couples get in touch with you and see more of your work?
You can visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Instagram – I have lots of competitions that run throughout on my Instagram to win goodies too!
