If you’ve been enjoying the glamour (and gossip) of the red carpet season, you probably already know that those A-listers don’t do their own hair and make-up. Instead, an army of make-up artists and stylists does it for them – and their job isn’t as easy as it sounds…
Nichola Joss, celebrity make-up artist and facialist:
“Usually for award shows, you start with plenty of time. You rock up, do a massage and a facial, they have their hair done, and the make-up is done last, by which time we’re nearly always running late, so you get in the limo for an hour. That’s when I’m often doing part of their make-up, so you have to be very steady-handed. I’ve also been known to do relaxing facials for A-list actresses in the back of the car, but not on the way to Awards shows, obviously.
“However, working behind the scenes at the actual theatre is nearly all touch-ups. There’s probably about three dressing rooms, but only for the main presenters, not for the dancers or guest presenters. I’ve had to do tans in the toilets before a presentation when they’ve suddenly realised their whole back is on show, or white strap marks are showing. On one occasion, a major A-list singer was wearing a full body make-up during a song-and-dance routine but, when she came off for a quick-change, it came off with the clothes so the make-up suddenly looked terribly patchy. While she changed into a skimpy dress, I had about 20 seconds to frantically buff her with talc and apply bronzing powder.
“Working the suites is calmer but still hectic. We’re less likely to do the A-listers, but we’ll do their partners, guests, studio executives, publicists and other audience members.”
International MUA Louise Constad
“At the theatre you’re usually working with a team in a tiny room and people come through in a constant stream just before they go onstage. You wear most of your products on your belt and you get about 30 seconds per person. It’s all action. But when you’re doing them at home you only do one because they all have to leave at the same time. It means you get more time, but there are often other distractions like phones ringing, friends popping in, kids running around – and of course you can never say anything. Helena Bonham-Carter, for instance, who’s always madly busy, could be balancing her kids on her lap and working on her iPad, all while she’s being made-up.
“Celebs are real people, just like us, so a common beauty issue is having to hide problems like mosquito bites, ingrown hairs, spots, etc., and most also ask for extra shine on the breast area so their cleavage looks more impressive. You also have to give her the make-up products that wear off because you rarely go with them to the event. That’s usually lipcolour, eyelash glue and face powder.”
Spob, Head of Professional Development at Illamasqua:
“I’ll go to the celebrity’s hotel two or three hours early (and maybe get a glass of champagne with her and her hairdresser). Normal hotel rooms are usually fine, but some boutique hotels have that terrible ambient light so you often have to make them up in the bathroom, sometimes with her sitting on the toilet. Closed, obviously!
“The actresses usually leave at around 4pm and will only get the opportunity to touch up their lips after that, so the base has to last perfectly. I swear by Illamasqua’s Hydra Veil Primer and Skin Base which, together, make the perfect canvas. Any redness around the nose or dark circles under the eyes all disappear but it doesn’t look at all heavy – and those cameras pick up every tiny detail.”
“The Charles Worthington Style Suites have always been an inner sanctum of calm before the storm. I always chat to the actresses whilst I style their hair to help them relax – sometimes a bit too much. While I was styling Paris Hilton’s hair for the Oscars one year, she asked if I could also find time to style her pooch! I politely declined as I had Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson waiting in the next chair.”
Tara Smith, award-winning hair stylist
“At the BAFTAs one year, it absolutely poured – and that can be challenging because, even with umbrellas, it’s frizzy weather. That’s why I created my Base Coat Serum***, to smooth and eradicate frizz. It also came in handy when I was doing Rosario Dawson at the Cannes Film Festival. Time ran short and, in the car from the hotel to the event, I noticed that the thigh-high split in her dress revealed lizard legs underneath. I couldn’t leave her like that, so I whipped out my trusty Serum and smoothed it over them. They then looked gorgeously sheeny, which was just as well because she looked fabulous and her pictures appeared everywhere.”
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