Meet our Members: This week we chat to Hannah Bailey and find out about her journey into Wedding Hair and Makeup
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in the wedding hair and makeup industry?
I am a mum of 3 and a dog living in Edinburgh and I get to travel around Scotland doing my dream job! Having spent many years working different jobs, mainly in retail, I could never decide what I wanted to be when I ‘grew up’. I only knew i wanted to do something creative or practical. Over the years alongside working I gained qualifications in various beauty treatments, hair styling and hair extensions. I eventually joined FakeBake in the beauty-at-home parties side of the business and rose up to be a manager until they decided to close that side and I was back to square one.
One of my best friends had worked with me at FakeBake and went on to study makeup and go into bridal. One day she asked if I could help her at a wedding doing the hair and although nervous and unsure I hesitantly agreed. It was here that I finally knew what I wanted to be! I started doing more weddings with her and went on to also get my makeup qualification at GlamCandy in Edinburgh.
I have worked alongside other artists over the years building up my portfolio and business and am happy to say things are going well…I have bookings already for 2027 and not only do I love what I do, but I still get to work alongside my best friend and my other best friend (also a qualified bridal hair stylist) has now joined us when required for larger bridal parties!
How many years have you been working as a wedding hair and makeup artist?
That first wedding was 7 years ago now! And I still pinch myself sometimes thinking I can’t believe I get to do something I love so much as my job!
Can you describe the range of services you offer to brides and bridal parties?
The main services I offer are Bridal and Bridal party hairstyling and makeup, lashes and touch-up services. I frequently pitch in doing up corsets or buttons on wedding dresses, placing veils and any fascinators being worn, down to drying off bouquets so as not to get water stains on the dresses…little things like that I have picked up over the years from all the weddings I have been lucky to be part of, but are often the things no-one thinks of!
Along side these things I am also fully qualified in various methods of hair extensions, nails, lash lifts and tints, brows and tanning so although I stepped away from those to concentrate on the Hair and Makeup they are still something I could offer if a bride requested! I also offer trials for the bride and anyone else in the bridal party that would like one.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Inspiration comes from anything really, it can be a style of hair or makeup that the bride loves which we then adapt to suit the brides hair and features, the colour they have chosen for their bridesmaids or even their bouquet! Most brides these days have a good idea of what they like and usually have pictures to guide me towards their dream look.
Can you walk us through your typical process when working with a bride from the initial consultation to the wedding day?
When I receive an enquiry I aim to respond as quickly as possible, we will discuss any requirements and I can then send a personalised quote, with details of how to book, and a rough timeline of when we would aim to book in a trial if she would like one. If she decides we are a good fit then I will send over an invoice for the deposit amount and the contract for her to sign, once both these are received that date is booked in the diary! If a bride is keen to have a trial before booking then I can accommodate that however due to a large number of enquiries I cannot hold dates until the deposit and contract have been received.
I ensure my brides understand this fully before going ahead with this option though it is very rare that my brides request this anyway! Around 6-8 weeks before the wedding day I will get in touch with the bride to look at organising their trial, at this time I will set up a WhatsApp group and make them an admin.
I encourage them to add anyone else having hair and/or makeup done and they can all post their inspo pics in there. It also means should anyone have any questions they can ask directly instead of having to go through the bride. On the morning of the wedding I will arrive nice and early and get set up before we get going.
I will make sure everyone is happy with their looks but I will usually not apply lipsticks until everyone is otherwise ready, this way no-one is worried about smudging it if eating and drinking whilst waiting around!
Once everyone is dressed we will apply lipsticks and check for any touchups needed and then get packed up. If a bride requires me to stay for touchups after the ceremony and before photos then this is absolutely something I can do!
Do you have any memorable experiences or success stories you’d like to share?
I think all weddings are memorable in their own ways. I’ve had happy tears from brides when they’ve seen their hair and makeup finished and a bridesmaid once who sat staring at herself in the mirror…she kept repeating ‘I can’t believe it’s me, I’m beautiful’…moments like those are always memorable! I’ve worked with a lot of women who are really nervous either because they’ve never had it done or maybe had a bad experience before and the feeling when they truly love how they look and you can see their confidence grow the moment they look in the mirror is hard to beat!
What advice do you have for brides who are in the process of choosing their wedding hair and makeup artist?
Start looking early, a lot of good Bridal hairstylists and makeup artists get booked up months/sometimes years in advance, I currently have bookings coming in for 2026 and some for 2027! I would also advice against basing your decision purely on price, obviously I wouldn’t suggest crippling yourself financially but your stylist is with you all morning on the most important day of your life.
You need somebody you can trust to make you look gorgeous (you will be looking at those photos for years to come) but they also need to be the right fit for you and your wedding party! If you love their work, and you believe you and your bridal party will be comfortable and relaxed with them then you will not regret the decision to book them! I have never heard anyone talk about regretting the amount spent on their stylist but I have heard people regretting not going for who they really wanted because of price!
Do you have a favourite wedding location in Scotland where you’ve worked?
Working in Scotland, I get to travel to some truly stunning venues! From the castles and country house hotels to places like Edinburgh zoo…they all have something special about them. One particular venue I love, specifically for an Autumn wedding, is Carlowrie Castle…coming up the driveway and seeing the castle covered in red ivy makes me catch my breath every time!
What do you love most about working in the wedding industry in Scotland?
I think apart from the beautiful venues and scenery we have here, I love the variety of brides we have…we not only have our ‘home-grown’ brides but also a lot coming from far and wide to get married here. It’s always lovely to hear their different stories, why they chose Scotland/ their venue and how they met their partner etc.
We also have so many amazing wedding vendors here and being in the industry you start to get to know each other, whether through weddings or wedding fairs…it’s always nice to see familiar faces!
How can brides get in touch with you to learn more about your services or to book a consultation?
I always encourage brides to go to my website www.hannahbaileymua.com where I have information, pictures, pricing and our enquiry form, email at info@hannahbaileymua.com or message me through The Scottish Wedding Hair & Makeup Directory!
I can be found on Instagram and Facebook where you can pop me a message or dm but I am a self-confessed nightmare when it comes to social media! Im usually so busy that instead of updating socials during a quiet time I’m more likely to grab a coffee and a biscuit and sit down!
(@hannahbaileymua) • Instagram photos and videos
Hannah Bailey MUA & Hair Stylist | Edinburgh | Facebook
Images by Luxury Wedding Photographer in Scotland | Edinburgh & Glasgow
