Your wedding day is all about making choices that feel right for you.
From your dress and flowers to the food you serve and the suppliers you choose, you’ll probably make a hundred little decisions that reflect who you are as a couple.
So, if you are vegan, cruelty-free or simply trying to make more conscious choices, why should your wedding hair and makeup be any different?
As a vegan wedding hair and makeup artist, this is something I feel quite strongly about. I want the products I use to reflect my own values while still giving my brides beautiful, long-lasting hair and makeup.
What does vegan and cruelty-free mean to me?
For me, vegan beauty isn’t simply about checking whether a product contains beeswax, carmine or other animal-derived ingredients.
If animals have been used or harmed in the development or testing of a beauty product, I personally wouldn’t consider that product vegan.
That’s why I look at both the ingredients and the brand’s approach to animal testing when choosing products for my kit.
I became vegan because I care about animals, so it wouldn’t make sense to me to use a product simply because it contains no animal ingredients if animals have still been involved in its development.
I also think it’s important to do your own research. Beauty brands can have complicated supply chains and policies, and claims such as “vegan” and “cruelty-free” aren’t always as straightforward as they might initially appear. (I’m looking at you, Charlotte Tilbury).
For my bridal clients, I want to be confident that the products I’m using reflect the values behind my business as well as giving beautiful results.
Why does it matter for your wedding makeup?
For most brides, choosing a makeup artist is about much more than the finished look.
You are inviting someone into a very personal part of your wedding day. They will probably spend several hours with you, your bridal party and your family.
If you have chosen a vegan wedding, you may have carefully considered everything from your wedding breakfast to your flowers and suppliers. It makes sense that you might also want your beauty products to reflect those choices.
There is something lovely about knowing that the products being used on your skin align with your values too.
And if you’re not vegan but cruelty-free beauty is important to you, the same applies.
Vegan doesn’t mean boring!
I think there is sometimes a misconception that choosing vegan and cruelty-free beauty means compromising on quality or choice.
It really doesn’t.
There are so many fantastic beauty products available that you can create everything from soft, natural bridal makeup to a full-on smoky eye.
My signature bridal makeup is usually fresh, glowing and natural, but I have also created darker, more editorial and gothic bridal looks.
Being vegan certainly hasn’t stopped me from having fun with makeup!
Skincare is just as important
Skincare is a huge part of my bridal makeup process.
Beautiful makeup starts with well-prepped skin, so I spend time making sure the skin is hydrated, comfortable and ready for makeup.
Since becoming vegan myself, I have gradually changed more and more of my professional kit towards vegan and cruelty-free skincare and makeup and now I’m pleased to say that it is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
I particularly enjoy discovering brands that fit with this approach while still performing brilliantly on a wedding day.
Because let’s be honest, vegan is important to me, but the makeup also needs to work.
It needs to survive your ceremony, photographs, hugs, happy tears, champagne and, inevitably, a lot of dancing.
You don’t have to be vegan to care about cruelty-free beauty
You also don’t need to be vegan to choose a cruelty-free wedding hair and makeup artist.
Perhaps you are vegetarian or perhaps none of those things apply to you but maybe you are trying to reduce the number of animal-derived products you use. Or perhaps animal testing is simply something you feel strongly about.
Your wedding is yours, and your suppliers should understand the choices that matter to you.
I think that is one of the nicest things about working in weddings. Every couple has their own priorities and their own story.
What should you ask your wedding makeup artist?
If vegan and cruelty-free beauty is important to you, don’t be afraid to ask your wedding hair and makeup artist about their kit.
You could ask:
- Do you use vegan makeup?
- Are your skincare products vegan?
- Are the brands you use cruelty-free?
- Do any of your products contain animal-derived ingredients?
- How do you check whether a brand is genuinely cruelty-free?
- Are your hair products vegan and cruelty-free too?
- Can you accommodate a completely vegan bridal party?
A good artist should be happy to talk you through the products they use.
And if they don’t know the answer to a particular product, they should be willing to check rather than simply assuming that it is suitable.
Vegan bridal hair and makeup in Bristol and beyond
I am a Bristol-based wedding hair and makeup artist and have been working in the wedding industry for more than 15 years.
I specialise in natural, glowing bridal makeup and effortless wedding hair, with every look tailored around the bride rather than following a particular trend.
I also travel regularly for weddings across the UK and internationally, including France, Italy, Iceland and Cyprus.
Being vegan is something that matters to me personally, so gradually building a professional kit that reflects those values has felt like a very natural part of my business.
And ultimately, that is what I want for my brides too.
Your wedding day should feel like you – from your makeup and hair right down to the products sitting on your dressing table.
If choosing vegan and cruelty-free beauty is part of that, I would be very happy to be the person helping you get ready.