Working with clients

Nov 29, 2014

Kathryn R.

Hi everyone! I'm new here so I hope I'm posting in the correct place, let me know if I'm not.
I need help! I'm a fairly new MUA, I've only had my permit for about six months now. With the holiday season I have a flood (it's a flood to me) of clients coming in on one day. (There's a huge event in our town)
One of these clients sent me a pic of herself and then sent me pics of the makeup look she's going for. Of course all the pics were from Pinterest, all of beautiful photoshopped models looking fabulous. The picture she sent me of herself clearly shows she has very hooded eyelids with little space to work. But she wants the emphasis on her eyes and all the pics have almost an avante garde look to them, they are some serious eye makeup looks.
I can do avante garde, I'm just nervous about how to 1) explain to my client that I can't make her eyes look like the pictures without hurting her feelings and 2) actually pull of an eye-focused look with hooded lids.
Can anyone help me? Maybe some tips on bold looks with hooded lids and some suggestions on how to communicate with my client? Thank you!

Nov 30, 2014

Alessandra A.

Hi Kathryn!

I have been in that position. The first thing you want to do is make sure you remove some words from your vocabulary as to not offend your client... hooded, wrinkly, small eyes, anything like that needs to go out the window. Simply point out that those photos are of women with "different anatomy" than hers. Tell her you will work together to come up with a look she will love :) Make precise and professional recommendations to her, and make sure you explain to her WHY you are making the decisions you are (for example-- if you decided to go with a frosty light color on the lid instead of a matte midtone-- explain that it will made her lid look wider. If you decided to draw her crease higher almost into her browbone, explain it is to make the crease appear wider. If you line the lids on the upper lashes only, and line the bottom with beige or white, explain this makes the eyes look brighter and more open.... etcetera).

This is somewhat difficult and it gets better with time, but its just as important as the application itself. Firstly because you don't want your client going around saying they were unhappy with your work (even if its gorgeous) but also because you don't want mediocre or unflattering make up out there with your name on it! Practice makes perfect!

And remember to have fun with it!

Dec 6, 2014

Kathryn R.

Thank you so much for your advice. I've managed to establish a good relationship with this client by helping her pick out a dress, doing a trial run for free, etc. I even showed her the option of using beauty crystals around her eye area to make up for the lack of space where some pizzaz could be. She loved the idea! So I'm doing my trial run with her on Sunday. I'm getting a better feeling about it the more I talk to the ladies on here. Thank you so much for your help!! ☺️