Makeup artist's harrowing account with a difficult bride

Recently, in wedding-filled December, a makeup artist was seemingly looking for a vent for his frustrations. I happened to be safest ear that listened to his story, which I bring you below:

I was recommended to Maria (not real name), a bride-to-be, by a former client and friend, who I had styled for her wedding the year before. I was excited and truly grateful for the business and set out to discuss the hair and makeup services I offer.

Initially, the recommender was the go-between bargaining on Maria's behalf, who was operating on a shoestring budget. When we failed to reach a compromise, she put me directly in touch with Maria.

During the phone conversations with Maria, we haggled until we reached a suitable compromise for both of us: I agreed to do hairstyling and makeup for the bride at sh800,000 and makeup for her two matrons at sh200,000. This made a total of sh1,000,000.

She sent a deposit so I wrote out a receipt, and then went ahead to save the date. This was done a month to the introduction ceremony, which was timely for preparations and trials.

A week to the function, Maria topped up on her deposit because we had not met in person. In the past weeks I had been keen to meet her so that I could get an idea of the suitable hairstyles and makeup for her, but she had been unavailable.

In the week of her function, I realized time was running out and I impressed it upon her that it was necessary to meet and do a makeup trial, but she complained that she was busy on each day I suggested.

She said she was heavily pregnant and afraid of crowds in town to come to my studio.

Even getting her to plait her weave was a slippery affair. When she finally decided on a day the hairdresser would plait her hair, she suddenly remembered she had no manicurist and asked me to get her one. I willingly obliged, and shared her number with both service providers.

The date was set for Thursday, just two days away from her function. Since she was unwilling to go to their salon, they requested that she foot their transport fare to Buwate where she was, which infuriated her! She bitterly complained about being overcharged, pointing out that sh20,000 was too much. After a long discussion, she agreed and a time was set.

Whereas I had paid the hairstylist for the labour, we both still weren't sure what the bride wanted exactly since she had frustrated all my attempts to meet her.

All she had said was that she wanted a side parting. We had to rely on photos sent by her friend via WhatsApp to gauge what would best suit her and we hoped she would cooperate.

The appointment had been set for midmorning, but the hairdresser was running late and that's when all hell broke loose.

Maria threw a tantrum and I was tempted to rebut, her but I apologised on their behalf and coordinated their movements.

An hour later, the service providers arrived and were greeted by a quarrelsome bride-to-be, but they still offered their heartfelt apologies. They did their work and left, and she proceeded to the village.

The following morning I made sure I was on time although the venue was far. On arriving, I found the bride micromanaging everything, which was a turn off.

She had sat facing the bedroom window, which had a clear view of the compound where the tents were being set up and decorated.

Despite the fact that there were people managing the setup, she kept getting up to go and check on the flower arrangements, placement of drinks matching of table linen and minding a toddler, who already had people competently looking after her.

As if that was not enough, when I finally met her, she was much darker than the photos I was sent. My mind was quickly adjusting to her skin tone and creating a look.

As she was busy running around, it did not occur to her that she was wasting precious time needed for hairstyling and makeup.

So I first let her be as I worked on the two matrons and then after about an hour and a half, she finally sat down, panting, heaving and sweaty.

Hardly had I began shaping her eyebrow than she jumped and dashed off to see to something else. I was frustrated and angry. When she finally sat back down again, she was restless and kept turning and talking, which caused her to sweat all the more.

This made it difficult to work on a makeup look that would have taken 30-45 minutes. It took more than one and a half hours!

Then came the hairstyling and by that time I was fed up! She kept getting up to dress the toddler much a she had a lot of help.

She was screaming at her matrons, ordering them out of her room and then asking them to come back to keep her company, which really worked her up emotionally. All that caused her to sweat even more, ruining the makeup.

When I began the hairstyling, I realized that we needed more weaves to give it volume because the hair had shrunk. I had an extra piece, which I could have quickly fixed in, but Maria was too unsettled to let me even fix it.

By this time I was too tired and demotivated to do it. I ensured that she did not look at herself in the mirror the entire time, otherwise we would have never finished.

When she saw her image after we were done, she launched into another wave of quarrels and complaints about the hairstyle. She told her friend what a bad job I had done yet I had charged her a lot.

She selectively forgot our numerous requests to meet with her and decide on makeup and hairstyle. Or, at the very least, she should have settled so I could focus on her hair.

She had also created an impression that I had been hired for the whole day, so it came as a shock to her friends when I finished and packed my bags because that was our agreement.

By that time, she was called to get ready to go out and greet her guests, she was furious, intimating that she would not pay the sh500,000 balance. Fortunately, as she went out with her entourage, she sent someone with it and I left.

Later that evening, she made a nasty phone call to the hairdresser, cursing him for ruining her function and praying that his business fails.

By that time, I was already on my way home, glad that a hectic day with a difficult bride was done!

Tips on building an ideal relationship with your stylist

Be cooperative

Build rapport

Be flexible

Avail yourself

Relax

If you are polite, the service provider might offer complimentary services such as: styling flower girls.