Unfortunately, I'm perfectly serious. I'm veryveryvery paranoid about what I'll look like with the make-up on, especially because I don't usually put any make-up on, and I thought a trial would be standard procedure. But EVERY salon I called said they wouldn't do it. Just a few, like Bina Khan, Allenora (Aliya tipu one) and maybe one or 2 more said they'd do a trial but charge the same amount. Everyone expects you to just look at their pictures, and take their word about their brilliance.
As for Sabs. A LOT of people go there, but from what I've been able to figure out, almost all of the brides have the same features focused on. Does that make sense? Also, they have guys working there, so that might be an issue for some people.
greys is absolutely right....its pretty standard for Pakistani salons to NOT do trials, you basically just give up your 25-40K rupees based on their word, pics or reputation. I felt just like you did, but went with Mubashir after a consultation (its not a trial, but i got a sense of what he was about). I ended up going with him because I hadn't heard any horror stories about his makeup and his natural looking but not BROWN makeup was exactly what I wanted. For taking such a risk, i.e. picking a MUA without having seen any portfolios or whatever, it worked out PERFECTLY. also, his salon is so relaxing, its not a bride-factory and i had his full attention and he wasnt deaf to what I thought or wanted, even though I just let him do whatever he thought was best because i trusted his taste. I wouldn't recommend anyone else over him...however, I do agree with greys that Cistre at Sheraton is def worth a shot (they have old portfolios, but i've seen very good work from them). Shamain is ok, although I have heard horror stories. a bunto bride whose pics were posted in the bridal pics thread a long while ago was a shamain bride.
agreed...Sabs makes you look like the cover of Akbar-e-Jahan, and frankly, maybe some brides LIKE hearing this, but I sure as heck didn't want comments like "you look so DIFFERENT" or "bahut changed lag rahi ho" or "is that you???" I wanted to look like myself but with my nicer features played up, not a version of me after serious plastic surgery. You should still look like YOU. Plus, I'm just saying...if you have 10 lakhs to spend on a bridal jora, why would you get your makeup done where every girl in karachi goes? you'll look like a cookie cutter bride then, even if you did spend that much money to look unique. they really DO do the same makeup on every girl, but what makes it awful is the base.
But sometimes adding more money doesn't make the makeup better^^
Research is all that's going to get you what you want. I say you search up on GS for different bridal salons based in KHI.
Wasai you know what would be SO epic? If instead of going to the salon, the MUA could come to your hall and get you ready in the guest room. That would def. make things 100% easier. I wonder if there are any freelance MUA in Lahore.
^thats a valid point, but its rarely the case in pakistan unless you ARE going with freelance MUAS. my friend's friend did my mehndi and nikkah makeup, and although he was trained in the UK, he did a free trial because i found out about him through her and so that i would feel at ease...and you're right, he wasn't as expensive, but he was very very good. its just that finding him was very random, whereas if you're going with a salon thats well-known, unfortunately more money often does mean better makeup....err or maybe I should say, more consistent makeup. I've seen gorgeous brides from places like Allenora or Shaheens, but its not consistent. if five brides come out of a place, maybe 1 or 2 will look out of this world and its because these places apply the same look to everyone without looking at what your individual features are.
@fasaadi: I asked bunto aunty she said go for shamain !! I am seriously confused now ...
That's what she told me as well! I was actually thinking not to get a trial by Shamain but get a party makeup done from there for my cousin's upcoming wedding, and from there I can decide if I like her technique or not. It'll only cost 6,000-8,000 as compared to the whole bridal makeup cost and at least I'll get a rough idea of whether I like her service, base, if she does contouring or not, etc. I personally wouldn't recommend Sabs for a bunto jora either, unless you get an engagement makeup package. With such a heavy jora, and polkhi jewellery, your makeup should be subdued as well or it'll just be way too over the top, I feel!
My Bhaabi will be wearing a Bunto Jora on her wedding day and there is no way in HELL that i’ll let her go to Sabs to get ready. My Mother and I recently went there for party makeup and everything was just so unhygenic, as you would expect in a bridal line factory. The makeup products they were using were just so overused, they belonged in the bin. Plus brides were really having to wait extremely long just to wait their turn for each part of the makeup ie nails, eyes, hair, duppata setting etc, it was totally ridiculous. Unless you were considering Saba specifically for your makeup, I would probably stay away, especially if you’re planning to wear such an expensive jora on the day.
Also stay away from Shaheen Saeed - Her base was just aweful, choice of lip shade/colour was just as bad and contouring was even worse.
Bina Khan on the other hand was pretty refreshing for party makeup. Alot of people argue that her makeup is not bridal enough, but the products in her salon are really good and I think the Bunto Bride below looks pretty great in her makeup:
@ ziggy: I have been to sabs for party makeup as well and it was okay but yes if you talk about the bridal makeup i am not sure abt it as i have seen saba doing makeup on brides in just 15 miins !! which was deadly shocking for me as i want the bride to feel special that day ..I dont like bina'skhan makeup at all thrs nothing special in her makeup :( and yes all the brides please stay away from shaheen saeed i hate tht lady seriously she did my cousins makeup and it was horrible ...
I should add, the reason nobody wants to do a trial is because they say you won't really 'understand' the make-up until you see it combined with the jora and jewellery etc. rolls eyes I'm sure that's true to some extent, but it sounds a little nutty.
If you can get a trial though, I think that'd be brilliant. :)
@ ziggy: I have been to sabs for party makeup as well and it was okay but yes if you talk about the bridal makeup i am not sure abt it as i have seen saba doing makeup on brides in just 15 miins !! which was deadly shocking for me as i want the bride to feel special that day ..I dont like bina'skhan makeup at all thrs nothing special in her makeup :( and yes all the brides please stay away from shaheen saeed i hate tht lady seriously she did my cousins makeup and it was horrible ...
If you want i can my cousin about her MUA... her parlour is in defence She is very good in Bridel makeup...
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@giggles: when your wedding ?? I will be going to shamain for a trial as i am seriously confused and now i wont be going to sabs ...lol
Thanks guys for all your suggestions !!
Dec/Jan! We haven't set a date, but I gave the order for my jora made for December way back in April because I HAD to have a Bunto wedding dress, no matter what :D! I was just in time as now Bunto khala is booked till February 2011!!
@ ziggy: I have been to sabs for party makeup as well and it was okay but yes if you talk about the bridal makeup i am not sure abt it as i have seen saba doing makeup on brides in just 15 miins !! which was deadly shocking for me as i want the bride to feel special that day ..I dont like bina'skhan makeup at all thrs nothing special in her makeup :( and yes all the brides please stay away from shaheen saeed i hate tht lady seriously she did my cousins makeup and it was horrible ...
her party makeup isnt that bad, but to me, it still looks a little heavy. and yes, I totally agree, I dont think Saba fares much better...my cousin went specifically to Saba and the makeup really aged her. like i said earlier, the base wasnt good, but on top of that, they do this weird streak of bronzer and/or blush on your cheeks without even blending it (ive seen this on other sabs brides as well) and it looks awful and unnatural. She has beautiful big eyes, which were made to look smaller and slanted.
what abt cistre at sheraton?
any pictures of real brides??
do you think they will offer a triall?? whos da best MUA over there?
iam gonna be using them only because my barat is being held there and i don't wnt to travel and perfer everything under one roof..
@giggles: Where are you getting your makeup from ?? I placed my order in December for october !! I recently went to her she said she is not taking orders for heavy formals till feb as she is overbooked :(
@fasaadi: I am definately not going to sabs for my baraat makeup !!
Unfortunately, I'm perfectly serious. I'm veryveryvery paranoid about what I'll look like with the make-up on, especially because I don't usually put any make-up on, and I thought a trial would be standard procedure. But EVERY salon I called said they wouldn't do it. Just a few, like Bina Khan, Allenora (Aliya tipu one) and maybe one or 2 more said they'd do a trial but charge the same amount. Everyone expects you to just look at their pictures, and take their word about their brilliance.
That's pretty messed up imo, maybe it's a Pakistan thing because most MUA based in the UK offer trials.
If I sound disgruntled, it's because I have exams coming up. :)
its funny how you all Bunto brides refer her as Bunto Aunty, Bunto Khala, etc..
never heard anyone use it for any other designers :)
You know, I called her 'Bunto' the first time I met her during my consultation, and she corrected me and told me that since she was much older than me, I should not refer to her by her first name! I was pretty surprised and taken aback, because most designers and people in the fashion business HATE being called things like "Aunty", even though they're ancient, and would love to be forever young. I was pleasantly surprised that her traditional attitude extends to her own personal life as well, and she believes that us young girls should treat her like an elder. Since she's distantly related to me from my mom's side, I just call her 'Bunto khala' now :)!
I’ll decide after I attend a bunch of weddings this summer, I’m seeing a bride wearing a Mrs. Kazmi outfit getting sabs, two other girls with sabs makeup, two shamain brides and one bina khan.Plus waiting for reviews from some fellow guppans. I think the best way to see makeup is in person up close, and from people’s own personal experiences. But since your wedding is in Oct, I would recommend getting in touch with shamain soon! She only takes a few brides per day, and slots fill up pretty quickly. I think Saba is the only crazy person who takes upto 20 brides in one day !!
!!