Whether it is a wedding, a school ball or a shoot, the best makeup artists in Hastings work either from a small studio or by travelling to you on the morning. Most of Hawke’s Bay’s professional artists are mobile and cover Hastings, Havelock North and Napier from one base, so where they are matters less than whether they have your date. Several book weddings a year ahead, so start early if the date is fixed.
1Marble Fox Beauty
Marble Fox Beauty is run by Makayla June, who has worked professionally in makeup since 2015 and started the business in Hawke’s Bay in 2018. She trained at The Make Up School in Auckland with a diploma covering film, television, fashion, hair and special effects, and works across weddings, events and screen work. She is the most Hastings based of the artists here and does hair alongside makeup, which saves booking two people.
Services
- Makeup for weddings, balls and special occasions
- Trial makeup
- Bridal and occasion hair styling
- Special effects makeup
- One on one and group makeup lessons
Highlights
- Awarded the M.A.C fashion award in 2015
- Screen credits including Sensing Murder, I Am Innocent, 800 Words and NZ Mastermind
- Head makeup and special effects tutor for the National Youth Drama School
- Diploma from The Make Up School in Auckland covering film, television, fashion, hair and effects
- Group lessons priced per person for groups of four over three and a half hours
Location & Contact
Name: Marble Fox Beauty
Address: Hastings
Phone: 027 772 4709
Website: marblefoxbeauty.co.nz
2Candice Dear Makeup Artist
Candice Dear is a mobile artist covering Napier, Hastings and Havelock North, working mainly in bridal and editorial makeup. Her portfolios are split across weddings, editorial, commercial, video and opera, which is an unusually wide range for a regional artist. Bridal trials run ninety minutes and include timeline planning for the morning, not just the face.
Services
- Bridal makeup for the bride, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and guests
- Bridal trials including consultation and morning timeline planning
- School ball and event makeup
- Commercial, editorial and stage makeup
- Makeup lessons
Highlights
- Keeps a separate opera and stage portfolio, rare outside the main centres
- Brides and bridesmaids receive a complimentary touch up kit with a lipstick sample, mirror and blotting paper
- Publishes a downloadable bridal services guide with pricing set out in advance
- Travel charged at a published per kilometre rate rather than an estimate
Location & Contact
Name: Candice Dear Makeup Artist
Address: Hastings
Phone: 027 349 2700
Website: candicedearmakeup.com
3Makeup with Micki
Micki Michau is a makeup artist and educator based in Havelock North, about five minutes from Hastings, with more than twelve years across beauty, fashion, theatre and film. She works from a studio and also travels, and the business has artists in Hastings as well. She takes enquiries and bookings through her website rather than by phone.
Services
- Wedding makeup
- Special occasion and school ball makeup
- One to one makeup lessons, in person or online
- Private group lessons and workshops
Highlights
- Nominated for Outstanding Makeup Artist of the Year at the New Zealand Wedding Awards in 2021 and again in 2022
- Spent two years on the L’Oreal Paris makeup team at New Zealand Fashion Week
- Led the hair and makeup department for New Zealand Opera’s Madame Butterfly
- Contracted to Revlon New Zealand for six months training counter and pharmacy staff
- Kit spans Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, NARS, YSL, RCMA and Laura Mercier
Location & Contact
Name: Makeup with Micki
Address: Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay
Website: makeup-etc.net
4Megan Childs Makeup
Megan Childs works from a studio in Havelock North and on location around Hawke’s Bay, with a background in art and a major in illustration behind more than fifteen years in makeup. She does makeup only and refers clients on to local hairstylists rather than trying to cover both. Studio appointments in Havelock North take a single client, which is unusual since most artists set a minimum.
Services
- Wedding and bridal party makeup
- Bridal trials of around ninety minutes
- Special occasion and ball makeup
- Studio appointments and on location work
Highlights
- Fully cruelty free kit including New Zealand made products
- Every booking includes a touch up kit with the client’s chosen lip shade
- No minimum booking for studio appointments, where most artists require a group
- Products chosen to suit sensitive and acne prone skin
Location & Contact
Name: Megan Childs Makeup
Address: Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay
Phone: 027 899 6515
Website: meganchildsmakeup.com
5Deanna Maree Makeup
Deanna Maree is a bridal specialist based in Havelock North, working local vineyard weddings through to destination weddings elsewhere in New Zealand. Her stated style is skin focused and softly diffused, running from natural through to soft glam. She blocks out a whole day for one wedding, so your morning is not shared with another booking.
Services
- Bridal and bridal party makeup
- Destination wedding makeup
- Bridal trials
- Special occasion and event makeup
- Private and group makeup lessons
Highlights
- Books one wedding per day, so no booking is shared across two weddings
- One complimentary in studio bridal trial for brides who book upfront
- Travel within Hawke’s Bay included in the price rather than charged on top
Location & Contact
Name: Deanna Maree Makeup
Address: Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay
Website: deannamareemakeup.com
Makeup Artists in Hastings at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Marble Fox Beauty | Hastings | Awarded the M.A.C fashion award in 2015 |
| Candice Dear Makeup Artist | Hastings | Keeps a separate opera and stage portfolio |
| Makeup with Micki | Hawke's Bay | Nominated for Outstanding Makeup Artist of the Year at the New Zealan... |
| Megan Childs Makeup | Hawke's Bay | Fully cruelty free kit including New Zealand made products |
| Deanna Maree Makeup | Hawke's Bay | Books one wedding per day, so no booking is shared across two weddings |
How to Choose the Right Makeup Artist in Hastings
- Book the trial before you book the day, and take a photo in daylight at the end of it. Makeup that looks right in a mirror can read very differently on camera.
- Check whether they do hair as well or makeup only. Some here deliberately do makeup alone and refer you to a stylist, which means two bookings to coordinate on the morning.
- Ask about minimum numbers. Several artists set a minimum of three to five people for on location weddings during the busy season, though studio appointments are often taken singly.
- Confirm how travel is charged. Some include travel within Hawke’s Bay, others charge a published per kilometre rate, and for a rural venue that difference adds up.
- If you have sensitive or acne prone skin, say so at enquiry rather than at the trial, so the artist can plan the kit around it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hastings Makeup Artists
How far ahead should I book for a wedding?
Hawke’s Bay is a wedding region and the busy season runs from about October to April, so popular Saturdays go a year or more out. If your date is fixed, enquire as soon as you have the venue. Artists who block a whole day for one wedding have fewer slots than those taking several bookings.
What happens at a bridal trial?
You sit for a full application, usually around ninety minutes, and work through what suits your skin, the dress and the light at your venue. Good artists also use the time to plan the morning timeline, working backwards from when you need to be ready. Some include one trial free when you book, others charge for it separately.
Do makeup artists come to me?
Mostly yes. Most Hawke’s Bay artists are mobile and will travel to your venue or accommodation, and several also keep a studio for trials and smaller appointments. Getting ready on site is usually easier for a wedding party, while a studio can be simpler for one person.
Is there a minimum number of people?
Often, for on location weddings in peak season. Minimums of three to five are common, and some artists apply a higher minimum to Friday and Saturday weddings between October and April. Studio appointments generally have no minimum, so ask about both if your party is small.
How much does bridal makeup cost?
It varies with the number of people, travel and whether hair is included. Some artists publish a full price guide, which makes comparing much easier. Ask what is included beyond the application itself, such as the trial, travel, and any touch up kit left with the bride.
Can they do makeup for a school ball?
Yes, and all five here take ball and special occasion bookings. Ball season concentrates demand into a few weekends, so book as soon as the date is announced. Group bookings for friends getting ready together are common and often priced per person.
Will the makeup last all day?
A professional application is built for it, using primers, setting products and longwear formulas rather than everyday makeup. Several artists here leave a touch up kit with the bride, usually with the lip shade used on the day. Tell your artist if you expect heat, tears or a long night, because it changes the products they reach for.
What if I have sensitive skin or allergies?
Say so when you first enquire. One artist here builds the kit specifically around sensitive and acne prone skin, and a trial is the right moment to test for a reaction rather than the morning of the event. If you use prescription skincare, mention that too, as it affects how makeup sits.
How We Chose the Best Makeup Artists in Hastings
Every business in this guide was found by searching for makeup artists in Hastings, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Hastings, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.