Introducing… Chelsea Dawn Chawsky Hair & Make-Up

Chelsea Dawn Chawsky‘s tag line for her business says it all… “Locks To Lashes”.

But whether you’re looking for perfect hair or beautiful make-up, or both, how do you really know who to choose for your wedding day?

We caught up with Chelsea to find out more about how she works with brides in Montreal and beyond….

What first inspired you to start your business?

I’ve always been into hair and makeup. Giving myself at-home highlights before I really understood what bleaching was.. hah. Growing up I never thought much about making a career of it but they say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. This is SO true. Making people feel great about themselves is such a rewarding feeling. While I was working at MAC Cosmetics, I realized how much of a need it was for brides to have someone come to their hotel or home to get them ready for their big day. Since I was already a trained hairstylist I decided to start offering my services in both hair and makeup. The response was great. Being able to have all services done in the comfort of your home or hotel was a big one for brides-to-be. Weddings can be overwhelming enough so this just seemed right.

What words best describe the kind of work you do?

Beauty makeup and updo’s. I specialize in Bridal and Special occasions but I love experimenting so I’ve tested out special effect, film and fashion shows and photo shoots. The beauty about this industry is you are constantly learning and taking your skills to the next level.

What ways can brides give you an idea of the look they’re hoping for on their wedding day?

The wonderful world of Pinterest is a go-to for all my brides. There are endless amounts of photos to go through. A lot of the time we’ll take an idea from a picture and customize it a little to make each bride unique for their wedding day.

What’s your advice for brides who are wondering about what looks to go for on the big day?

I get asked this one a lot. My biggest advice would be to be yourself. If you’re not someone who wears a lot of makeup normally. Don’t feel like you have to wear bright red lips and crazy amounts of face makeup. The idea is to enhance not transform. Go a little bolder than your everyday. It is your wedding after all. I also take into consideration the time of year. For example, if its fall, it’s nice to incorporate tones that compliment the season.
For hair , this usually depends on the style of your dress. If you have a beautifully detailed high neck dress I always suggest having the hair all up or at least to the side. This way you can show off all the detail. Weather also is a huge factor. Montreal summers can get pretty humid so having the hair all up might be better. The style will hold really well and you won’t over heat.

What are the most popular brands you work with at the moment and which are your personal favourites?

MAC, Kat Von D, Makeup Forever , Too Faced and Urban Decay to name a few.
My personal faves would be Laura Mercier face primer, Urban Decay’s De-slick setting spray and Kat Von D’s “Shade & Light” contour kit

Do you have any great tips that you’ve learned over your years in the business?

Blending brushes and Dry shampoo are your best friends. You always want to have your makeup nicely blended to get that air brush feel.
Dry shampoo is my absolute favorite secret weapon. I use this on everyone , clean or dirty hair . This really helps give the hair a bit of texture so it will hold the hairstyle much better.

How far in advance of a wedding should couples contact you?

The earlier the better. Especially if your wedding date falls on a popular long weekend. Those fill up the fastest.

Any funny stories you can share?

I once had this amazing wedding party who started doing shots of Fireball Whiskey at 8:30am every time the song “Fireball” came on. It was such a funny fun atmosphere to be in. I’d say most of my wedding parties are so much fun to be around. It’s such a happy day you can’t help but feel the great energy.

How do you like to spend your time when you’re not making people look amazing?

Relaxing at an outdoor spa, spending time with friends and family .

Can you name five wedding vendors you recommend to clients?

This is a hard one, there are so many amazing vendors but here are some of my faves!
Lavish Events for wedding planning
O.xide Design for flowers
Jennifer Pontarelli wedding photographer
Rustique Pies . simply delicious !
Creative Perspectives wedding photographer

Big thanks to Chelsea for chatting with us and sharing some wise words.

For more on her services check out chelseadawnchawsky.com