Makeup Artists in Singapore

Makeup & Hairstyling Services in Singapore

Looking for styling that feels polished and timeless? You deserve artistry that enhances natural features and boosts confidence in a clear, authentic way. No generic looks or overdone results - just professional makeup and hairstyling that supports your vision.

Every detail is built around your comfort and goals. With my team of trusted artists, preparation becomes effortless and empowering. The result: looks that feel professional and unforgettable, tailored to portraits, events, or transformations.

Choose makeup and hairstyling services that respect your individuality and elevate your presence - styling that celebrates confidence, highlights personality, and creates visuals you'll treasure forever.

Types of Makeup & Hairstyling Sessions

• Beauty Makeovers:

  Transformative looks that enhance natural features and boost confidence.

• Body Art:

  Creative designs painted directly on the skin for bold, artistic expression.

• Bridal Makeup:

  Elegant, long-lasting looks tailored for weddings and solemnizations.

• Brow Shaping:

  Defined brows that frame the face with precision and balance.

• Clean Makeup:

  Minimalist, natural looks that highlight fresh, radiant skin.

• Eyelash Enhancements:

  Subtle lifts or accents to add definition and allure to the eyes.

• Eyelash Extensions:

  Fuller, longer lashes applied for dramatic or natural effects.

• Face Painting:

  Playful or artistic designs for themed events and creative shoots.

• Fashion Show Makeup:

  Runway-ready looks that complement designer collections and trends.

• Hairstyling:

  Professional styling from sleek updos to relaxed waves, tailored to your look.

• Makeovers:

  Complete transformations blending makeup and hairstyling for fresh new looks.

• Men's Makeup:

  Subtle grooming and complexion refinement for portraits or events.

• Performance Makeup:

  Bold, durable looks designed for stage, dance, or live shows.

• Photoshoot Makeup:

  Camera-ready looks with flawless finishes for studio or outdoor shoots.

• Special Occasion Makeup:

  Polished, elegant styles for parties, galas, or milestone celebrations.

Who Makeup & Hairstyling Services Are For

Makeup and hairstyling services are designed for:

• Individuals
• Professionals
• Performers
• Brands
• Anyone

Your Goals for the Photoshoot

• Enhance features naturally

  Clean, radiant looks highlight individuality without heavy or artificial styling.

• Boost confidence for portraits or events

  Professional styling ensures you feel comfortable, empowered, and camera-ready.

• Deliver bridal or special occasion styling

  Elegant, long-lasting looks tailored for weddings, galas, or milestone celebrations.

• Provide creative artistry for performances

  Bold, durable makeup and hairstyling designed for stage, dance, or live shows.

• Create fashion or editorial looks

  Runway-ready styling that complements designer collections, portfolios, or campaigns.

• Tailor makeup for photography

  Camera-ready finishes ensure flawless results under studio or outdoor lighting.

• Experience transformations through makeovers

  Complete styling shifts refresh your look and boost confidence for personal or professional goals.

• Deliver artistry beyond traditional makeup

  Body art, face painting, or creative designs express individuality and imagination.

Makeup and hairstyling services offer looks that embody confidence, artistry, and individuality with dignity - creating styling that celebrates personality, professionalism, and creativity. To refine your ideas before we plan the details, read my guide to defining your photoshoot goals and consider which photographs, purpose, and experience matter most to you.

Where We Can Shoot

Makeup and hairstyling sessions with my makeup artists can take place at different convenient locations in Singapore. Whether you prefer the comfort of your own home, the flexibility of an on-location setting, or the professionalism of a studio, each option ensures you receive polished results. Depending on availability, sessions can also be arranged at the makeup artist's studio or home studio, or my private studio.

Makeup Artists & Hairstylists: Makeover Portfolios

I'm fortunate to have worked with quite a number of hair and makeup artists in Singapore.

Below is the list of those who are still keeping in touch with me, together with some of the projects (less those clients who opted for privacy buyout) we have worked together.

1. Tricia Lee
2. Mandy Yeo
3. Koreen Hong
4. Ivy Tan
5. Neetha Neha
6. Thao Lee

Note: Over time, I do remove some of the HMUAs whom I'm unsure of their availabilities in order to keep the list neat.

Tricia Lee

Tricia used to work as a commercial hair and makeup artist before she gave up her full-time job in order to take care of her three children. Her past adventure with all the established photographers had trained her to spot the tiniest details. Due to her pro-activeness and eagerness to learn, she had also picked up many skillsets from the photographers, less how to operate the camera and lighting.

She has the perfect eyes for fashion and styling, and she can easily visualise the final outcome of her work. She is a magician who can turn a little girl into a gorgeous lady and a plain lady into a stunning lady. She loves the process of transformation of looks. She can direct models well and also pose them elegantly and naturally.

Tricia is more than a HMUA to me. She is a great friend who always goes all the way out to help others without seeking any reward. She guides me in my photography journey well, such that my shooting style is being influenced. She has also been going through my work with me to select the best photos out of the albums.

Unfortunately, Tricia is very much occupied and thus has very limited time in taking up requests.

Projects:

Mandy Yeo

Mandy is an extremely easy-going, generous and selfless lady. Apart from being emotional and sincere, she also injects fun into the shoots, especially when her sister is present. She is eager to improve herself by taking up more makeup courses on top of her vast knowledge and experience. She has a wide collection of accessories and wardrobes that often come in handy for any kind of shoot.

Mandy may not have the athletic build, however, her stamina can easily put many guys shame. She is one of the fittest HMUAs I have worked with. Despite holding onto her own heavy and bulky makeup tools, she has volunteered to carry mine during outdoor shoots - and she does it when I get too carried away with the model(s).

Her working style is quite similar to mine.

Projects:

Koreen Hong

Koreen Hong working on hair and makeup for Monica Weng

Koreen is an easygoing and accommodating hair and makeup artist. She has the never-give-up attitude that keeps the shoot going even when the shoot has overrun, continuing to put in her full effort. She is someone who will not complain about waking up early even though she had a full day the day before. Koreen is pretty easy to be pleased just like me; she will "dance like a kid" when people appreciate her work.

Projects:

Ivy Tan

Ivy Tan working on makeup for Eva Loa

I initially thought Ivy was an ice queen, probably because she was too focused on her work. I didn't interact much with her during the shoot. Since the couple we were working together with were my old friends, Ivy was rather stunned by the words I used. Eventually, she proved me wrong in judging people when we started discussing further collaboration. From then on, I have to think thrice whenever she tells me a problem because she can be just trying to bully me back.

Ivy is a very potential hair and makeup artist. I may not be a good critic of makeover work but she is pretty and hot, and thus simply showcasing herself has won half of the battle to gain the trust of clients.

Projects:

Neetha Neha

Neetha also conducts makeup courses for makeup artists. She helped to organise a shoot between a client and me. During the shoot, she also asked me for opinions on the makeup.

Projects:

Thao Lee

Thao working on makeup for Ye Qi

Thao Lee is a very flexible hair and makeup artist who's able to do her work in any kind of environment. She doesn't complain. She's also very quick-witted and creative. Working with her is very easy.

Projects:

HMUAs: Working with Skai

I enjoy meeting and working with new people but I prefer sticking to just a few HMUAs. The reasons are obvious that: (1) they have a good working attitude, (2) passionate about the art, (3) good standard of hair and makeup skills and (4) I've already built up a good rapport with them. Eventually, having good communication between the entire team would help to produce better work, especially for portrait photoshoots.

However, I'd need to alias with more HMUAs as it's difficult to find an HMUA whose schedule can always fit into my clients' and mine. Some HMUAs do have another full-time 8-5 job and thus they're only available at night and during weekends, and their weekends would usually be packed with many makeup jobs.

What Makes My Hair and Makeup Artists Unique

I've seen many experienced makeup artists produce beautiful work online. But when you hire through me, you gain more than just technical skill - you benefit from the way I collaborate with my makeup artists and hairstylists to elevate your entire look.

Unlike agencies or studios, I don't collect referral fees or commissions from my artists. This means they can focus entirely on you, providing their best services without restrictions. My approach ensures that styling and photography work hand-in-hand, so you appear your absolute best in every image.

Here's how this partnership sets us apart:

1. A keen eye for detail:

   I work closely with makeup artists and hairstylists to refine every detail - from how your hair frames your face to the exact shade that complements your skin tone. Together, we ensure your look is flawless both in person and on camera.

2. Tailored styles:

   My approach is client-centric. I guide my artists to adapt styles to suit your personality and goals - whether natural, elegant, bold, or editorial. By aligning the styling with the shoot concept, we create a look that feels authentic and uniquely yours.

3. Comfort and confidence:

   My role is to create a safe, relaxed environment. By working hand-in-hand with approachable artists, I make sure you feel comfortable throughout the process. When you're at ease, your confidence shines naturally in the photos.

4. Professional standards:

   Reliability matters. I only collaborate with artists who are punctual, prepared, and committed. They use high-quality products and tools, and my coordination ensures styling and photography run seamlessly from start to finish.

5. Certified expertise:

   All of the artists I work with are certified professionals. Their training and credentials guarantee that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver results that hold up under studio lights and high-resolution photography.

6. Proven collaboration:

   As a photographer, I've witnessed firsthand how the right styling transforms a client's confidence and final images. My ongoing collaborations with trusted artists ensure consistent, high-quality results across every project.

Overall, my approach is about synergy - combining artistry, professionalism, and photography to make you look and feel your best. By working with certified, trusted makeup artists and hairstylists under my guidance, you'll enjoy a seamless experience and results that truly stand out.

Skai's Vision & Goals for Makeup & Hairstyling

I've personally witnessed how makeup can do wonders. My vision for makeup and hairstyling is similar to what I wish to accomplish for my photography: I want every client to feel confident, beautiful and empowered.

I believe that makeup is not just about enhancing external beauty but also about bringing out the inner confidence and radiance that we all have within us. I also believe passion and character of the makeup artists are equally important as their skills.

This is why I have been gathering a list of skilled makeup artists and hairstylists who have the same vision as me and truly love their jobs and not simply doing it for monetary gain.

How to Become a Makeup Artist for Skai

As I would only recommend HMUAs who have already worked with me on any project, we would try to arrange for some test shoots first. Do approach me and let me know if you're interested.

Understanding Makeup & Hairstyling in Singapore

There're different purposes for doing hairstyling and makeup. Therefore, male models are highly recommended to hire a professional hair and makeup artist for any photoshoot as well.

Why Consider A Professional Makeup Artist?

Professional makeup can help clients feel more confident and camera-ready during a photoshoot. The goal is not to completely change your appearance, but to help you look your best under professional lighting and photography conditions.

Professional makeup can help:

• create a polished and refined appearance
• reduce shine and uneven skin tones
• enhance natural features
• improve confidence during the photoshoot
• complement professional lighting and photography

Many clients find that professional makeup helps them feel more relaxed and prepared before stepping in front of the camera.

The Cost Breakdown of Every Makeup Job

1. Tools

   The basic tools of HMUAs may not cost as much as photography equipment (camera and lenses) but the bits and pieces of small items do cost a bomb altogether. Items such as lipsticks and eyeshadow have various colours. Many tools do wear and tear, reduce in quantity or can't be reused.
   
   Good quality products may come at much higher prices but can also produce much more flattering results. For example, a good eyelashes curler can cost four times the price of a normal one but it can even out the eyelashes better. Better quality makeup products can be blended better onto the skin and won't fade off as easily as the cheaper ones.
   
   Therefore, most professional HMUAs insist on using good quality makeup products that won't tarnish their reputation, which will in term require a higher cost. If you happen to get a cheap deal, the HMUA may be using less expensive (quality) products on your face.

2. Maintenance

   After every hairstyling and makeup session, the makeup artist has to clean up some of the reusable tools, such as brushes, curlers etc. This is for hygiene purposes. It requires time and effort to do it.

3. Transport fee and time

   HMUAs often have to carry a bulky and heavy bag full of tools and thus it's difficult for them to take public transport. Therefore, some HMUAs will charge an extra fee for transportation, especially if it's an early morning makeover session the cab fare is usually higher. This is also the reason why some freelance HMUAs will charge a lower cost if you're willing to travel over to their houses or studios for the makeover session.

4. Skill

   I'm separating experience and creativity from skill because a certified hair and makeup artist may not be equipped with them. Skill is the ability to do the basic hair and makeup job to a certain standard. It's similar to taking art lessons during school days where some students simply can draw very well, while somehow, most students can get at least a borderline pass. A hair and makeup artist is being paid for the skill, which is usually superb to the average person.

5. Experience

   Experience doesn't come easy. Similar to other trades, no hair and makeup artist can produce good work simply by signing up for a makeup course. Everyone makes mistakes and faces new challenges and it takes lots of practice and real-life experiences to learn how to solve different situations. For example, it may be difficult to apply false eyelashes for some girls due to their unique features and an experienced makeup artist may be able to solve the problem.

6. Creativity

   Creativity is the most undervalued aspect of a hair and makeup artist. Many hair and makeup artists are well-trained and certified to do the standard job of making every model look good. However, it takes boldness and creativity for a hair and makeup artist to create something eye-catchy, which differs from the usual style.
   
   Some hair and makeup artists do allocate time to do personal (non-mainstream) photoshoot projects, in order to showcase their creativity.

Purpose of Makeup

1. Conceal imperfections

   Some common things that clients request to conceal are bad complexion, eyebags, acne, scars, stretch marks and puffy eyes. Of course, one man's meat may be another man's poison and some people may regard these as what makes them unique. Therefore, they may have to discuss this with the HMUA before the makeover session.
   
   Concealing imperfections may seem easy but it's actually not. Covering the face with a thick layer of foundation is likely to make the model's face look fake and it may also make the face "crack" faster. The wrong use of colour tones can make puffy eyes look worse. The differences in the colour of the face and neck make the model look weird too.

2. Highlight and shape features

   Makeup can be used to highlight good features and also shape the features, such as nose bridge, eyes and lips. Contouring can be applied. Eventually, these would make the model look better.

3. Improve vitality

   In this era where everyone's busy and sleep has become a luxury, some people do look pale. Makeup can help to make the face look livelier. Moreover, models tend to look paler in photographs and thus makeup does help to improve the look on photographs.

4. Create the look to fit the theme

   Makeup isn't simply to make the model look good but also help to create the look to fit into the theme.

Purpose of Hairstyling

1. Keep hair nice or at least neat

   At the minimum, the model's hair shouldn't be messy. Strands of hair, unless intended, should be covering the face.

2. Shape face

   Hairstyling makes a big difference not only to present the feel that you want to display, it also helps to shape your face. For example, if you have a high forehead, the hairstylist can try to make it less obvious.

3. Create the look to fit the theme

   Hair is an important part of the model to create the look to fit into the theme.

The majority of the photographers aren't makeup artists and although they can conceal some imperfections in Photoshop, they likely don't have the expertise of makeup artists to do the rest.

Makeup VS Photo Editing

Makeup and photo editing are both essential to create great artwork. None of them can replace the other.

1. Photographers aren't makeup artists

   Some people have this wrong assumption that photographers can "Photoshop" everything, including makeup. Although photographers may have knowledge of photo editing, they aren't trained in makeup and thus don't know what exactly to be edited even if they may know the tools for the specific job.

2. Makeup can greatly reduce photo editing work

   Professional photo editing work is usually very tedious. Good photographers try to get things right during the photoshoot. If the flaws can be fixed or reduced during the hairstyling and makeup session, it would greatly reduce the amount of post-production work.
   
   This is the reason why some professional photographers would charge an extra fee for photo editing if no professional hair and makeup artist is involved and some photographers would even reject the job.

3. Makeup helps to maintain consistency

   Given that there're 10 photographs, the photographer has to edit the same flaw 10 times. The effort will be even greater if there are more things to be fixed during post-production. Eventually, the photo editing for every photograph may likely not be consistent, especially with a larger quantity of photographs. Inconsistency may be spotted easily by professionals who pay attention to details.

4. Not all photographs can be edited

   Some photographs with flaws in certain angles cannot be edited. Photographers also can't do certain work like editing eyes extremely or adding false eyelashes.

Different Levels of Makeup Artists

I personally categorise makeup artists into a few levels, with no means of insulting anyone.

1. Amateur

   An amateur refers to a girl who doesn't know how to apply makeup properly. She may know what's foundation and blusher but she's just randomly applying them. When I began portrait photography as an amateur photographer, I did work with some female friends under this category.

2. Enthusiastic

   With the ease of free makeup tutorials online, such as YouTube, many young girls nowadays have started learning to do makeup by themselves. Some girls are able to pick up the skill that's enough to make themselves look good. However, most of these girls are by birth, already quite good-looking. A girl who is good enough with her own makeup may not be good at doing makeup for others because everyone has different flaws on her face.

3. Trained or certified

   A makeup artist who has undergone training and gotten a certificate from either an experienced private teacher or makeup school knows the basics to do good makeup. She may know the concepts and theories but may need more hands-on experience in order to learn how to deal with different kinds of faces.

4. Experienced

   There are tens or hundreds of new hair and makeup artists graduating from the makeup schools (including makeup studios) in Singapore yearly. Most of them are only taught the basics and it takes lots of practice to be proficient. An experienced makeup artist not only knows how to do good makeup for everyone but also knows what kind of makeup suits a girl. They usually command higher rates.

5. Master

   A master not only knows what kind of makeup suits a girl but also how to style the girl to a specific theme or concept to bring out the feel.
   
   For example, a client may need special styling in order to participle in her company DND or a young girl needs to be transformed into a mature-looking girl.

The Importance of Good Makeup and Hairstyling

"After and before" female makeover by hair & makeup artist Ivy Tan. Photo by Ivy Tan.


"Before and after" men's makeover by hair & makeup artist Ivy Tan. Photo by Ivy Tan.

When you organise an event or portrait shoot that you have spent lots of time and money on, you probably want to get a good photographer to capture the moments. Similarly, you should be thinking about how to look your best during the probably once-in-a-lifetime event or when you want to do a photoshoot. This is the reason you need a good hair and makeup artist.

People do undermine professional hairstyling and makeup due to a lack of appreciation. For instance, some freelance models have told me that they preferred doing makeup by themselves because they knew their own faces better. One client even told me that she could get free makeup done at cosmetic stores, claiming the work was similar to professional hair and makeup artist's standard.

Similar to photography, not everyone knows how to tell the quality of the work. If you are given a single photograph, you probably won't realise it can be done much better. If you put two photographs side by side, you can roughly tell which is a better photograph even though you may not be able to point out the differences.

It takes time to improve judgement. Even for an experienced photographer like me, despite I can judge bad makeup, I'm not an expert in differentiating good and excellent makeup jobs. If a person does not see the value of good hair and makeup, the professional has no extra value and the person won't be willing to set a good budget for it.

On one occasion, a client of mine got into the limelight and people started searching online for her.

We did a photoshoot many years back when she was much younger. She didn't have the budget to hire a professional hair and makeup artist and she could only apply basic makeup for herself. Therefore, the end result wasn't fantastic. To be fair, her look was better than most average girls.

Nevertheless, people who hide behind the Internet are usually bold since they think it's not easy to identify them. Unfortunately, they include people who assume themselves to be celebrity-looking and would undermine other people's looks. They would give very nasty comments on social media and forums.

If she had hired a professional hair and makeup artist for the photoshoot, there wouldn't be as many personal attacks on her based on her looks.

Problems of Working with HMUAs

Being able to work with a professional hair and makeup artist is a luxury. It can bring the quality of the final work to a greater height, or at least, reduce problems in styling. A good hair and makeup artist is crucial to the success of heavily scrutinised photoshoots, such as commercial, pre-wedding and modelling portfolios.

However, apart from the extra fee, it does come with some problems that we've to overcome eventually.

1. Tighter schedules for arrangement of photoshoot

   Most people are very busy with various commitments. It can be challenging to arrange the date and timing of the photoshoot to fit just two parties' (photographer and model) schedules. With the addition of any person, such as a hair and makeup artist, to the team, the challenge increases.
   
   I had experienced once that an HMUA delayed giving me her schedule after I'd promised her the job and I eventually lost the project due to the drag.

2. Earlier meet-up session, including in the wee hours

   If the professional makeover session isn't scheduled at the model's house, she would have to set off much earlier. That means if the team is going for the morning golden hour for the best result possible, the model may need to leave the house even before the public transport begins. That incurs extra costs for transportation.
   
   Even if the morning makeover session is to be done at the model's house, a professional makeover usually takes up more time than the model's own makeup and thus the model has to wake up much earlier.

3. Makeup session overruns/ delays

   Poop does happen sometimes. The makeup session may begin late due to lateness by either the HMUA or model or the makeup takes longer time than estimated. As a result, the photoshoot would be delayed.
   
   Very experienced hair and makeup artists may be able to work at a faster pace and also give a better estimation of the duration, depending on the model's complexion and the complexity of the concept.
   
   My worst experience was having to meet up with the team at 5am so that we could start shooting at the golden hour. However, the makeover session took excessive time and we only started the photoshoot near 11am. There was once when the late afternoon photoshoot became a night photoshoot in near-total darkness.

Challenges of Doing Makeup & Hairstyling in Singapore

Being a makeup artist and hairstylist in Singapore has its fair share of challenges but the rewards are well worth it.

1. Hot and humid climate: One of the biggest challenges is dealing with the hot and humid climate of Singapore. It can be tough to apply and maintain makeup and hairstyles as sweat and humidity can cause smudging, melting and frizzing. As a makeup artist or hairstylist, you must have the expertise to use products and techniques that can withstand Singapore's challenging climate and be prepared to touch up your client's look throughout the day.
2. Diverse cultural makeup: One of the toughest obstacles that makeup artists and hairstylists face in Singapore is the incredible diversity of its residents. Being a melting pot of cultures, Singapore is home to people with various skin tones, facial features and hair types. It requires them to be proficient in handling diverse skin tones and hair textures and to have a sound understanding of the best makeup and hairstyling methods that suit each client.
3. Keeping up with trends: In addition to that, keeping up with the latest trends and techniques can be quite challenging. In Singapore, where fashion and beauty trends are constantly evolving, makeup artists and hairstylists need to stay up-to-date with the latest techniques, styles and products. This requires a commitment to ongoing education and training, as well as the willingness to experiment and try new things.
4. Pressure for flawless results: Another challenge is the pressure to deliver flawless results every time. In a city where image is highly valued, clients expect nothing less than perfection when it comes to their makeup and hairstyles. This means that makeup artists and hairstylists must have an eye for detail and can execute their vision flawlessly, even under pressure.

Despite these challenges, working as a makeup artist or hairstylist in Singapore is an exciting and rewarding experience. The diverse cultural makeup of the city provides endless opportunities for creativity and experimentation, while the high standards and expectations of clients can help to push artists to be their best. By overcoming these challenges and continually refining their skills, makeup artists and hairstylists in Singapore can thrive in this exciting and vibrant industry.

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