Vale

Vale is a certified makeup artist and hairstylist from Fehraltorf who works as a mobile bridal stylist in the Zurich area; her site's title reads "Brautstyling Zürich | Mobile Hair & Make-up Artist". The address given on the site is Zürichstrasse 23, 8607 Aathal-Seegräben. Bridal styling is the service she enjoys most, she writes, and she has specialized in it through further training. For hair, her particular specialty is updos (Hochsteckfrisuren).

Background and approach

Her about section says she has worked for 5 years as a hairstylist and qualified makeup artist (diplomierte Make-up Artistin), and that bridal styling gives her the most joy, which is why she has specialized in it in recent years through various further training courses. To keep up with makeup, hairstyling and bridal styling, she regularly attends seminars, so that she can do both classic looks and the newest trends.

The first conversation with a client matters most to her: "Jedes kleine Detail führt zu einem erfreulichen Resultat" (every small detail leads to a pleasing result). She writes that she takes the time to understand what the client imagines and expects of her, and that she is only satisfied when she sees her client beam.

Her promise to clients is in one sentence on the homepage: "Ich werde dich nicht verändern, sondern auf deine Wünsche eingehen und das Beste aus dir herausholen" (I will not change you, but respond to your wishes and bring out the best in you). She describes makeup as art and a way of expressing yourself, and compares herself to an artist who paints on a face instead of a canvas.

Services

The homepage lists six services:

• Brautstyling (bridal styling)
• Hairstyling, specialized in updos
• Schminkberatungen / Workshops (makeup advice and workshops)
• Abend Make-Up / Gala-Styling (evening makeup and gala styling)
• Fotoshoot-Stylings / Make-Up
• Filmshoot-Stylings / Make-Up

She describes hair and makeup as the two areas that fascinate her, and says her clients value the combination most: both can be booked together, which saves time. For products, she writes that she works only with high-quality, waterproof products so that the makeup lasts through the day and into the night.

Booking a wedding

The site has two contact forms, a general one and one for bridal styling. The bridal form asks for:

• name, billing address, email and phone
• the date and place of the wedding
• the address where the styling should take place
• the time the bride has to be ready
• the number of guests who want makeup and the number who want their hair done
• what else the couple is interested in, how they found her, and a message

The separate guest counts for makeup and hair show that styling the bridal party is part of what she offers, and she wants to know the numbers up front. The contact text also asks bridal inquiries to give the wedding date, time and styling location. Contact is by email (info@makeupartist-vale.ch) or phone (076 318 12 90).

The site's menu also has an FAQ page and a portfolio with a wedding section.

What the reviews say

The homepage carries Google reviews through a review widget, with an overall rating of 5.0 out of 5 based on 98 reviews. Several brides describe the process, which fills in what the service pages leave out:

• A trial appointment (Probetermin) comes up in several bridal reviews. One bride writes that everything could be discussed calmly at the trial and that Vale gave her valuable tips. Another says Vale took a lot of time at the trial to listen and discuss her wishes, and brought her own ideas too.
• On communication, one bride writes: "Vom Probetermin bis zur Hochzeit war die Kommunikation jederzeit unkompliziert und herzlich" (from the trial to the wedding, communication was always easy and warm), and that questions were answered quickly and reliably.
• On the day, the same bride writes: "Sie hat mich beruhigt und abgelenkt, sodass ich die Zeit mit ihr wirklich genießen konnte" (she calmed me down and distracted me, so that I could really enjoy the time with her). She reports that her makeup and hair held from about 09:45 until she got home at 06:15 the next morning, and that her mother and maid of honor were styled too.
• Another bride had her makeup done for a civil ceremony on a Friday and the wedding ceremony on the Saturday, and writes that Vale stayed until she left the hotel room.
• A wedding planner, styled for a branding shoot, writes that she will recommend Vale to her future couples.
• Reviews from outside weddings mention a dance ball and a private occasion, where the reviewer says the makeup held through the evening and the night, which matches the waterproof products the site describes.

One review is written in English, by a client who says she would recommend Vale to anyone asking for a makeup artist and hairdresser for events in Switzerland. All the others shown are in German.

What the site does not settle

• Prices. No prices are published for any service, so a quote has to be requested.
• Trial. The trial appears in reviews, but the service pages do not describe it, say whether it is included or what it costs.
• Travel. She is a mobile artist, but the site does not say how far she travels or whether travel is charged.
• Language. The site is in German. It does not say whether she works in English. One review on the page is in English, but a couple who does not speak German should still ask directly.
• Lead time and cancellation. Not stated on the homepage; the FAQ page is the place to check first.

Who it suits

Vale suits a bride marrying around Zurich who wants hair and makeup from one person, a stylist who comes to her, and room for the mother and bridesmaids on the same morning. The updo specialty is the practical point for a bride planning a formal pinned style that has to last into the night.

The caveats are the ones common to a one-person practice: no published prices, a German-language site, and travel terms that have to be asked. The detailed bridal form makes the first message efficient, and the reviews give an unusually clear picture of how the trial and the wedding morning run.