BIG LIST: Tassie’s top event stylists, hairdressers and makeup artists

They’re the star makeup artists, hair and event stylists of Tasmania building their empire on social media. SEE WHO MADE THE POWER LIST >>

Whether it be a wedding, milestone birthday party or graduation, counting down the days to an event can be thrilling for the organised but painstakingly stressful for the indecisive.

Finding the perfect hairdresser, make up artist or stylist for your event is a difficult task to conquer so the Mercury has curated a list of the state’s best to save you the stress.

Although a Covid cloud still lingers over the events industry, these star stylists and make up artists are building empires online, their talented artistry skills attracting not only huge social media followings but long lists of loyal and local clients.

Tassie’s top hairdressers, make up artists and event stylists.

MAKEUP ARTISTS

Maria Owen

@themakeupambulance

Instagram following: 6742

Maria Owen is the woman behind @themakeupambulance that boasts over 6500 followers on Instagram. The Hobart mum started up the business as a side hustle after becoming injured at work as a paramedic. Since she’s studied at the Napoleon Perdis Academy in Melbourne and specialises in bridal makeup.

“I’m lucky enough to work with amazing wedding vendors and the collaboration we have during wedding season created a lot of content sharing and followers naturally gravitate in.”

Owen’s entire kit boasts cruelty free and mostly vegan products.

Caitlin Powell

@caitlinpowellmua

Instagram following: 3863

Caitlin Powell has exploded onto the local makeup scene since attending multiple Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festivals. In just two years Powell went from doing makeovers for family and friends as a hobby to now being fully booked out.

“Word of mouth around the Hobart community helped me to get more business and referrals … I’m very lucky to have good regular clients and am constantly picking up new clients.”

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Tahnii Marquis

@makeupbythanii

Instagram following: 3765

For Tahnii Marquis, her career in makeup flourished when she took it up as a hobby 12 years ago. The Launceston woman used to model and built her clientele after being asked to paint faces on the set of photo shoots. Fast forward a few years later, Marquis has won multiple awards, worked at Melbourne Fashion Week and trains hopeful artists across Tasmania.

“I would never have believed that 12 years ago little old me would be training other makeup artists statewide, booking out months in advance,” she told the Mercury.

“I’m so so grateful for both my clients and the amazing beauty community we have here in Tassie. Would definitely not have been able to do this without them.”

Claire Hunt

@clairehuntmakeup

Instagram following: 2940

Claire Hunt fell into makeup about 12 years ago and has worked for iconic Tassie and Australian brands including Blundstone, Commonwealth Bank, Country Road and Francesca Jewellery.

Claire Hunt was named Tasmania's best makeup artist for 2021 in a poll voted by Mercury readers.

The Hobart woman was recently voted by Mercury readers as the state’s best makeup artist who specialises in commercial, editorial, bridal and events.

“When I started doing makeup people thought it was just a hobby – to be able to show that you can work really hard and get recognised, it‘s so amazing.” said Hunt.

“It means a lot to me that I’m able to help women and men feel great about themselves – it’s really special.

Yaz

@makeupby_yaz

Instagram following: 2825

Hobart based makeup artist Yaz paints the stunning faces of local clients for special occasions such as weddings, formals and milestone birthdays.

The talented beautician travels statewide, interstate and even overseas for work creating gorgeous natural and glam looks for all occasions.

Sarah Wittison

@browsbysarahwittison

Instagram following: 2,464

Sarah Wittison is your go to for fresh and immaculate brows. The Hobart woman is a brow specialist and makeup artist that has built a name for herself on the local beauty scene.

After working and managing the well known Benefit Brow Bar at Myer for nearly six years Wittison decided to branch out on her own, opening her own salon and attracting a loyal clientele.

“Every single client found me and followed me over. Tassie is so small, you do a couple of peoples brows and all of a sudden their whole family and friendship group wants to start coming to you. That’s how I got so full!” she told the Mercury.

“I’m now booked out about 3 months ahead and have closed to any new clients!”

Chelsey Langford

@beauty_by_chelsey_langford

Instagram following: 2,371

Chelsey Langford is a professional makeup artist who is a sucker for a silky natural look paired with glam eye makeup. The 39-year-old has been in the industry since she was a teen and currently works at Burnie’s Indulgence Beauty Salon.

“My role as a beauty therapist is to not only help the client feel confident and beautiful but to be a good role model to my younger clients – help them realise their natural beauty” she told the Mercury.

Jenna Lee

@jennaleeglam

Instagram following: 2,246

Jenna Lee is a makeup wizz transforming stunning clients for special occasions and photo shoots. The Burnie woman started hair and beauty in college and from here found a passion for the art of makeup, especially SFX work.

“When I started my page I never intended on being a working makeup artist,” Lee told the Mercury.

“I was going to use it to share tips and products but year after year my clientele grew and I kept working hard to improve my quality of work and gain clients trust to build up my name in the industry until I was heavily booked on weekends and wedding seasons. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Bonnie Rose

@bonnierose_mua

Instagram following: 1,130

Bonnie Rose is a freelance professional makeup artist in Hobart that knows how to make her clients look flawless.

She has been in the industry for 12 years and specialises in makeup for special events as well as fashion and editorial for TV and film. The Hobart woman studied makeup in Melbourne and worked for MAC before returning to her home state to begin her freelancing career .

“I built up my career through word of mouth and recommendations, I have been freelancing ever since, over the years my clientele base has expanded dramatically & I am now fully booked most weekends due to my reputation,”

“Now days social media is so popular and with the help from that I gain new clients regularly.”

HAIRDRESSERS

Ben O’Brien

@benobrienhairstylist

Instagram following: 4,607

Ben O’Brien says the decision to go into hairdressing at 24 years old was one of the best choices in life he’s ever made. The award-winning hairstylist has been in the industry for 15 years and started from humble beginnings as an apprentice at his Mum’s salon in New Norfolk.

The local has since opened Rebel Heart Hair Boutique with his partner Sam where he and his 11 staff do styling for shoots and events including over 65 weddings per season.

O’Brien was voted Tassie’s best hairdresser for 2020 and has since launched a new local hairstyling business.

“I’m also now the master stylist for a new Hobart business Sip and Style Co, where Sam and I teach everyday ladies tips and tricks on how to style their own hair while sipping on sparkling wine,”

Sam Treloar

@sam_treloar

Instagram following: 1,171

Star hairdresser Sam Trelor is the senior stylist at Hobart’s Rebel Heart Hair Boutique that he opened alongside his partner Ben O’Brien five years ago.

The local got into hairdressing when he met O’Brien and has since developed a passion for styling.

“The salon and myself have both been well received on social media which I think has helped develop a large clientele.” he told the Mercury.

Jacob Perkins

@_perkyboy

Instagram following: 1,121

Jacob Perkins is a star stylist at local favourite Jakadjari Hair. His feed boasts stunning cuts and styles on clients from peachy hues to colour melts and beautiful blonde foiliage. Hairdressing is in Perkins’ blood, with the Hobart man’s grandfather, mum, uncle and two aunties in the industry.

“I remember standing on a box to shampoo people’s hair as a child and I think there watching my mum is where I learnt how to treat clients as family. There were the weekly catch-ups who’s stories and lives were so interesting to me and made me so passionate about being a hairdresser.” he told the Mercury.

Perkins has been a hairdresser for 16 years now and has attracted a long list of loyal clients.

“I think my clientele has grown and been so loyal over these years due to the special relationship developed and the privileged position of being in peoples lives as a hairdresser. Of course doing great hair is a must, however, making people feel special and valued is the most important part.”

Martika Styles

@hairbymartikastyles

Instagram following: 1,084

Launceston woman Martika Styles is an expert in the salon, specialising in colours, cuts, weddings, dreadlocks and extensions. Since becoming a hairdresser fresh out of high school, Styles has attracted a loyal clientele base that rave about their luscious locks.

“It’s a personal experience being a hairdresser and you have to remember that you are able to change someone’s day even if you don’t know what they’re going through.”

Kelsey Rose

@kelseyrose_hairstylist

Instagram following: 1,064

Kelsey Rose is a qualified hairstylist that is a professional at transforming the luscious locks of Tasmanians. Hailing from a small country town in South Australia, Rose, started her apprenticeship at just 16-years-old before moving to Tasmania with her husband and working for a number of different salons. 18 months ago the talented stylist opened her own salon in Hounville.

“I just love it so much, and I love creating more jobs for hairdressers so they can have a more balanced lifestyle and better work life.” she said.

Her feed is filled to the brim with gorgeous cuts and sleek styles that has helped her form a local and loyal client base.

“My clients have grown so much over the years, I have amazing family and friends – that’s been my biggest support for me to help make my business grow. Social media and word of mouth has been my biggest winner”

Steph Conning

@hairartist_steph

Instagram following: 604

Steph Conning found a passion for hair styling while living in Central Queensland. She completed her apprenticeship in Rockhampton in a busy salon before doing training at college and moving back down to Hobart to pursue her career.

She’s completed multiple hair courses with top stylists and currently works her magic at Jakadjari Hair in the Hobart CBD.

“I love learning and will probably constantly out source courses to extend my training, hairstyling is an ever changing industry and constantly need to keep up to date the new trends.” she said.

‘Social media has been a great platform to connect with other stylist and show case my work.”

EVENT STYLISTS

Gabbi Murrell

@event_avenue

Instagram following: 8,367

Gabbi Murrell is the woman behind Event Avenue who has a knack for making spaces look gorgeous no matter the occasion. Early on in her career, Murrell had the chance to work with big name Australian brands including Qantas, Nokia and Holden in Far North Queensland. Now Event Avenue specialises in bespoke event, wedding and room transformations and has worked at over 110 venues across the state including MONA, Josef Chromy Wines, Wrest Point and Frogmore Creek Winery.

“We were invited to go to Sydney a few years back to do a Fire and Ice theme for a client from the States, who had seen our work and wanted us to travel – which we happily accepted.” Murrell told the Mercury.

“Despite the difficulties of the past 18 months in the event industry, the support of the local businesses has been when we have needed it the most.”

Honey Fig

@honeyfig

Instagram following: 6,507

Gelisa is the brainchild behind luxury Tasmanian wedding stylist and planning service Honey Fig. The talented local woman was named in Hello May Magazine’s Top 10 Stylists of 2020 and 2021.

Honey Fig caters for intimate weddings and elopements as well as a handful of larger weddings, social and corporate events each year, the business’s Insta grid boasting stunning snaps of state-of-the-art events styled to perfection.

Bek and Paul Burrows

@bek_burrows

Instagram following: 4,984

Bek and Paul Burrows create individual destination weddings and elopements in Tasmania specialising in floral, styling, planning, and co-ordination for special occasions. The highly creative duo have been working in the industry for almost 10 years and predominantly work with interstate and overseas couples seeking a Tasmanian destination experience.

“Social media has of course definitely played a part in establishing and securing our solid following over the years,” said Bek.

Being one of the only wedding stylists and co-ordinators that create many of the elements themselves from flowers, handwritten stationery to custom lighting, the husband and wife team’s personal approach attracts clients far and wide.

Ash and Brad Bespoke

@ashandbradbespoke

Instagram following: 2,414

The couple behind Ash and Brad Bespoke “live and breathe weddings” with their daily lives revolving around the execution of refined and personalised celebrations.

The duo from Launceston have been styling special occasions for the past five years and got into the industry after planning and styling their own wedding.

“We made a decision from the outset to focus our energy towards giving absolutely everything for every couple, and we continue to follow that ethos to this day. This in turn has worked well for us in growing an organic following, with word of mouth being the primary reason people find us,” they told the Mercury.

Aesthetic dining sets, wedding bouquets and ceremony setups adorn their feed showcasing their magic touch for styling.

“Tassie is such a small place that if you do good work it gets recognised and this is what we aim to do.”

Flocked Events

@flocked_events

Instagram following: 2,079

Annabelle Morrison and Alisa Hooper are the brains behind Flocked Events. The duo are from North Tasmania and have been planning parties their whole lives for fun and for work.

They specialise in designing, implementing and executing weddings, parties and corporate events.