Luxury Services, Products and Education
Onsite- All of Northern VA/ DC/ Maryland Region
Travel area: Within 100 miles See details
Deals
OfferPermanent
For all BFF clients
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Kara Gomez
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists is a wedding beauty business based in Fairfax, VA. CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement, and thank you for reading about us! if you are wondering what to do when it comes to bridal beauty, you're not alone! Best Face Forward resulted from this exact question during Kara’s wedding planning.
Our former Mother of the Bride and Bridal perspective is unique. We’ve been in your shoes! It just made sense to make one call, and have EVERYTHING handled on-site to you! Need makeup, hair, or both? Do you have skin challenges that make you self -conscious? We’ve got the knowledge to help. We wanted experienced Pros…so we put together our award-winning Dream Team! Our Artists know exactly what to do, and they've been published on every major bridal blog, including The Knot, Style Me Pretty, and Bridal Guide! So get ready to feel and look your very best! From the most intimate elopement to the largest of parties, we'll make sure you have a memorable and stress-free experience!
**All Artists are Barbicide and COVID-19 Sanitation Certified and insured.**
Details
Beauty
Beauty Group Bookings
Hair Stylists
Makeup
Makeup Artists
Makeup Trials Available
On-Site Hair & Makeup
Tanning
Spray Tan
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Kara Gomez
Owner
Kara's mom and Co-founder Susie, is a Skin Care, Makeup and Color professional with 30+ years of experience as a premier trainer for Artistry, a prestige global brand. Kara followed along in Susie’s footsteps, learning about skin care and makeup from a young age. The Best Face Forward team was inspired by her wedding experience and inability to find a true one stop for all beauty needs. It's our mission to help other Brides put their “Best Face Forward” and have a stress- free experience. Married now for 9 years, she found her passion in Bridal beauty and has been published many times.
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.0192 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Best Face Forward is highly praised for professional, responsive, and organized service that makes wedding hair and makeup stress-free. Their talented artists deliver personalized looks for diverse ages and hair types, handle large parties, and create long-lasting results. Many noted smooth scheduling, helpful trials, and excellent communication; pricing reflects quality.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Eliana G
Highlighted review.
5.0
9/25/2025
Kara and her entire team at Best Face Forward (BFF) were an absolute dream to work with for my wedding day. From my very first conversation with Kara over the phone to meeting her ...
in her home studio to discuss my vision, she was timely, professional, and so reassuring. She even took the time to talk with me about adding a few items to elevate my skincare routine, and thanks to her recommendations, my skin became smoother, brighter, and well-hydrated leading up to the wedding.
The BFF team was incredibly organized and meticulous with planning and scheduling, which made the entire process—from start to finish—smooth and completely stress-free. My trial with Yoana for makeup and Gabrielle for hair was wonderful, as both women made the experience fun, easygoing, and left me excited for the big day.
On the wedding day itself, Yoana (lead makeup), Gabrielle (lead hair), Eva (makeup), and Angela (hair) went above and beyond. They poured so much love and passion into their work, and it truly showed in the results. They made me, my bridesmaids, and both my mom and mother-in-law look and feel absolutely beautiful, while still allowing each of our personalities to shine through. I truly felt like the most radiant version of myself, and my bridal party couldn’t stop raving about how confident and comfortable they felt. Everything held up flawlessly as the day went on, and we were especially grateful to Yoana and Gabrielle for staying a few extra hours to ensure we all looked perfect right before the ceremony.
Beyond their immense talent, what stood out most was their warmth and genuine care. They brought such a calming and joyful energy to the morning, which set the perfect tone for the entire day. Getting to know them and the rest of the BFF family has been an absolute joy. I am endlessly grateful to have had Best Face Forward by my side and cannot recommend them highly enough to any bride-to-be.
Nathalie M
5.0
5/16/2026
Kara was outstanding with helping me out at the last minute with my hair and makeup needs for my April 2026 wedding, after I had a tragic trial experience with another vendor back ...
in Jan-Feb. Her and Meg took care of their communication swiftly, and with ease, and are total professionals. They were flexible but firm in their policies, and you can tell they care deeply not only about their brides, but artists as well.
Norma was fantastic to work with for my hair and make up needs. She was professional and kind, easy to talk with, and solicited my feedback through the entire process, with the end goal of making sure we were both happy with the results. Yoana assisted with the makeup of my family members and was getting all the kudos from them throughout the day.
Any questions?
Jackson B
5.0
4/24/2026
This is my second time scheduling through Best Face Forward for hair and makeup for my younger son’s bar mitzvah. The first time I scheduled was 2.5 years ago for my older son’s ba...
r mitzvah. I was able to schedule through the Best Face Forward website and scheduling was easy and detailed with what information is needed.
Natalie was the artist assigned to me and met me at the hotel where the event was at to do my hair and makeup. She was on time and was invited into my room. It took her about 10 minutes to set up and she started on my hair and finished with my makeup. Natalie listed to how I wanted my makeup/hair and delivered! I felt like a movie star and received compliments all night long.
Kara is honestly a gem and you should look no where else for your hair and makeup needs!
Melissa D
5.0
4/22/2026
I'm a photographer that offers hair and makeup as an add-on to a session for maternity, newborn, and family sessions, and I have been working with Best Face Forward for a few years...
now. All of my clients that have worked with BFF have been super happy with the experience. Everything about the process is easy. I love having them in my corner to help my clients have the best all around experience for their photo sessions! I highly recommend BFF to anyone looking for hair and makeup artists!
Paige K
5.0
2/12/2026
"I cannot recommend [Artist/Company Name] enough! We had a massive group of 20 women for hair and makeup, and they handled the morning with such professional ease and grace.
What i...
mpressed me most was their ability to cater to everyone. Our group included women of all ages, and the team was incredibly flexible in adapting to each person’s unique skin type and personal preferences. They didn't just follow a 'one-size-fits-all' approach; they offered beautiful, personalized ideas that made everyone feel like the best version of themselves.
Even after hours of photos and dancing, everyone looked just as beautiful as they did that morning. From the youngest bridesmaids to the grandmothers, every single woman felt stunning and confident all day long. If you have a large bridal party and want a team that is creative, calm, and exceptionally skilled at working with diverse styles, look no further!"
Christine B
5.0
12/14/2025
We loved our hairstyles on our wedding day and they withstood exceptional amounts of wind and dancing! The stylists did a fantastic job customizing the hairstyles of both classic a...
nd unique (including faux-hawk). They worked with a variety of hair types and all of the straight-hair girlies curls stayed in all night!
Gabriela W
5.0
12/05/2025
I loved the artists I worked with Kris & Yoana, I feel like they perfectly captured what I was going for on my wedding day, and I know my bridal party looked fabulous too!!
Judith B
5.0
11/08/2025
Dixie did an amazing job making sure everyone in the bridal party loved their look, and felt comfortable and confident. My mom unfortunately had a fall right before the wedding tha...
t led to some bruising and Dixie was able to clean that right up so she could look and feel her best on the wedding day! I recommend BFF for their talented makeup artists.
Kinga B
5.0
11/06/2025
I had the best experience working with Kara for my wedding glam. She was incredibly responsive, efficient, and so easy to work with from day one. The pre-wedding questionnaire wa...
s so detailed and thoughtful — my bridesmaids and I felt so prepared and at ease going into the day. She paired us with Brenda, who was an absolute gem! I also loved that they were able to come to my home for the trial, and Brenda took my feedback and tweaked my makeup to perfection on the big day. Couldn’t recommend her enough!
Shelby G
4.0
10/30/2025
Joyce did both my hair and makeup for my wedding, and I couldn’t have been happier. From the trial to the big day, she was professional, kind, and really listened to what I wanted....
My makeup stayed flawlessly all day (even through all the dancing!) And my hair looked perfect from start to finish. She also brought such a calm and positive energy to the morning, which made the whole getting-ready process so much more enjoyable. Thank you Joyce, for making me feel amazing on my special day!
I’m dropping a star not for Joyce, but for the whole process leading up to the big day. I had to read and fill out more paperwork than I had to for any other vendor.. It was SO crazy time consuming and tedious. There were also add-on fees for almost anything you can think of. So the baseline price is for the basics. Other than that, the communication was friendly and prompt.
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 10/30/2025
Thanks Shelby for your kind words about Joyce. I'm sorry our process was a problem since y...
ou never said anything. If I had known or had any inclination, I would have been happy to simplify but we have further simplified since. I'm very glad that Joyce was so responsive to you even with additional time with you and at no cost. I was more than happy for us to do that for you. While I wish that extra effort we put in for you further, and the additional costs that you didn't incur had better standing with you, we appreciate your viewpoint and have now further updated all aspects of our process. All the best.
Josh S
5.0
10/27/2025
(From Dana!) Wow! I loved working with Best Face Forward for Hair and Makeup for my wedding. From the beginning, they were responsive, organized, and professional. They do a great ...
job of collecting all the information, from current photos to inspiration photos so they can build a very accurate timeline for the morning of. I also got skincare product recommendations early on so my skin was looking the best it has on my wedding day. Scheduling my trial was seamless and it was great seeing my hair and makeup ideas come to life. The artists I worked with were Priscilla and Alena and both were AMAZING! They listened to what we wanted and also gave great feedback and ideas when asked. As someone who doesn't wear a lot of makeup and who doesn't do her hair often, I truly felt my best on the day of my wedding!
Jennifer A
5.0
10/16/2025
My hair and makeup plan fell through just 5 days before my big event (my husband's 40th with over 100 guests), so after emailing a bunch of makeup and hair companies in the area, o...
nly Best Face Forward replied. It was wedding season (October) but they managed to squeeze me in and I made it to my event on time with no stress! Norma came to my house and she worked fast with great results; the pictures speak for themselves! She did exactly what I asked for: a soft glam look that still looked like me. My friends and family were all complimenting me at the party and I felt so gorgeous. I was nervous about doing professional makeup but Norma made me look so amazing! Norma really made all the difference for me and I felt so beautiful while celebrating my husband on his 40th.
Ashley R
5.0
10/04/2025
I couldn’t be happier with my wedding hair and makeup team! They achieved the look I wanted, happy to work with me on all of the details. The bridal party looked beautiful, and our...
hair turned out exactly as requested. They were so easy to work with, happily making small adjustments as we went to make sure everything was perfect. I really appreciated how they struck the perfect balance, allowing me to still look like myself. My bridesmaids were delighted as well. Professional, talented, and such a calm, positive presence on the wedding day. Highly recommend!
Lisa G
5.0
10/02/2025
Kara and her team at Best Face Forward were absolutely wonderful to work with! Meg and Kara were always quick to respond to my emails and made the entire process seamless. I really...
appreciated the detailed questionnaire each guest receiving services completed, it ensured everyone’s desired look was perfectly captured.
Dixie was fabulous and did an incredible job on my makeup and hair. She also worked on my bridesmaids and flower girls, and they all looked absolutely beautiful and loved their looks. Angie styled the bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ hair, and every style was stunning.
I highly recommend Best Face Forward for any wedding or special event. Their professionalism, talent, and attention to detail made the entire experience amazing!
Mary Jane G
5.0
10/02/2025
I am so glad I worked with BFF for my wedding hair and makeup! Communication was reliable throughout the booking process. My trial with Kris and Brenda was fun and really construct...
ive- they were so responsive to my feedback and we got both hair and makeup to the perfect spot with a couple of tweaks. They also followed up with me to see how the hair and makeup held up for the rest of that day to ensure we would be in good shape on the wedding day.
They did a beautiful job on my wedding day and it made hair and makeup completely stress free. They also did an amazing job on my mom, MIL, and bridesmaids and I got nothing but amazing feedback from my bridesmaids that they were the best hair and makeup artists they'd ever worked with (I'm 31 so we've all been in a solid number of weddings by now). If you're looking for the very cheapest option out there BFF may not be a fit, but I can say the outcome and process were worth every single penny.
Rick E
5.0
9/29/2025
From my wife: "I’ve never felt more beautiful in my life than when I had Kris and Yoana do my hair and makeup for my wedding. They understood what I was envisioning immediately and...
executed the look perfectly! My hair and makeup stayed ALL DAY, even in the summer heat and humidity. And my bridesmaids were so impressed. I will say, there is a lot of paperwork beforehand, but it was WELL worth it for the quality of service. Really, we were blown away. And to top it off, they were kind and warm and made me feel so comfortable when the nerves started creeping up. I HIGHLY recommend using BFF for your wedding day. I’m so grateful I did."
Kelsie M
5.0
9/24/2025
The team at BFF were an absolute joy to work with for my wedding day. Kara and Meg took great care of me during the planning process. Their communication was consistent and accommo...
dating. They also worked with and supported me after the loss of my mother temporarily derailed our plans for a bridal preview. My bridal preview with Kris (hair) and Marta (makeup) in Marta's wonderful home studio is where we decided on my wedding day look based on my wants, facial features, and dress style.
On the big day, Kris and Marta made my bridal party and I feel like the only ladies in the world. They had a seamlessly exceptional schedule planned to keep us on track and brought the exact looks we wanted to life. We got everything we envisioned and more! My final look was truly stunning... exactly what I had in mind to celebrate the best day of my life. I am beyond pleased with the exceptional service and value provided by this amazing group of artists. Thank you BFF for making this part of my wedding day prep stress-free. I 10000% recommend considering BFF for your wedding day hair and makeup needs!
Aristea B
5.0
9/04/2025
We absolutely loved working with the BFF team! From the start Kara was so welcoming, organized, and professional. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet our artists during the previ...
ew and that got us so comfortable and excited for our big day! The day of went so smoothly thanks to the BFF team. They were timely, organized, and most importantly TALENTED! Thank you to the entire BFF team for helping to make our wedding day amazing!
Chris G
1.0
9/01/2025
If there is one thing that shocked me the most, it’s the fact that they somehow have five stars. This vendor could not have been less flexible. Any possible little thing came with ...
a $50 fee, $100 fee, you name it. If they show up late, you guessed it you got a fee. If they take too long, you guessed it you got a fee. We constantly asked them for documents to begin planning ahead of time, and they constantly told us we would receive it much later closer to the wedding date. Fast-forward to about two months from the wedding day and we get an email with some documents to fill out. And I mean, A LOT, which is not a bad thing, but guess what happens if they are sent over one day late… You guessed it, you got a fee. To have that level of rigidity in response to customers asking you to help prepare in advance is quite rude. The general affect of the company leaves much to be desired. Fast-forward now to the day of the preview, the eyeliner was asymmetric, the eyelashes were falling off within 1 hour and the curls were gone within 2 hours. I’ve never had these problems when doing my own makeup and hair. I talked with her about all the corrections I wanted for the wedding day, but then on the wedding day, she messed up terribly. The hair was a different style than in the previews and the curls fell out within an hour leaving me with a very messy look. I had to redo my own eyeliner, eyelashes, and powder which made our schedule run late. She forgot to do my lip product. Everything was completely disappointing. For the price we paid, we did not get quality work. When I look at the photos from the wedding day, I’m reminded of all her mistakes. It was a nightmare of an experience. BFF is my biggest regret from my wedding day.
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 09/01/2025
Well hello- I'm very interested reading this review. I'll be happy to respond to a few thi...
ngs so those seeing this can understand the honesty of the situation and all that we did to prevent it.
Our contract, which you signed, states everything, there were no surprises. You sound surprised. We do run our business like a business, with timelines, fees, and we service others- I am surprised you have a problem with with all our management, considering the micromanaging. Again, no fees, nothing was a surprise.
For the preview, our preview prep document covers that we don't use prep products in order to nail your look and then can provide additional guidance for longevity for the wedding day. You did send notes which we had. As for your comments, Tanya has internal notes that you kept getting up and going to check between every little thing. That isn't exactly conducive to working for us to produce a whole look and then adjust from- and we have this in the preview prep doc too. You seemed happy when Tanya left and you guys discussed minor changes. I have the photos! Your actual words in email were "We had a great morning and your work was absolutely lovely!" And actually Tanya's recap we have in our legal communication, acknowledges all the tweaks needed to prevent these things. Tanya has also noted you did not want extensions and they were mentioned that they would help hold the curl. So if you refuse the guidance, there's only but so much in our control.
Enter the wedding day- I have in internal notes that our directions for setup were not followed and the girls worked in a cramped foyer. Also they showed up with others from a completely different company there- and yep there would have been a fee for that too... because my artists AND those artists were all confused. As for work product, I have photos that your hair was exactly what was done at the preview with Tanya noted that you changed the hair (and again, no extensions for already mentioned curl resistant hair). I have photos of your finished hair. Tanya said your curls will relax. You acknowledged ok to her. As for makeup- you refused to use specific products of hers that are wedding tested and waterproof- this is mentioned in the contract, that your insistance on using your items or doing anything yourself you prefer to do, waives negative feedback. Tanya has mentioned you came back with eyeliner done in a way we would never advise, but since it was your request, we allowed it. Tanya was baffled that your personal preference was never explained. This doesn't mean we don't know what we're doing. You left the chair for a LONG time. All this is documented by the artists on the wedding day. Lashes- you again asked to do them yourself and you used your own. Again, out of our control. As for lip product- you came out with your lips done. Norma the additional artist can verify all of this.
Your very own bridesmaids said your hair didn't hold curl and that you were extremely picky and laughed that you had always been that way. Therefore, while I apologize that you may not like a business enforcing rules and policies, and that we've done this a long time, it's because we've done this a long time and also aren't mindreaders, that I understand what actually happened vs your version of events. I appreciate your feedback, but it seems as though you didn't want us there in the first place- remember we caught you inquiring for services with another company for other people in your party. Your mom expressed her great gratitude while you were out of the room and tipped generously- which normally doesn't happen if the service is as horrible as you say. We wish you the best. Thanks-Kara (owner)
Lainey M
5.0
8/30/2025
Best face forward did an incredible job with doing hair and make up for me and my bridal party for my wedding. There is definitely a lot of pre-work to do before the day of, but th...
at does help the day go much more smoothly. All the artists that I worked with (Daisy, Kris, Yoana and Antonia) were so incredibly talented! Everyone looked stunning and felt beautiful. Special shout out to my HMUA Daisy for making me feel so confident. Thank you!
Molly M
5.0
6/29/2025
Kara and Joyce were lovely to work with!
From the beginning phone call interviewing Kara, I knew this would be an amazing fit. Kara was so down to earth and was acutely in tune wi...
th MOB/MOG concerns over getting hair and makeup done. She reassured me that she has extensive experience with Moms and would do her utmost to make sure they felt comfortable.
Working with BFF was incredible. Everything is incredibly detailed, with several questionnaires both for the bride and the party to ensure visions are achieved. I could not have asked for more.
Joyce was my artist, and she was everything! From the moment we met at my preview to us being together on my wedding day, we had a great connection. She was very open to feedback, pushing for it to make sure we got to a look that would make me happiest. Once the preview was over we chatted and on my wedding day I looked gorgeous. Joyce and Kara took care of me and my party, they were on time, professional, and a pleasure to be around. I can’t recommend them strongly enough, this was a great experience!
Thank you Kara and Joyce, you guys made my mom, mother-in-law, and I feel so special. I so appreciate you guys!
Danielle L
5.0
5/14/2025
Mandy and Joyce did an absolutely amazing job for my wedding! They were very accommodating for everything and I LOVED how mine and my parties’ looks turned out. Everyone was super ...
happy and so beautiful for the day! The communication was wonderful the entire time and I couldn’t have asked for a better company.
Larissa N
5.0
5/06/2025
From the very beginning of working with the Best Face team, I felt taken care of. Meg and Kara are so responsive to the emails. And then, working with both Priscilla and Brenda for...
my hair and makeup team for the wedding day, and my trial and engagement photos was wonderful! They all went the extra mile to make me feel and look special on my big day. All of my wedding party are minimal makeup wearers, and they felt great, too. They looked amazing and, best of all, they still felt like themselves! As I said, I couldn't have asked for a better team!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 07/07/2025
You're the best and we love you!!!
Alissa T
5.0
4/25/2025
The makeup and hair artist from Best Face Forward were amazing to work with! They were great from the first phone call when I spoke to Kara and she put my mind at ease. They are...
great at communicating, reply in a timely manner, and have a detailed timeline. The forms that we had to fill out were super helpful in making it a smooth process. My originaI hair and makeup artist got sick the day of my engagement photos and Kara was able to easily step in because of the forms. I decided to switch my eye shadow color after my make up trial and Priscilla was helpful in figuring out new colors. She was also helpful with figuring out which hair extensions and pearl bobby pins to buy. Everyone in bridal party had different levels of comfort with hair and make-up, and everyone said how great Priscilla and Stephanie were! We were even ready before the timeline called for! I would definitely use them for my next event and highly recommend them!
Amanda R
5.0
4/14/2025
Amazing. Highly recommend working with Kara and team. Very communicative, kind, responsive.
Natalie did my hair and makeup and it was the perfect mix of glam and natural. I felt ...
and looked like myself, but was photo ready for the wedding.
I felt like a million dollars- it was fantastic. Highly recommend.
Miriam P
5.0
4/09/2025
I had a great experience with BFF for my hair and makeup. The process of booking was very straightforward, and all of my questions were easily answered by Kara. They were prompt to...
get all of my information once I did book, and did periodic reminders for all the necessary next steps.
My artist Joyce was amazing, both during my trial and the day of. She worked very well with me, and was able to take into account my preferences and feedback. She was prompt on both days, and truly, I couldn’t have had a better experience!
Erin G
5.0
2/01/2025
Gina was a professional. My makeup was gorgeous! She made me feel amazing for my day. She also did hair and makeup for my young neices and she was fabulous with them. I strongly r...
ecommend using their services!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 03/18/2025
Thanks so much for your trust in us Erin!!
Susan K
5.0
1/10/2025
Best Face Forward was amazing! Kara and Meg were very detail oriented and communicative to ensure the process was smooth sailing. Heather and Angie for makeup and hair did a fantas...
tic job both at my trial and day of the wedding. At the trial, Angie made my inspo hair come to life flawlessly and Heather took my preferences of what I do and don’t like to create the perfect look for me! On the wedding day, they did everyone in a timely manner and they did a beautiful job!
There was paperwork that everyone who gets a service done has to fill out along with inspiration pictures before the schedule and final invoice are done. If your bridal party is not the type to be into hair and make up, make sure you give your bridal party a heads up that this paperwork is coming before the official request and get started on it early. It’s easy, but for some it takes longer to fill out and you don’t want the added stress of waiting for them to finish. You won’t want the added stress of waiting them to finish the paperwork
I highly recommend Best Face Forward for hair and makeup!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 03/18/2025
Susan- thank you for being such a great bride! The fact that you highlight our detailed pr...
ocess is so very appreciated!!
Katie C
5.0
11/19/2024
Working with Best Face Forward was amazing! Prior to the wedding they ensured everything was ready and asked for plenty of information before hand to ensure we had a easy day of. A...
dditionally, Angie and Dixie were rock stars. Both showed up early and kept to the schedule. The end result were gorgeous hair for all and makeup! Don't plan on having another wedding (:)) but would book them again for other events with how easy they made the process and the quality of work!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 01/01/2025
Katie you are a gem- it was wonderful to work with you and appreciate the honor of being a...
part of your day! All the best!!
Suzanne E
5.0
10/16/2024
Very professional, responsive and truly listened to my needs. I did not want to hire a make up/hair artist and I’m so glad I did, was a super experience to work with the office and...
my artist. Highly recommend.
Ashley T
5.0
10/13/2024
I would recommend Best Face Forward. Kara runs a tight, no nonsense company and if you appreciate details, organization, deadlines, and strict rules then she is right for you. You ...
know what you are getting from Kara and she is truly a professional. Kara assigns an artist that is close to your venue to try and avoid travel fees, which I appreciate. We did not get to talk with or know my individual makeup/hair (same person) artist before signing the contract, which was a little nerve-racking, but it all ended up working out. Dixie, my artist, was fantastic and is not only good at what she does, but is also warm, easy to talk to, and takes feedback really well. She showed up on time for my trial and the wedding day, stayed later for the trial and ended early on the wedding day. Perfect! I LOVED my makeup and hair. She did a great job of making sure I still looked like me, just upgraded / elevated. I don't really wear makeup so to still feel comfortable with a bunch of wedding makeup on, is a true accomplishment. I felt beautiful! Both stayed on really well throughout the night, my hair (a low updo) did not budge. Dixie also did my mom and sister’s makeup and they both looked beautiful as well. Very grateful to the BFF team and Dixie.
Arielle S
5.0
8/24/2024
The BFF team was an absolute dream to have on my wedding day! The addition of pre-wedding trial was amazing as I went in to my wedding day with full confidence that my hair and mak...
eup would look even better than I could’ve originally imaged. The BFF team really works with you step-by/step to ensure you achieve the most perfect hair and makeup of your dreams. My wedding party also got their hair and makeup done and looked absolutely beautiful. Communication throughout the entire process was seamless and took away any stress that could’ve been had over anything beauty, as well as making sure everything fit into our wedding timeline. I highly recommend the BFF team and will definitely book with them again for future events. 11/10
Avra B
5.0
7/21/2024
Gabby (H) and Brenda (MU) were amazing HMU artists for my big day! The communication leading up the weekend was great - kudos to Kara and Meg for their guidance and admin assistanc...
e. The whole process was smooth and everyone was kind and courteous. When my grandmother couldn't make it to our wedding due to health reasons, the team accommodated the situation very well. Would definitely book them again!
Alex M
5.0
7/09/2024
Best Face Forward is awesome! They were timely in communication, answered all of my questions, and were very flexible and open to the wants and needs of the bridal party! Special s...
houtout to Dixie. Dixie perfectly executed the brides hair and makeup and accommodated some last minute changes that turned out amazing!! Gabrielle and Josh were also amazing and all the bridesmaids and MOB/MOG loved their hair and makeup! They were professional, fun, efficient, and did an amazing job! I would highly recommend them!
Karen D
5.0
7/01/2024
My mother, mother in law, and I worked with Gina for my wedding and we couldn’t be happier!!! I had a trial 2 months before my wedding and it was beautiful! As the wedding approach...
ed we learned that it was going to be HOT and needed to change some things. Gina took my feedback and created an even more beautiful look!! My mother and mother in law looked and felt so beautiful! Gina’s skill and professionalism for 3 very different styles of hair and makeup was excellent. She listened to each person’s “in the moment” feedback and helped guide each of us to our own unique look that flattered our features while maintaining individuality.
Gina, you made me feel so confident and beautiful and brought my vision to life! Thank you so much! 💕
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 07/07/2025
So sorry I'm late catching up on replies- this is the sweetest and we appreciate you!!!
Julianne S
5.0
6/27/2024
I had Tanya as my HMU for my wedding day! She was very timely and we even worked together to last minute change my style that ended being even better than the trial I had! She gave...
clear directions for arriving at her at home studio for my trial and took plenty of time to get to know me! They have great and easy paperwork to understand your skin+hair type to use the best products for you! Tanya also showed much excitement to try new products with me and make any changes we talked about. She was very flexible on our wedding day as well when we unexpectedly had to move rooms and was able to finish up with time to spare! This team communicates very well through their Honeybook portal and keeps everyone in your party in the loop. Highly recommend!!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 07/07/2024
Thanks so much for your kind words- Tanya really valued her time with you! All the things ...
you mention are what we strive for! THANK YOU!
Kaitlyn S
5.0
5/29/2024
I cannot thank Kara and the BFF team enough for their help with my wedding day. I had two trials with another company that left me so worried about my day of look. Just three weeks...
before the wedding I decided I needed to go in a different direction. I called Kara up in a panic hoping she would be able to help with my short notice wedding on a holiday weekend. Kara was so communicative and helpful during this time. She listened closely to my previous experiences and my beauty vision. She reached out to her team and was able to find two amazing artists who would be available to help. They scheduled a trial for the next week and the trial was perfect! I was again so excited for my big day knowing I was in the right hands. Kris gave me amazing waves that lasted through the heat and humidity of the entire day and night. Priscilla gave me a soft makeup look with the most comfortable lashes I have ever worn. Together they created my dream glam and I could not be more grateful. If you are considering hiring the BFF team for your wedding you will not regret it. They are knowledgeable, communicative, and truly care about their clients. They will be able to give you your dream glam look too. Thank you Kara, Kris and Priscilla <3
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 07/07/2024
You were a wonderful addition to our season! I'm so glad we could save the day and make yo...
u feel your best self!!
Deborah H
5.0
5/28/2024
Best Face Forward was amazing for our wedding. The artists showed up on time, were communicative and took all of our concerns/questions seriously. Everyone looked amazing. They ...
sent checklists and reminders several times leading up to the day. The company is a little strict in terms of the schedule and making changes at the last minute, but I know this is to protect their artists and I respect that. Gina and Gabrielle were amazing artists. Thank you!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 07/01/2024
Thanks so much Deborah for your kind words and understanding of our processes! You were gr...
eat to work with!
Haley O
5.0
5/27/2024
I am so glad Kara and Angie provided hair and makeup services for myself, mom, and bridesmaids for my wedding. Our hair and makeup lasted all day through the warm afternoon, rain, ...
and dancing in the evening. I received so many compliments throughout the day on hair and makeup. They made me feel so confident, special, and beautiful on our wedding day.
The team was very thorough and responsive throughout the entire process. They were so attentive and organized that it was one less thing for me to worry about for the big day. I even had to adjust my hair/makeup trial due to unforeseen circumstances and they were more than accommodating.
Kara was also helpful in providing skincare recommendations in the months leading up to the wedding. I used the products that were recommended and my skin was clear for the big day!
I highly highly recommend the team and couldn’t imagine my wedding without them. I am so thankful for their amazing quality of work for a day that I will never forget!!
(Photos are by Savannah Tilghman Photography)
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 07/01/2024
Haley- we adore you! I'm glad I met you so many years ago and it's an honor to have been w...
ith you years later for your special day! We appreciate you and your family!
Linda H
5.0
5/04/2024
My sister-in-law recommended Kara and her team after using BFF for her wedding a few years ago. From the start, Kara and her team helped answer all of my questions and were transpa...
rent and communicative about the process. Gina did my hair and makeup for the trial and on the big day, and I was so happy with how everything looked! She took a lot of notes and photos about what I liked during the trial and listened to my concerns about making sure the makeup stayed throughout the night. There were also some last minute location and schedule changes we had to make, and Kara and her team were so responsive and flexible about it all. I highly recommend working with BFF if you want a professional and highly experienced team of hair and makeup artists to trust on your big day!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 05/05/2024
Linda- words can't say how much we appreciate you!! What a wonderful day that we were hono...
red to be a part of! You looked amazing!!!
Lauren C
5.0
5/02/2024
I had the best experience with the team - Kris, Dixie, Marta, and Kara for my wedding. They are all fabulous and had me and all of my ladies looking beautiful for the big day. Kara...
even gave me skin tips ahead of my wedding that helped my complex/oily/acne prone skin look beautiful for the wedding day. Thank you all!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 05/02/2024
Hi Lauren. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and for doing t...
his so quickly. You were such a wonderful collaborative client to work with! All the first photos are stunning, as are you! We were so honored to be a part of your dream day!
Angela M
5.0
4/25/2024
Eva did my wedding party's makeup the day of, and she did a exceptional job! She made all of us look beautiful for the wedding, and was very easy to work with. She was friendly and...
easy-going, and turned my inspiration pictures a reality.
Kara also gave me some great beauty and skincare tips which helped me clear up my skincare issues before my wedding day!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 05/22/2024
Thank you so much Angela for being a great bride to work with! People like you help us rea...
lly love what we do!!!
Kyndall W
2.0
4/09/2024
First off, my makeup looked STUNNING so this is not a reflection of Kailey’s work and lovely personality. Kailey and Susanne made everyone feel beautiful!
That being said, my over...
all experience with BFF was quite similar to buying a house: tons of paperwork, stress, reading fine print, and extra fees. I literally had to communicate with them more than the actual venue my wedding was at. Not only did I feel like I was filling out the same information multiple times, but even the bridal party had to fill out questionnaires, send pictures of themselves, and send Pinterest accounts or pictures of example makeup. When they didn’t get that back in time, I was hounded by their Operations Assistant, Meg, who should seriously consider taking classes on email etiquette and who made communication extremely unpleasant.
I picked BFF because the $450 price for the preview and day of plus lashes was very reasonable. I ended up paying over $1000 after extra fees and tips for the makeup artists (this is NOT including the services for my bridesmaids). They told me I needed a minimum of 10 services, then charged me $150 plus $62 in travel fees for an additional artist once I hit 8 services. I thought the travel fee was funny considering my wedding was literally in the city of Richmond. If you want lashes for your wedding, don’t let them put them on you at the preview because they will charge you $25 for that and then say “I’ve never had anyone not know that” when you question it. They also charged me overtime for my preview even though I did literally one hairstyle and one makeup style. They technically gave me a refund but told me I should “thank my artist” because it would be going directly to her, so I ended up venmoing her the extra charge that her place of work would not cover (mind you I’m a teacher- pretty sure they would have been well more prepared to pay her than I am). Oh and they said I was supposed to have another artist and that’s why it went over time- so why should I have to pay it?
Bottom line- be clear about your fees from the get go, don’t be rude in emails, and consider the fact that some people just want to look pretty and don’t want to deal with telling you their entire skin care routine or exchange dozens of forms/emails to get their dang makeup done. Never again.
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 04/09/2024
I'm happy to have the opportunity to professionally reply to this. Firstly- everything men...
tioned is actually in our paperwork from the beginning. From our process to our timelines, extra fees and all. We have the most thorough process because makeup and hair is personal to each person and when you deal with immediate contact of others there is high liability risk. Next- all of the fees are detailed on our price list but changing logistics, party numbers and completely switching services for the majority of the party does change staffing because different artists do different things. I'm glad we were able to accommodate a holiday day for your preview per your request and that your lead artist did both services when the arrangements changed as we didn't have to impact your schedule by rescheduling. Everything from the additional artist, plus their travel mileage (your lead artist was local, 2nd incurred some mileage, just thankful they were available given the service switches for a busy date), plus lashes (per application) and the extra time for longer previews are all detailed in numerous documents all sent to you. I have never had anyone believe that anything supply-wise or longer time spent with you for your satisfaction for a preview was free so that was a true statement. Your timing for the preview was never stated to be determinate on artists present or services done, just the time we normally take to nail down a preferred look- again spelled out from the beginning. Any extra is extra just like at any other job or business. The connection made by you is an assumption only. I am glad Kailey was compensated but a business should never be punished for what you aren't aware of when they do everything to bring it to your attention. The repeated emails were in fact the most we've had to send in a while too as documents were late and repeatedly requested - I'm sure you understand- we strive to execute what we promise. If we didn't or let it go, then someone would complain about that too. Please be kind to businesses, as they are very aware of the information shared but can never know what is read. We do expect our clients to hold their end of the contract, read and review paperwork and adhere to our agreement as well. While we always learn something from each event and appreciate the opportunity to service you, and thank you for the feedback, we are sorry that adherence to our process became an issue for you. We wish you both all the best.
Stephanie H
5.0
3/26/2024
Bri (hair) and Susanne (Makeup) were amazing during my trial and on my wedding day! They were so flexible and made sure my look was EXACTLY what I wanted. They were so positive and...
supportive throughout the whole process. It felt like 2 friends pampering me on my wedding day. They absolutely nailed everyone's looks and we all felt SO beautiful!!!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 03/26/2024
Stephanie- thank you so much for being the best bride to work with! Relaxed, trusting and ...
enjoying the process! We appreciate you and I now think everyone should have alpacas at their wedding!! When you and your mom start your decorating business, we'll be there to cheer you on!
Grace S
5.0
2/11/2024
Great group to work with! Professional, communicative and talented. I highly recommend this group!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 02/12/2024
Hi Grace. Thank you for sharing some photos and such kind words about your experience with...
Gina and Best Face Forward. You were so kind to work with during a hard time for me and I greatly appreciate it!
Melissa L
5.0
1/09/2024
Best Face Forward is FANTASTIC. They did an amazing job with our hair & makeup--the entire process from start to finish was smooth and transparent. Kris & Priscilla executed the lo...
oks exactly as we wanted. Bravo to Kara and her entire team! I cannot recommend them more highly.
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 01/11/2024
Hi Melissa! Thank you for taking the time to review your experience with Best Face Forward...
, and for being so kind and generous with your artists. They really enjoyed their time with you and your party.
Lesley W
5.0
1/08/2024
Best Face Forward was recommended by my planner, and I am so happy that I booked with them. Kara and her team were very prompt to respond via email to my questions and scheduling a...
s I booked them pretty close to my wedding date. They were attentive to my needs and wrote down all the styles and products during my trial so that we didn't have to worry on the wedding day. Tanya was my makeup and hair artist, and she was so kind and calm and skillful. I was glad that she recommended false eyelashes without mascara and I loved the look and it worked out so well (no risk of mascara transferring to my lower eyelids, which always manages to happen when I do it myself- despite waterproof products). She also worked on my sister's hair and makeup, and it turned out beautifully. I am so thrilled that I booked such a great vendor for my wedding day!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 01/08/2024
Hi Lesley. Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your ex...
perience over the holidays. It was wonderful to work with you and be able to provide services for you (and your sister) for all of your events. We can't wait to see some photos!
Dawn S
5.0
1/06/2024
Kara and the entire Best Face Forward team are fantastic! I did a makeup lesson with Kara for my elopement, and was so impressed with her approach and skincare/makeup product line....
The BFF team asks great questions to understand what each person wants, and helped me achieve the natural but polished look I had in mind.
Kara and the BFF team also did hair and makeup for my reception/first anniversary celebration. They were a delight to work with and made me and my best friends look amazing. I'm truly astounded by how responsive, professional, and all-around wonderful Kara, Meg and the entire team are!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 01/08/2024
Hi Dawn! Thank you for your kind words and the opportunity to get to know you so well and ...
develop a friendship over a year. It was fun to create and educate you on different looks and give you something fun to look forward to while your groom was under the weather for a while. You had the calmest reception morning with the nicest ladies and were such an ideal client!
Meghan E
5.0
11/27/2023
Kara was incredible!!! She runs a fantastic company with people who REALLY CARE about you and your day. Gina did my hair and makeup and I was OBSESSED with her work! She was very f...
lexible and wanted to hear what I had to say about my look. These people truly care about how you feel and your dream look. Kris and Larissa were amazing as well and all of my bridesmaids were over the moon with their final looks. I cannot recommend this vendor enough!!! Much love for Kara and her people. <3
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 01/09/2024
Hi Meghan! Thank you for your kind words and for being a wonderful and easy bride that Gin...
a really enjoyed getting to know. We always appreciate feedback that we are accomplishing our mission to make sure a bride is heard and feels amazing on her wedding day. Your photos are beautiful! I can't wait to share some on our social media!
Alexandra C
5.0
11/23/2023
I was so happy with BFF! I used them for my makeup for my wedding and couldn’t have been happier! From the first phone call with Kara, to my skin analysis, to the trial, to the wed...
ding, I couldn’t have had a better experience! I am honestly horrible with skin care and makeup so I decided to do the skin analysis with Kara before my wedding, and she helped me figure out how to prep my skin for the wedding and what products to use. When I did the trial she helped me figure out the best look for my wedding day since I didn’t know exactly what I wanted other than a natural look. She adjusted the eye color during my trial when I wasn’t quite sure about the look, and then when she did my makeup for my wedding day it was perfect! She came prepared and on time and was so efficient and wonderful on my wedding day I felt special! She did the makeup for myself, my three bridesmaids, my mother, and my mother-in-law and she did such a great job of tailoring the looks to different skin tones and listened to what people wanted. We were a group who doesn’t usually wear a lot of makeup and she did a fabulous job and made sure everyone was confortable with their looks. Even my mother and mother-in-law (who had never had her makeup done by someone else) were blown away! Everyone was so happy and felt beautiful! My makeup lasted the entire day and night and even held up to dancing all night (no running or anything)! Kara is wonderful, professional, and kind and I always enjoyed taking to her!
Response from Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists on 11/23/2023
Thanks so much Alex for being a great bride and a wonderful new friend. It's been a pleasu...
re getting to know you and help you full service for your big day from skin, to makeup to tan! Wishing you and Tommy all the best!!
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Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists
Kara Gomez
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Wedding vendors in Fairfax
Best Face Forward - Skin, Makeup & Hair Artists
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