Carla Pressley - Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist

alm and kind and fun Carla was to have around on her wedding day. If you have bridesmaids or family members also getting hair and makeup done, you spend a lot of your wedding day with your hair and makeup team, so having someone who is both talented at what they do and pleasant to be around is huge! And it was absolutely true. Carla did an amazing job starting with my hair and makeup trial. She spent a ton of time with me going through multiple makeup looks and three different hairstyles, including a back-up rain option for our outdoor wedding. She made two suggestions that I would not have thought of myself--one at the trial and one day-of--both of which made a huge positive difference in the overall look. She did a wonderful job working off of my inspiration photos and adapting them to me. My mom, sister/MOH, and bridesmaid all looked gorgeous and got exactly what they asked for. At the end of doing everyone's look, she asks "what would you like to change?" so if there's something you're not happy with, it feels like you're collaborating with her to get to the perfect final look without any awkwardness or feeling like you're critiquing her work. It's brilliant! And I didn't want to change a thing. I do not normally wear heavy makeup, which is recommended for all the photography, but I still felt comfortable and like myself. I referred Carla to another friend who was getting married the same month, and she was thrilled as well! She looked gorgeous and was really happy with Carla's services as well. She asked for a rather complicated hairstyle, and I was so impressed when I saw the inspiration photo, because Carla nailed it!

d making sure every detail of my hair and makeup was set perfectly. She stayed with us far past the time allotted because she cared so much about making sure our experience was a positive one and that through a day long event and outfit change everything was still looking fire until the night came to an end! Everyone’s makeup was natural yet elegant and they gave each person the hair style of their dreams. We are so grateful and would highly recommend!!!

listening to the Groomsmaids as to what they wanted and then proceeded to make each and everyone of them look beautiful. She also had such a calming influence during preparations. She was on top of getting everyone ready. Especially when I added 5 extra hair and make-ups to the morning. Carla even stayed around and touched up the Grooms during their professional photos before the ceremony. You are WONDERFUL, Carla

ut she assured me it was plenty of time to achieve the look, my curls would just likely fall because they wouldn’t have as much time to set. For the sake of doing the trial, I could live with that. Of course I understood we would probably make some changes for the big day, but I was so disappointed in the result that I cancelled the bridal portraits last minute. The foundation didn’t match my skin at all and the look was nothing like the inspo photos I shared with her. She asked what I wanted to change and when I brought up the foundation color, the fact that the look was overall much heavier than the inspo photos, what I wanted done differently with my hair, etc. she became pretty irritated. Of course it’s a trial, there are kinks to be worked out, but this was really not even close to the quality I expected based on her portfolio and our previous conversations. Ultimately I asked for a trial redo, which she said she could do the day of my rehearsal dinner for the same fee (I was charged full price for the first trial). When I said I didn’t think that was doable, she again became irritated and said she was an artist and couldn’t recreate a photo exactly as is (even though she asked for inspo photos, and all of mine were really simple/natural). My wedding was a few weeks away so I went through with using her for my bridesmaids, and she did my hair. I did my own makeup which turned out to be the best decision. Carla did my mom and my MOH’s makeup, both of which turned out very heavy and almost theatrical. Carla’s attitude and the way she spoke to her staff on the day of were very harsh and unpleasant, not what I expected from a vendor who spends most of the day with the bridal party. I have to point out that her assistants were WONDERFUL and did an amazing job on hair and makeup! I wish I had known and could have had my makeup done by one of them. Overall I was really disappointed because this added so much stress to the weeks leading up to my wedding day.

. She and her team were responsive and proactive throughout the whole process, providing me with questionnaires to better understand my needs and preferences and updates to let me know what I should be aware of. During our hair and makeup trial, Carla examined the options I presented her and focused on understanding what I liked about each style/look. She never pushed me to decide anything on the spot, instead encouraging me to take time after our trial to sit with the photos she took of me and see which one I liked most. A few weeks before my wedding, I found a style that combined elements from multiple looks that we tested during the trial. She more than happily agreed to do it and said she’d practice the look before the big day. Carla was a calming presence on the morning of my wedding, working on the hairs and makeup for myself and my three bridesmaids. She kindly touched up the curls two of my bridesmaids had gotten from the Dry Bar even though she didn’t have to. All of our looks held up beautifully throughout the long and somewhat windy day. One of my friends has already asked me for Carla’s information for when she gets married herself. I have really come to appreciate Carla not just as a hair and makeup artist, but as a strong female entrepreneur with high standards and who cares about doing right by her teams and her clients. I respect the thoughtfulness with which she approaches her craft and business, and really look forward to the opportunity to work with her again in the future.

complimenting how talented, warm, and professional Carla and her team are!

mend her to any bride for her special day!!

ress-free and really cared that I loved the final look. In short - look no further, you need to hire her and her team. Carla is the best!!

cial!

team as well! Recommend highly!

ook natural and like myself on my wedding day, with some added glam of course. I normally wear minimal makeup and I use quite a bit of product to tame my naturally curly frizzy hair. When I started looking for someone to do my wedding hair and makeup, I was nervous I wouldn’t find what I’m looking for. But as soon as I saw Carla’s work on social media pages, her website, and read the many reviews, I got excited. It was evident that Carla had a special gift as a hair and makeup artist. I reached out and had my first phone consultation with Carla. We talked about my desire to feel like myself as well as my concerns. Carla really listened to me. I was immediately impressed and felt drawn to Carla’s easy going and positive demeanor. I decided to secure Carla’s services before even having a trial. Considering the concerns I shared above, this was huge for me. Then the pandemic happened, which had us rescheduling our date several times. Working with Carla and her team on our date reschedules was easy. During tough times, especially for the wedding business, Carla and her team were flexible, accommodating, and always a pleasure to work with. Once we got closer to our wedding date, I met Carla for my trial. The trial was fun! Carla is fabulous! She took time and care to provide lots of great options and different styles, all of which I loved. I loved them so much that I ended up choosing to have one hair style for the ceremony, and another for the reception. I also enjoyed talking to Carla very much. She far surpassed my expectation in every way, and I was excited to have her as part of our special day. On the day of the wedding, Carla was nothing short of amazing. Until Carla, no one has been able to manage my hair, let alone make it look fabulous. Both the ceremony and reception looks she created for me were natural and classy and sexy, all at the same time. What Carla does with hair and makeup is absolutely art. She ensured my wedding looks made me feel beautiful and confident. During photos, she stayed close to keep everything just right, and also went above and beyond and was extremely helpful. Through all my time with Carla on the day of my wedding, I felt happy and calm. I am so happy that I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Carla. I feel fortunate and thankful for having Carla as part of our day. Carla is the only one I would trust with my hair and makeup, especially for such a meaningful day as my wedding day. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend Carla, her team, and the services Carla provides.

went above and beyond to not only make me feel beautiful, but also took the time to give my niece, who has 4B hair, a straightened hair look for the first time. I would recommend Carla and her team 100 times over. Schedule her as soon as you can - she books up far in advance!

talk to, totally got my exact vision, and made me, my bridesmaids, and our moms feel and look absolutely gorgeous. I had a big bridal party so on the day of the wedding, she had a team of 3 additional assistants who were also fantastic at their craft. Everyone was in love with their hair and makeup and raving about the kindness of Carla and her team. I had asked Carla to stay for touch-ups after the ceremony. She was such a welcome presence during our photos and even helped fix my hair a bit to look best in pictures. The touch-ups helped me feel confident for the ceremony and reception after sweating in the summer heat. I can't imagine using anyone else but Carla for your wedding! She is the best of the best!

zed in all of the looks I wanted to try and did a fantastic job of documenting them so that I could look everything over after the fact. She also gave me some helpful tips about products to use leading up to my wedding. On the big day, Carla and her assistant arrived early and were ready to go right when we needed them. Even with our tight schedule, she made it work while still helping to maintain a calm, fun environment. I loved every second of being in Carla’s chair. Carla and her team made us all look absolutely stunning with hair and makeup that lasted all day and all night. Carla stuck around until right before I walked down the aisle, going above and beyond all day to ensure that everything was just right. I couldn’t have asked for a better hair and makeup artist and I truly cannot recommend Carla enough!!

10/10. She is warm and personable as well so it was the best way to get ready for the big day!

p my hair and makeup before portraits and again before entering my reception. No worries of smudged makeup or frizzy hair! Carla was there to keep me looking my best and send me into the evening touched up perfectly. She was a big help. Highly recommend!

mpleted touch ups in the end and was very accommodating to perfect loose curls and eye makeup. She even helped apply some body makeup that I had brought to conceal my acne scars. Wonderful personality to work with and my updo (with hair extensions) stayed in place for over 9 hours with no frizz from dancing. She made my day!

f the technical aspects of hair and makeup, and her ability to truly listen to what I wanted. Just a few examples: I wanted to try out a hairstyle with glossy, vintage curls. Carla knew immediately that the correct way to create these is with pin curls on damp hair (as opposed to a curling iron, as other the other stylists tried). Right off the bat, it was clear that Carla really knows her stuff. It was really important to me to have natural, light makeup on my wedding day. Instead of covering my entire face in a layer of foundation, she used a half-dozen tiny brushes to place foundation and concealer exactly where it was needed, letting my natural skin shine through. When I told her that I'd prefer not to wear lipstick, she respected my decision and didn't try to pressure me into wearing any, as other (well-meaning) artists have done in the past. Two of my bridesmaids have curly hair and were very nervous about letting someone else handle it, having had bad experiences with wedding stylists in the past who don't know how to handle curls. But once again, they had nothing to fear with Carla behind the chair. My straight-haired bridesmaids and I watched with awe and delight as Carla and her assistant used a tiny curling iron on finger-wide pieces of hair to create volume and definition and enhance their natural curls. Carla was happy to tweak my updo several times until it was the shape that I wanted. I always felt comfortable asking for modifications, and I really appreciated that Carla was always patient with me and open to feedback. Most importantly, my bridesmaids and I were so happy with our final looks. We all left the chair feeling like our natural beauty was enhanced, not altered. Truly, there were smiles all around! Thank you, Carla, Nas, and Sarah!

of my consultation and Carla took the look I was going for and turned it into something that suited me perfectly. She was totally open to feedback I shared about wanting to tone down my brows and eyelash extensions for a more natural look on the actual day, while also sharing recommendations for what not to change so I didn't look washed out in my photos. I felt beautiful – but not overdone – on my wedding day and that's all thanks to Carla and her team. They also did hair and makeup for my mom, grandmother, aunt, and mother-in-law, who all have short hair and don't wear much makeup, and they were extremely happy with how it turned out, as well. Carla Pressley Hair & Make Up was one of the easiest vendors I worked with and I'd hire them again in a heartbeat.

ing came out great and I would recommend her to everyone!

zing at what she does and I received so many compliments and people at my wedding asking who did my hair and makeup. On top of all that, Carla is so sweet and personable and was a calming force the morning I was getting ready which was much needed during the wedding stress. 10/10 recommend!!

th her. Although I didn't have any bridesmaids, she did my sisters' make up/hair and they all looked STUNNING! She even helped my mother in law style her hair a little bit, very last minute. She is a gentle soul that is so hard working and professional, but somehow she makes you feel like family..If I had to do it all over again, I would choose her a million times. I felt and looked incredible.

t we loved about our inspiration, and the DELIVERED beyond our wildest dreams. I asked for a very dramatic look with dark makeup while my sisters did more dreamy - they were all equally as perfect. Plus, throughout the entire day she was just so wonderful to be around - calming when I was getting nervous (I hate being the center of attention … yes I know), funny when we were all together and laughing, and great to the other vendors and family members who showed up. Honestly, I would recommend her a million times over!!!