Ella Leyva Hair & Makeup

I got my hair and make up done for my wedding and it was more then what i could have imagined i would ever look like, on my big day. My experience was totally unforgettably amazing. She arrived early and on time, set up was fast and neat, she answered my phone calls when i had to keep my eyes closed, constantly asked if i needed anything, brought music to listen to for the bride to calm her nerves, and made me feel in charge of the whole process while making me look/feel like a princess. I had an updo for my hair and it felt secure, not heavy at all, and i was able to boogy down without fearing my hair would fall down. My make up was flawless! She made sure to always ask questions on each step to see if i liked the color, pigmentation, or anything i wanted more of. This wasnt the first time i got my hair and make up done, but this was the first time i had a stress free session and i had nothing to worry about. All i can say is thank you, thank you, thank you for making my day so special!

Ella was incredible and so talented!! My friends and I showed up pretty clue less about what we wanted and Ella guided us to the most beautiful and classy hair and makeup. She was willing to make adjustments last minute when some of my bridesmaids hair wasn't working with the humidity and went above and beyond to make sure everyone looked their very best. On top of that, she was a really awesome human that I loved getting to know. Thank you so much for everything Ella!

I loved my bridal hair and makeup and the work done on my bridesmaids by Ella and Jeannette. Ella nailed the look I was going for. We did get a bit behind schedule, which was pretty stressful for me when I had to rush to get my dress on. These two ladies were extremely friendly and professional on the wedding day and my friends enjoyed chatting with them during their services.

Ella is fantastic! Everyone looked like better versions of themselves and not like completely different people. She is very professional, has a great eye for these things and brings great vibes for the wedding day. The day of my wedding I had changed the look I had previously wanted for my trial and the final version was gorgeous. I was thrilled about everything. She also styled my husbands hair and it came out great.

I found Ella through my wedding planner in Sayulita, who sent me a list of recommended HMU artists. Of that list I chose Ella because of her qualifications, experience, and naturalness of her work. She could not have been more sweet and accommodating the weekend of my wedding! I really appreciated her flexibility throughout the weekend. Ella arrived punctually at our Villa at the top of gringo hill for my trial. She was able to do the trial then leave me with a different look for our welcome party. Fortunately, she was not phased at all by the chaos of all of my wedding party arriving to the Villa at the same time. She was extremely generous to go out of her way to let us borrow an air mattress from her when she saw me starting to panic over not having enough bed space. On the day of the wedding, she came to my parents Villa at the top of Villa Amor. She gave me the perfect natural, glowy, and bronzed look I was going for without making me feel like I had a pound of make up on my face. She told me all of her products are tailored to the climate and humidity in Mexico. My hair turned out better than I could have imagined. Above all, what stood out to me the most was that she really went out of her way to calm my nerves and yet hype me up about my special day. By the end of the weekend she felt like a part of the family and I didn’t want to say goodbye! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication, Ella!

Ella was the perfect match for makeup and hair for our wedding. Its not small ask to have two brides + family members for hair and makeup before a big wedding. We showed her reference photos and she went above and beyond what we asked. Wedding days can be stressful but she calmed us during the getting ready process and we felt great as we walked into our day of photos and our ceremony. We highly recommend Ella!

Ella was incredible! She as so easy to work with and made our special day even more incredible just by being her! I wanted to look like “myself” and she made me look absolutely stunning. My makeup, my mom’s, sister and mother in law all loved her work and her attention to what made us feel and look our absolute best. I wish I could give Ella 10 stars! Highly recommend!

Ella was extremely professional, supportive and fun too! She is a seasoned hair and makeup artist who made my wedding day seamless and everything I could've wished for. Ella flawlessly executed my hair and makeup. She was flexible and made changes to our previously trailed look to give me exactly the look I wanted. I would absolutely work will Ella again and highly recommend her to anyone who wants to have a stress-free, fun bridal hair & makeup experience. Thank you, Ella!

Ella was Fantastic! I was lucky enough to book her 2 months before my wedding. She did such an amazing job. All the females in our wedding party loved their hair and makeup. When it was my turn to get dolled up, I changed my makeup vision slightly and she brought it to life so quickly! When she was done, I felt like an old Hollywood movie star <3. Don't hesitate to book Ella and her team. They were so warm, friendly, efficient and amazing artists!

I had a great experience working with Ella on hair and makeup for my wedding. I am not a big makeup wearer at all and Ella really took the time to listen to what I wanted to make sure I felt like myself on my wedding day. Ella made sure I was able to look in a mirror every step of the way to make sure I was happy with the final look. I was also impressed with how Ella and Anita worked with my mom and the mother of the groom to create hair and makeup looks that they also felt like themselves in! Ella was so responsive and easy to communicate with as well and provided me with a day of schedule weeks in advance which helped with wedding day planning. Finally, Ella and her team were endlessly flexible - a member of my wedding party had to drop out due to Covid and Ella didn’t miss a beat. In fact Ella sent over a new schedule that let us start hair and makeup later which allowed us to take a more relaxed approach to the day. Work with Ella, you won’t regret it!

Ella was amazing from start to finish! She worked with me through all of my questions and talked me through it all. She is super friendly and her hair and makeup skills are amazing! She was able to do my hair, my moms hair and both of my bridesmaids hair all on her own. We had the best morning of the wedding all together. Thank you for making my day even that more special!

Ella was one of the best decisions I made re. wedding vendors. As someone getting married in Mexico City from the Bay Area, I was nervous to search for a hair and makeup stylist that would be able to do a more low-key look for the wedding. From the trial at home to my hair and makeup for the wedding events to the way she handled my family, I couldn’t have asked for more. With COVID throwing curveball after curveball during the wedding week I was incredibly anxious, and it was so nice to have Ella there to talk to. She may have been the only person to really calm me down! She’s communicative throughout the process and very intuitive when it comes to one’s style goals. She suggested I do a more fun look for the rehearsal and even incorporated a family heirloom in my hair. I was also in touch with her before the trip about which hair extensions to purchase - and they ended up looking perfect for both my sister and myself. I absolutely loved my wedding day look! She totally understood what I wanted and everything turned out even better than I expected! My friends couldn’t stop complementing the look. Don’t hesitate to book her for your wedding or event! Thank you, Ella, for your patience and your glam artistry. It was so nice of you to stay longer in order to take first-look videos of us at the hotel, too:) I hope we can hang out in the Bay!

Ella and her team did the most amazing job with everyone's hair and makeup for my wedding - we had a lot of different hairstyle requests and skin types, but Ella accommodated everyone's requests and she was so kind to all of the girls. I was so happy with the lightweight, natural feeling of my makeup and Ella was so patient in making sure that my hairstyle was perfect on the day-of my wedding. I highly recommend hiring her and you will not have to worry about looking stunning on your special day!

Ella is such an amazing hair and make-up artist and person! She is super prompt with her responses and showed up on time for the trial and wedding day. She has everything you need to help you look your best, is a good listener, and is was super flexible when trying new ideas with hair and make-up. I know for me I had a really hard time figuring out how I wanted to do my hair, but she was persistent and tried many ideas until she knew I was sold. On top of that, Ella just cares about you and your bridesmaids as people. She is so sweet, down to earth, and determined to make you feel your best on your big day. I absolutely love Ella and so did my Bridesmaids and my Mom. She really helped make the day extra special and I couldn’t have pictured a better hair and make-up artist for my wedding day. Love her! Highly recommend!

Ella was such a pleasure to work with. She was very responsive and communicative, which is very important to me as I was a destination wedding bride and I wanted to make sure I was working with a professional who wouldn’t no-show on the big day. For a lack of a better word, I asked Ella to give me a bombshell look and I’ve never felt prettier. She was very patient when I wanted to change my lipstick last minute (she told me lipstick was the hardest decision a bride had to make. I didn’t believe her, but it’s so true!). Ella is also very sweet; I had a great time getting to know her during our almost three hour trial run as well as the morning of the wedding.

Ella was I credible! She was professional but so personable. She did my hair & makeup & that of several of my dear friends. Somehow, her expert application of makeup remained beautiful although it was about 100 degrees & 100% humidity. Whether you get married in Sayulita, Mexico or San Francisco, Ella is the perfect choice.

Ella did such an incredible job on my hair and makeup. She’s very professional, flexible and very kind. I really felt incredibly beautiful and it was everything I wanted it to be. It was perfect! Exactly how I want to feel on my wedding! Everyone commented from my husband and family and friends to the photographer! You really made it so easy too and I felt completely like myself! I can't thank you enough for helping make our special day even more special!

I had a wonderful time working with Ella for my wedding. Her manner was very warm and friendly, it was like spending time with an old friend. She created a beautiful fairytale hairstyle for me and a natural style makeup look, and was able to do multiple bridesmaids' hair and makeup by herself with everything punctual and on schedule. I also really enjoyed getting to do the hair and makeup trial beforehand as well. Thank you Ella!

We had an AWFUL experience with Ella Leyva. Context: my wife and I were planning to get married in Napa in November 2020. We secured multiple vendors, including Ella Leyva. Early in 2020, we realized that COVID made our original plan impossible (especially with a lot of family living abroad). We thought we could push our big wedding back to 2021. When we considered all of the uncertainty about the virus spread and vaccine availability - think back to mid-2020 - we decided to have a small backyard wedding instead. We reached out to Ella and requested a refund - this was more than 9 months before our intended wedding date. Ella gave us one response - declining the request - and then ghosted us, not replying to any follow-ups. We'd had a terrible experience with her communication. In January 2021, we finally told her "We don’t like leaving bad reviews, but this has been a very unpleasant experience." One week after that, we received an email from a lawyer - Caleb Stewart, from the law firm Oseran Hahn. Caleb Stewart threatened legal action. Here's what we had to deal with (we'd post the whole thing if the character limit was bigger): "You noted that you 'do not like to leave bad reviews' but to be clear, not only is that a violation of your contract, it represents a clear intent to defame and tortiously interfere with Ms. Leyva's business." Caleb Stewart said that "Ms. Leyva desires to amicably resolve the situation". Caleb Stewart then said: "An important note, however, is that if any action is taken by you to defame or otherwise besmirch the business or person of Ms. Leyva, such as posting any negative reviews or other make any negative, derogatory or defamatory comments regarding Ms. Leyva or her business publicly, this offer to settle this dispute shall be void and Ms. Leyva may pursue further legal action against you." Literally tried to muzzle us into silence - legal action for posting "any negative reviews"? Seriously? At this point, we're not expecting anything from Ella Leyva. We want to make sure that you - whoever is reading this - know about our terrible experience with this vendor.

We had an AWFUL experience with Ella Leyva. Context: my husband and I were planning to get married in Napa in November 2020. We secured multiple vendors, including Ella Leyva. Early in 2020, we realized that COVID made our original plan impossible (especially with a lot of family living abroad). We thought we could push our big wedding back to 2021. When we considered all of the uncertainty about the virus spread and vaccine availability - think back to mid-2020 - we decided to have a small backyard wedding instead. We reached out to Ella and requested a refund - this was more than 9 months before our intended wedding date. Ella gave us one response - declining the request - and then ghosted us, not replying to any follow-ups. We'd had a terrible experience with her communication. In January 2021, we finally told her "We don’t like leaving bad reviews, but this has been a very unpleasant experience." One week after that, we received an email from a lawyer - Caleb Stewart, from the law firm Oseran Hahn. Caleb Stewart threatened legal action. Here's what we had to deal with (we'd post the whole thing if the character limit was bigger): "You noted that you 'do not like to leave bad reviews' but to be clear, not only is that a violation of your contract, it represents a clear intent to defame and tortiously interfere with Ms. Leyva's business." Caleb Stewart said that "Ms. Leyva desires to amicably resolve the situation". Caleb Stewart then said: "An important note, however, is that if any action is taken by you to defame or otherwise besmirch the business or person of Ms. Leyva, such as posting any negative reviews or other make any negative, derogatory or defamatory comments regarding Ms. Leyva or her business publicly, this offer to settle this dispute shall be void and Ms. Leyva may pursue further legal action against you." Literally tried to muzzle us into silence - legal action for posting "any negative reviews"? Seriously? At this point, we're not expecting anything from Ella Leyva. We want to make sure that you - whoever is reading this - know about our terrible experience with this vendor.

I highly recommend working with Ella for hair and make up for any special event. She and her colleague Anita (whom I would also highly recommend) did the hair and make up for myself and the women folk of our wedding party. Ella is a pure artist and was able to create the exact look I was going for in a manner that was flattering for my unique beauty needs. She provided excellent guidance and worked hard to ensure that I felt beautiful on the wedding day. She also provided me with a detailed timeline to get hair and/or make up for 8 women in time to take pictures before the ceremony. She and Anita were able to keep to that timeline without rushing anyone's hair and make up. All of us looked so beautiful and the hair and makeup held for all the pictures and ceremony despite it being a super windy day.

Where do I even begin. Ella could not have been more perfect. She is highly professional, does incredible work, and is so wonderful to spend time with. I got married right as the pandemic was progressing and she was an incredibly grounding presence to have with me on my team amidst all of the chaos. I truly don’t know what I would have done without her there! I live in San Francisco and was getting married in Mexico City. Ella is based in both SF & Mexico, which was so lucky for me! Ella absolutely killed it on my hair and makeup and made me feel absolutely beautiful on my big day. I can't thank Ella enough for all of her work and I feel so incredibly lucky that I found her! Ella will without a doubt make you look and feel stunning for any event!

Ella was the best! I was nervous on my wedding day, but her presence was calming and joyful and she was super easy to talk to. She made me feel beautiful, confident and ready for my big day. I always felt that she was listening to me and making sure she understood what I wanted--she truly achieved the wedding look of my dreams. For my rehearsal dinner hair, I wasn't sure what I wanted at first, but she gave my some ideas and the end result was incredible. Ella also did a fantastic job with all of my bridesmaids and my mom. I would not hesitate to hire Ella again and give her my wholehearted recommendation.

I'm go glad I hired Ella to for hair and makeup. She is really approachable, patient, and kind. We did my trial hair/makeup on the same day as my civil wedding last March 2019 and did a wonderful job! Fast-forward to my wedding last October 2019. Not only did she and her partner do a wonderful job with hair/makeup for my bridal party and I, she really went above and beyond. I was in a real jam when I found out that I didn't have the boutonniere for my groomsmen. I forgot them at home, which was an hour and half away from the event site. Not only did she comfort me, Ella stepped in and helped make some last minute boutonnieres for the groomsmen by taking flowers out from the bridesmaids' bouquets. She did a wonderful job! I highly recommend Ella for all your special events!

I loved working with Ella from beginning to end. We set up a trial about six months before the wedding and we worked to find a look that I felt great in. I loved that she offers both hair and makeup services. Before the wedding, she organized the day-of schedule to accommodate myself, my bridesmaids, and various family with her and her assistant in record time. My hair and makeup turned out beautifully, as did everyone else's. I also loved the overall look that we put together. Finally, Ella and her assistant, Anita, were so friendly and fun while we were all getting ready in the morning. They contributed to the positive and laid back atmosphere, which is what you want on your wedding day. I highly recommend Ella for all your beauty needs!

I was so lucky to have Ella as my hair and makeup artist for my big day! I hired her services for myself and my 4 bridesmaids for my wedding at the Berkeley City Club. I was amazed that she was able to adorn my bridesmaids with retro hairstyles that fit the venue perfectly. As for the makeup, she has an uncanny ability to bring out everyones best features while still looking natural. I was also very pleased with my bridal hair and makeup. I choose a romantic style - half up, half down with curls. She took her time to make sure it was perfect. My makeup was so pretty - I felt like myself only enhanced. When I looked at myself in the mirror after being styled - I looked incredible! Seriously, I felt beautiful and confident on my wedding day thanks to Ella. My hair and makeup lasted all night and looked great in photos. Ella is a true professional and a ROCKSTAR! Book her if you can :-)

Ella and her assistant did my hair and make up for my wedding back in September, and I cannot recommend her enough. The entire experience with her, from the first trial, to the day of, she made me feel completely comfortable and at ease. On top of that, all the ladies, including my mom and groom's mom, looked beautiful! but not overly made up, just natural and glowing. I would absolutely book her again, and would recommend to anyone else!

My husband and I got married with our families at the SF City Hall. We live in LA so I used the Knot to help me find a hair/makeup artist for my whole family that day and I was soooo lucky to come across Ella Levya! She was absolutely amazing and created the exact look I wanted on my wedding day. My hair and makeup were both perfect and I am just very happy she was available on my day. Not only did she do my hair/makeup but also my stepmom, mom and MIL. Everyone was very pleased and fell in love with Ella as well! We can't rave enough about her, she is great!!

I am not sure where to start.... Ella did my three daughters and my hair and make up for my niece's wedding. My daughters were bridesmaids and they were very happy and impressed by Ella's work. (myself also!) She was very professional and equally as talented. She made contact prior to the event to solicit input on what the girls wanted relative to hair and make up. Her instagram page was a great resource for style preferences and ideas. It was evident by the pictures taken from the wedding day that she uses quality products and techniques for hair and make up designed to endure a long, hot and busy day. We all received compliments on her work. I look forward to utilizing her services in the future!

Ella was AMAZING! She was great from the beginning when I was contacting her to schedule a makeup trial and would respond right away. I had a 2nd hair trial because I was indecisive and she was super helpful in getting me the perfect hair for my wedding day. On the day of the wedding she arrived earlier than the scheduled time to our hotel room and set up and start getting myself and 6 others their hair & make up. We had our hair and makeup finished earlier than scheduled and we were all at ease. Everyone looked amazing and my sister-in-law looked so pretty. I definitely would recommend Ella, she is so nice and caring, she put me at ease and I never looked better on my wedding day! Can't thank her enough! :)

Ella was my hair artist for my wedding in Sonoma California and she was amazing!! I had 10 girls getting their hair done and she did them all on her own flawlessly with time to spare. She does great work. I wish I could post a picture with this review to show off her work.

Ella was simply amazing throughout the whole process. I have never felt more beautiful in my entire life than I did on my wedding day thanks to Ella. Her team was warm, friendly, and efficient on the wedding day, and all the important women in my life felt well cared for and looked stunning. I was also really appreciative of how Ella dealt with my eyes when doing my makeup - my eyes burn and water whenever anyone comes near them with makeup tools - but Ella found a way to get the job done without it feeling like torture. Thank you Ella!

Ella saved me!! The hairstylist I booked a year in advance bailed on me 2 weeks before my wedding. Ella had another wedding the morning of mine but she was willing to come do my hair after which was so nice of her!! She did such an amazing job with my hair and did exactly what I was looking for and gave great recommendations. She was so sweet and professional and I feel so lucky that she was able to help me out like she did. I would definitely recommend her for anyone looking for a hairstylist for their wedding!

Ella and her team was amazing and helped me start my wedding day stress free. They got to our hotel early and texted me to let me know that they are enjoying some coffee in the lobby and to text them when I am ready for them to come up. Which was awesome to have that flexibility in the morning of your wedding and not have someone knocking on your door as you are trying to wake up and slightly hung over from your rehearsal dinner. Ella is amazing at her braid work. We went with the boho theme and wanted loose fish tail braids and a side braids and she killed it. Her make up was great to, I have been in weddings where they over due it MAC style and you look at yourself and don’t even recognize the person in the mirror. Our makeup wasn’t to light or heavy with just enough glam. The both were easy talk to and kept it real. I also loved that Ella let me do my trial for my engagement shoot, she even took out the braid for me after she styled me to give me a different look for my engagement photos. I would definitely recommend Ella and her team!

Ella was wonderful to work with. She looked at the things I was getting inspiration from and worked with me to come up with something that would look best for me. She was extremely patient and listened carefully but had an expert point of view. I could be at ease around her, and day of when there was lots of stress around she was a calming force. She was punctual and responsive, basically unlike any other wedding vendor I worked with. She did a phenomenal job on my sister, mom and in-laws, each having a distinctly “them” look. Most importantly for me, she made me look and feel beautiful on my wedding day. Would not hesitate to work with her.

Ella is the absolute best! I found her through one of my friends, who hired Ella and team for her own wedding a few years prior. I loved her work then and knew I needed her for my own day. From the first phone call, to my hair and makeup trial, to my wedding day, she was a total pro. She was always quick to respond and had great ideas to make my look complete. She made me and the rest of my wedding party feel comfortable and beautiful. I hope I get to work with Ella again!

Ella is the absolute best and went above and beyond the day of my wedding! I ended up scheduling a second trial with her because I had changed the direction of the look I wanted and she was so willing to try different iterations until I was happy with it. On the day of, she was a consummate professional and did whatever it took to make sure the other women and I looked our best. From helping my new sister and law pick out her shoes, to taking delicate care of my grandma who has very thin hair after chemo, to even giving someone a haircut to clean up dead ends. I couldn't believe how flexible and agile she was; all while smiling, and remaining calm. I truly hope that I have the opportunity or occasion to work with her again in the future!

Ella was very professional, we did a trial and I used the makeup she did at 7AM to use for my shoot at 2pm and my make-up was in tact. When I booked her she wasn't as responsive as other vendors, but she was travelling around the world, so it made sense she wasn't always available to answer. On the day of the wedding she arrived on time and was super friendly and had a second assistant who was there to help so that we could all be ready by 12pm. Initially I had asked for very natural make-up because I didn't want to look caked on with make-up, but due to general stress I broke out and I had to ask her to cover it up. She did such a great job, you can't tell in any of the photos. She knows what she is doing! Book her, you will not regret it.

Ella did an amazing job on the my hair and the bridal party hair for my wedding. The trial was great and she came to my apartment, which was convenient. She had a calming attitude that I really appreciated amidst the stress of wedding planning. She arrived early on the day of the wedding and finished everyone in my large bridal party very quickly. Everyone’s hair looked beautiful in the photos. All the ladies had fun chatting with Ella and we really enjoyed her company in the bridal suite.

When I started looking for a hair stylist over a year and a half prior to our wedding, I wanted to find someone who could work with both men's and women's hair, as my husband has long hair and I was somewhat more concerned about what his hair would look like than mine. I found a few vendors through The Knot, but had the best feeling about Ella based only on the positive reviews here and her photos. We are not local to the Bay Area so were not able to do a hair trial, but Ella graciously took the time to meet with us face to face. It was so clear from the first meeting that she was the one for us, as she was easy to speak to and was comfortable getting right in and hands on with our hair, which was very assuring. She gave us very helpful tips on what lengths our hair should be for the day, and suggested that I get some hair extensions, since I was worried about how full my hair style would appear. We booked her soon thereafter, and signing the contract and communicating with her along the way was very easy and enjoyable. On the day of, Ella passed by our remote location an hour early to make sure that she was on time and had the right location, but stayed out of our hair until she was supposed to be in it. She brought everything she needed (including a chair!), and got right to work. She was comfortable working in the midst of something like 20 people popping in and out, including crazy parents, children and friends. She did hair for myself, my husband, and our mothers, and was so easy to work with and receptive to our feedback and questions. She also ended up doing light makeup for my mother-in-law. We all looked amazing and she even stayed until my husband and I came back from our pre-ceremony photo session to touch up our hair. My hair stayed in place all night, and I was so happy with how everything turned out! We cannot say enough good things about our time with Ella, and would recommend her to all. I found out that she had been going through a difficult time then, but she still showed up on the dot and gave us her very best. I wish that I had more fabulous functions to go to so that I could have Ella do my hair again! Thank you, Ella!

I honestly don’t even know where to begin. From the minute Ella and I began communicating I knew she was exactly what I was looking for. She listened to my wants and needs for my wedding day and made me look and feel absolutely stunning! She’s professional, kind, and has this calmness to her that kept me sane. All of the ladies that got ready with me were so happy with their hair and makeup. Not a single complaint from anyone, which is incredibly rare. Ella arrived right on time, stuck to the schedule and we even finished earlier than expected! I cannot express how happy I was with everything. I still looked like myself and felt so beautiful. Thank you, Ella! You made me feel like a beautiful bride and I will forever be grateful! You’re the absolute BEST!!

From our first email correspondence to my wedding day, Ella was so responsive and wonderful to work with. During our initial trial, she really listened to me and took the time to modify my hair and make-up until we achieved what I had envisioned. On my wedding day, she and her assistant showed up promptly (despite my wedding being in a very remote area without cell service!) and did a beautiful job on hair and make-up for the bridal party. Again, she really listened to what people wanted and you could tell how happy everyone was with how they looked. Ella made the day stress-free not only because she stayed totally on schedule because she brought such an upbeat attitude. I would highly recommend Ella for any wedding or event. She is a true professional and a pleasure to work with.

I met Ella through our photographer and am forever grateful for the introduction. My husband and I had spent some good time in Sayulita so before even working with Ella, I had the chance to meet her and knew that she would be absolutely perfect on my wedding day. We had a chance to do my trial in San Francisco and after that, I knew I was in good hands for my hair and makeup. Leading up to our wedding in Sayulita, she was so helpful even beyond just hair and makeup. On my wedding day, she not only absolutely perfected the look I dreamed of, but she also helped keep me cool and collected throughout the whirlwind of getting ready. Since I had 8 people in my wedding party, we had Jenn with us who was so talented, as well. Both Ella and Jenn kept the morning fun and easy going which was exactly what we needed. I would highly recommend Ella to anyone getting married in Sayulita (or the Bay Area!). She truly has a talent and is such a joy to have as a part of your big day!

I chose Ella after reading the amazing reviews for her on The Knot, and they are all well-deserved! I rarely wear makeup and this was my first time getting it done professional, so I didn't know what to expect, but Ella made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. I met her in San Francisco for my trial run several months before the wedding day, and she was very open to all my requests while also being honest about what would look best on me. I kept looking at myself in the mirror after I got home that evening because I couldn't believe how beautiful my face looked! I especially appreciate Ella's flexibility and adaptability; between our initial consultation and the wedding day, she let me add on hairstyles for my mother and sister and make some changes to my makeup look. She sent me a timeline for all our hair and makeup appointments prior to the wedding day, which really helped me with planning. On the day of, Ella arrived promptly (despite our venue being a bit difficult to find), was very warm and professional, and did an AMAZING job. She also was kind enough to help my sister with her face primer (even though my sister was doing her own makeup independently) and even fashioned a hair piece on the spot for my mother using a spare brooch we borrowed from the florists! Ella executed the natural look I was going for perfectly, and my fiancé (now husband!) kept exclaiming how I looked like myself (which is exactly what we had hoped for). To sum it up, Ella is an innovative professional who helped me look exactly how I had hoped for my special day and was incredibly kind and generous to both me and my family.

Ella was professional, responsive, fun, and thoughtful - listened to my ideas and made great suggestions. It was a pleasure to work with her. I am quite picky with makeup and most makeup artists make me look garish; Ella, however, was able make me look natural in a way that I loved.

I hired Ella to do my hair and makeup for my wedding in March 2018. Ella is very easy to work with. She is responsive, punctual, and forthcoming about price/timing/what looks good, etc. Honesty is super important to me, and she definitely gave me her honest opinion concerning hair and makeup (and was really nice about it without sugercoating!) She was willing to travel almost two hours to do the trial at my house, which was most convenient for me, and then, when we discussed what to do with my hair for my wedding, we decided my hair was too long, so she extended the trial time so she could cut my hair on the spot! And, it was a great cut! I was so happy with my hair for the trial. She also did a great job on my makeup for the trial. I felt like I looked very natural and pretty, which is what I wanted. For the day of, Ella did hair and makeup for 6 women, including me. She showed incredible stamina that day, and did such a great job listening to each of the women when they told her what they wanted. She worked straight through for about 5 hours before I insisted that she sit for a minute and eat something. Even with the break, she still finished ahead of schedule! She told me right as she was finishing that she felt like a member of our family, and I felt the same way. She fit right in, and made everyone feel very comfortable. I just got the professional shots of the wedding back, and my hair held up beautifully even after taking pictures above the Golden Gate bridge on an extremely windy day, and dancing the night away at the wedding. My makeup looked beautiful in natural light and indoors as well. It even looked good with cell phone pictures, which tend to wash me out. I am so glad that I hired Ella for my wedding hair and makeup. She is top notch!

We took a long time to find a hair & make-up artist. The vendors we looked at just didn't seem to fit what we were looking for. Then, we found Ella Leyva's website and fell in love with her work. From our first phone call with Ella we could tell that she took her work seriously and was very professional. Our first impression proved correct upon meeting her in person for the hair & make-up trial. On the day of our wedding Ella & Anita made us feel well taken care of & special. We had our make-up done around mid-morning and it lasted all day and through the night with no problem. Ella had no issues with rescheduling and last minute changes. She also valued our opinions and paid close attention to our vision. Look no further than Ella if you are having your wedding in the Bay area! Thank you, Ella & Anita! -The Brides

Ella was INCREDIBLE. She was so sweet and I really felt comfortable with her - we eloped to San Francisco so there was no way to meet her before the day so it could have gone either way. I was so pleased with my hair and makeup and her overall demeanor. She made me feel very calm and I would highly recommend her!

I would not hesitate to recommend Ella and her amazing services. I needed a last minute hair stylist and she came through! Ella made room for me in her schedule and styled my hair the way I had imagined for my wedding. During the trial, she listened to what I was hoping for and got it right the first try! Not only is she professional and incredibly talented, she was so fun to talk with, and made me feel so comfortable. Thank you, Ella!!

Ella is the BEST! I worked with her recently for my October Wedding. Ella was so sweet and professional to work with. We went through a few hair trials to determine what worked the best, but come the day of- my hair and bridesmaids hair was exactly what we wanted! She truly is talented and a blast to work with! I highly recommend her for a wedding or any special event! She truly will make you look like your best self!

Ella is absolutely amazing. She was so calming and kind on my big day and made a stressful situation less so. Her hair and makeup talents are incredible and she understood the look I was going for without having to explain it in depth. I would give her 10 stars if possible and I highly recommend her to anyone needing hair and makeup for their wedding day! She will make you feel so comfortable and will make you look beautiful! I couldn’t imagine a better person to have shared my getting-ready-time with. She’s the best!

We used Ella for our September 2017 wedding. She did hair and makeup for myself, two bridesmaids and my mom. When looking for a hair and makeup artist I was looking for someone who really took into account the different styles of each bride. She made all of us look and feel great, while maintaining our personal styles. She was incredibly professional and was so easy and fun to work with. I would absolutely recommend Ella to any bride!

Ella is an Excellent Hair Stylist and MakeUp professional. The first time I met her was during my Hair/Make-up Trial. I was amazed at how beautiful my hair looked at the end of the trial and how she understood everything I wanted by simply looking at a photo. I hired her on the spot for my wedding day and I couldn't be happier. The night before my wedding, Ella send me a message that helped me relax and reminded me to have my beauty sleep. I thought that was very thoughtful, specially because I was very anxious the day before. I had a morning wedding and the tight schedule to get ready. Ella met me at the hotel where I was staying at the Mavericks (Half Moon Bay). She arrived on time, with a friendly but professional and focused demeanor. She took care of my mother's and mother-in-law hair and they looked both beautiful. It was a windy morning and Ella suggested my mum to do an up-do and she looked absolutely gorgeous! Throughout all the family caos in the bridal suite, with family members coming and going, Ella made us all feel at easy with her calm, patience and professionalism. My hair and MakeUp looked amazing, exactly as I had envisioned and I couldn't be more thrilled! The photos look stunning and I can't thank you enough Ella, for helping me feel like a princess :) For all the bride's to be out there looking for a Bridal Hair and MakeUp professional -Book Ella Now! - I cannot recommend her work enough! She won't disappoint you, in fact she will surpass your expectations and she will make you and your family look stunning! She is also a very nice and kind person with who you will feel at ease, which is very important when you think about people you would like to interact in your special day. Once again thanks for everything Ella, was a pleasure to meet you!

Ella is the BEST! My experience with her, as a hair and makeup artist for our wedding, was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL in every way! If you are considering hiring Ella, don't hesitate, book her! Her makeup made me look and feel beautiful, and she did my hair exactly how I wanted it. And, truth be told, I am a picky gal! But, I think what makes Ella stand out the most is her patience and calm, caring demeanor. She was so lovely and supportive when I needed it most and she knew just what to do and say to keep me calm and the morning running smoothly.

Ella is INCREDIBLE. She not only gave me the perfect hair look for the day of the wedding on July 2nd, but was also able to create it on the fly since I changed my mind at the very last minute. I gave her an image of what I wanted to do instead of my initial look, and it came out absolutely perfect. I was getting compliments all night. Plus, Ella herself is so so friendly and was a joy to spend the day of my wedding with! My girls loved her energy and were very comfortable with her. Thank you so so much Ella!!

Ella is a true professional and very talented! She does makeup and hair beautifully....showed up early and was pleasant and wonderful throughout. We look forward to working with Ella again sometime.

I am the mother of the groom, and I have to say that Ella did a spectacular job for my son and daughter in law. She knew they both had busy lives, and made the planning as smooth as possible. And the results were a wedding that will never be forgotten by many. I had the chance to sit and talk with Ella the next day, and had the nicest conversation with her. I couldn't not write a review. She is that incredible!

Ella is the best! My sister, the bride, looked stunning. All the bridesmaids and myself were gorgeous as well. She did are make-up perfectly, not too much, and made it last. Our hair was all different and suited each of us. She took in our feedback and also took charge. She was helpful, professional, and nice. I would highly recommend her. Thanks Ella!

Without a doubt I would recommend Ella for hair and make up and more! She is professional, helpful, and extremely talented. She is a true artist, friend, great listener, and manages people and relationships very well. All of my bridesmaids (including me, the bride) were pleased with her work and felt so pretty.

I would recommend Ella and her team to any bride in a second -- she did the most incredible job. Having Ella help me figure out my look and get ready day-of was like having a friend around... a friend with mad hair and makeup skills. She got my style immediately, and helped me feels so, so beautiful (but still like myself!). She was also incredibly agile in working with some last minute scheduling changes on my end. She's the best!

Ella was a dream! She did my wedding day makeup as well as the moms and my bridesmaids. Everyone looked spectacular and I have never felt as beautiful as I did the day of my wedding. We did a vintage hairstyle with soft romantic makeup and it turned out amazing! I could not be happier with how it all turned out. She captured my vision and was so fun to have around all day <3

Ella was the best investment I made for my wedding. She helped me feel calm, relaxed, ready and confident. From the trial run with both me and my mom, to the care she took with each of my bridesmaids, she was fully committed to making sure that we all felt comfortable, and most importantly that we all got to enjoy and have fun in the process! Everyone loved the looks she created and she was incredibly helpful in working out a schedule that worked for a large bridal party, plus family. The best touch from Ella were the candid moments she captured as I got ready with my best friends, sisters and mother. I'd hire Ella in a heartbeat for any wedding or special occasion; to feel pampered, while at the same time like you're simply hanging out with a talented girlfriend who just happens to be doing your makeup. She's totally wonderful.

I LOVE ELLA!! And you will too!! She is super sweet and down to earth. Once Ella arrived, she welcomed me with a huge smile and pumped me up for my big wedding day. Ella is a natural pro at what she does. I felt very comfortable in her hands and I felt absolutely beautiful when I saw my final look!! My makeup stayed on during and after the ceremony (after all the happy tears!) and my hair was still nice and secure after all the celebrating!! Ella, I cannot thank you enough!!! You are a rock star!

Ella is AMAZING! She did my hair and makeup for my engagement photo shoot and again (plus my sister's!) for my wedding a few months later. Each time I was floored by the results. Ella knows how to make your best features pop. I’ve never looked or felt so beautiful in my entire life, yet I still looked very much like myself. On top of her artistry, Ella is also one of the kindest and most accommodating people I’ve ever met – she genuinely wants to make you feel like a million bucks on your special day and is willing to go the extra mile to do it. I can’t recommend her highly enough!

Ella was terrific! I wanted a low key but still bridal look. From the trial to day of, she kept the vibe chill. My hair and makeup were also flawless! She really listened to what I wanted and was terrific with my bridesmaid and mom! I highly recommend Ella!

Ella was simply the best. She was completely committed to making sure I looked exactly the way I wanted to (even when I was shy about asking for it!) and made me feel, not just look, great. She's professional, calm, prepared, and of course great at what she does. She did my best friend's wedding a few weeks after mine and I was just as impressed with my bridesmaid make-up! Best of all, it was like seeing a new friend. You can't do better than Ella.

Ella did my hair and makeup for my wedding. She is an amazing and talented artist. Not only is she an amazing artist, but she is also a very kind, caring and easy going person. She is very easy to work with and listens to what you want and executes it perfectly. She not only made me feel beautiful on my big day she sent me a very heartfelt and sweet card, my wedding lipstick and over 50 photo prints from me and my girls getting ready the morning of my wedding. I was not expecting this and was so surprised. It made me feel special after the wedding. If you are looking for someone for your hair and makeup look no further. Ella is a gem and I feel very lucky I found her.

Ella is punctual, patient, kind, and extremely talented! She started early in the morning and did BEAUTIFUL hair and makeup for my bridesmaids and myself. She even stayed to freshen me up after pictures and before the ceremony. Everyone looked amazing!

Ella did hair and makeup for my San Francisco wedding- including me (bride) my mother, aunt and bridesmaids- the results were flawless! I had a black tie wedding, so the look I was going for was classic/chic. Ella's incredible attention to detail and ability to capture my vision perfectly, made me feel comfortable and confident for my big day. Ella created a timeless up do for me and she managed to style my bridesmaids in a way that worked perfectly with my look- but all were unique- Her artistic choices really made for some gorgeous photos! My aunt and my mothers makeup was unbelievable- Ella made them look 10 years younger but In a very natural way- it was truly impressive and gorgeous! I am so grateful for how it all came together. My decision was one of the easiest I made in the whole process- and it turned out to be one of the best! Thanks for everything! Melissa Reis