Nikol was the subject of my first wedding anxiety dream. I had not yet spoken to her in waking life--having only just emailed her to see if she was available on the date of my wedding--yet somehow the anticipation of hearing back from her manifested in the following: it was the day of my wedding and I was in my wedding dress and ready to go only to realize just before leaving that I had forgotten to do my hair and makeup. Running late, I panicked. At this moment, in walked an inebriated Mickey Rourke in a dress, introducing himself as "Nikol" and clumsily attempting to apply makeup to my face. (They say if you die in a dream you die in real life, so it was at this moment that I woke up. Yikes.) The general gist of this review is that Nikol is the opposite of a drunk Mickey Rourke trying to put fake eyelashes on your face. When researching makeup artists to do my wedding makeup, I was relieved to find Nikol's website. I loved that her portfolio revealed a makeup artist that enhanced each client's natural features / beauty without applying a heavy hand. I don't wear much makeup day to day, so I was looking for something that looked fancy but natural. (AKA I didn't want to show up to my wedding looking caked in makeup.) Nikol was very responsive and easy to talk to. She cares about connecting with her clients and, as a result, is a ton of fun to work with. She made it easy and convenient to set up a makeup trial, worked with me to figure out what I wanted on my wedding day, and seriously delivered when that day finally came. As someone who is a bit self-conscious and doesn't love being the center of attention, I so appreciated her relaxed demeanor, which helped put me at ease, and her ability to make me feel my best and most beautiful. Besides being incredibly gifted as an artist, Nikol is absolutely delightful. We had so much fun getting ready for my wedding that it will be forever one of the highlights of my day. Love her! read more

Nikol Elaine Makeup Artistry - Makeup Artists Near Me

See all

Nikol knows what's up. People who know me know I'm not a girly-girl, and it's a struggle to get me to "dress up" on a regular basis. When it comes to makeup, my essentials include: foundation. Yup. That's it. Eyeliner comes in every once in awhile when I feel like mixing it up a bit, but that's so rare. So of course for special occasions, makeup is one of those necessities. Especially for weddings. And so when I got married in 2005, I needed to turn to someone. But who? I'm not a fussy person so I didn't want a fussy kind of thing for my makeup. And that's when Nikol came into the picture. I had no idea what I wanted so I let her take control during our trial run. She worked with my skin tone and did what she thought best. And of course I trusted her (since I didn't know any better) and of course it turned out fantastic (have you SEEN how great this lady looks on a day-to-day basis?). And when the wedding came, Nikol was up and ready to go and already at the location before we even arrived. She did her thing quickly but wasn't ever in the way of anyone. And she was on hand all morning in case touchups were needed. While I would recommend her to anyone, I would especially recommend her to those people who, like me, don't really "do" makeup. Nikol will make it seem so easy and look so good, and her work is flawless. read more

I created a Yelp account to sing the praises of Nikol Elaine! This woman is fabulous and really knows what she is doing! I had a destination wedding in San Francisco in mid-August and Nikol came to the rescue to do my makeup on short notice after a rather disappointing trial elsewhere. Everything about working with Nikol was amazing- she was flexible, accommodating and really listened to my ideas and what I wanted. I have had my make up done professionally before and I can say with confidence that Nikol is the best of the best. What I was looking for in my wedding day makeup was a classic, timeless and polished look that would make me look like the best version of myself. Nikol achieved all this and more and I felt beautiful on my wedding day. Her sweet and adorable personality was also a big bonus and she really brought a breath of fresh air to the wedding day morning getting-ready-shenanigans. Just do yourself a favor and hire her. You will be so glad you did! read more

I hired Nikol to do hair and makeup for professional headshots and she is awesome. Nikol was referred by the photographer and I can easily see why -- she does an amazing job and after hanging out with her for a couple of hours (which is exactly what it feels like), I was totally relaxed and ready to take photos. For the photos, I wanted to look like a more polished version of my everyday self. Nikol got the aesthetic right away without a ton of direction from me. When I wanted to tweak something about my hair, she was flexible and nailed that too. I'd wholeheartedly refer Nikol to anyone looking to have their makeup done for photos, a wedding, or anything else! She's a dream to work with and you'll feel confident/beautiful/whatever-adjective-you're-going-for. read more

Nikol did the makeup for my wedding (me and 4 other ladies) and not only does she do a spectacular job but you basically want her to be your friend in real life. She makes it so much fun to spend time with her while she's making you look gorgeous. For the trial, she came to my house which I thought was really wonderful as I was a little nervous about the whole thing. On the wedding day, she really matched the energy of each person she worked with and made it a fun and relaxed environment. One thing that really stood out to me on the wedding day was that she specifically asked for things that I wanted to change from the trial day. I did have two things I'd been thinking about so I really appreciated the question and based on my feedback, we designed something that looked even more perfect. Also, the one thing I told Nikol I needed from the beginning was cry proof makeup. I knew that my eyes were going to leak a lot on the day and I have to give her major props. My eyes leaked as expected and not a thing on my face moved so thank you SO MUCH for that security. Would absolutely hire her again and recommend to anyone that's looking for a makeup artist. read more

I hired Nikol for my Oct 2015 wedding and working with her was a delight! As other reviewers mentioned, she is super sweet and works to enhance your natural features. My four bridesmaids and I were so, so pleased with the results. Additionally, I wasn't thinking about this when I chose her but it's worth mentioning that Nikol is a surprisingly fast worker, which is a huge relief on your wedding day. This was the only wedding I've been in where we didn't run late due to hair and makeup. I couldn't recommend her more highly! read more

I had a friend from work who used Nikol for her wedding and had nothing but glowing things to say about her, so when the time came for my OWN wedding, Nikol was the first person I looked to. Not only is Nikol an absolute sweetheart, she's also a very, very talented makeup artist. Myself being a person that doesn't like to wear a lot of makeup, one of my greatest worries was that I was going to feel "cakey" the day of my wedding, and that I wasn't going to look like myself. As a test-run, Nikol did my makeup for my engagement photos a few months prior to my wedding and I was blown away. She didn't simply cake makeup on me; she actually is an advocate for "less is more", and the results were incredible. She didn't cover me up with makeup, she simply improved upon what I already had, and I felt so comfortable and beautiful by the time she was done. I was sad when I had to wash my face at the end of the day! I definitely had to book her for my wedding after that, and she did not disappoint me! She showed up on time the day of my wedding, with a big smile. I was SO nervous (because I was, you know, getting married) and so I was a bundle of nerves and felt like I was about to snap at any moment. She took me aside, away from all the stress of the preparations and my bridal party, sat me in the sunlight, and proceeded to do my makeup. Her demeanor was calm and gentle, her tone was quiet, she made me smile and laugh, and she even cared about how I was feeling. She kept asking me if I needed air or water (haha), which was really sweet of her. And when she was done, the one thing I'll remember that made me feel amazing was that she took my face in her hands, studied her work and then looked me in the eyes, earnestly smiled, and said, "hi, beautiful." That made me feel amazing. My makeup was flawless. I'd had some pretty bad stress-acne break out the morning of my wedding and she covered it right up. It was so light-weight that I felt like I was wearing nothing at all. It held up through all my crying throughout the day and all the dancing throughout the night, and I got LOTS of compliments on it. My experience with Nikol was a fantastic one. I have recommended her to all of my friends if they ever need a makeup artist, and if I ever need one again, she's the first person I'm going to. Thank you, Nikol! You rock! read more

Nikol is hands down, my go-to make-up artist. I am the designer of a small line of women's accessories. I have needed to hire a MUA for both live models and for photoshoots. I have now worked with Nikol multiple times, and I have never looked back. I will never hire another MUA ever again. Nikol is professional, but still charming. She's all business, but she loves her work, which makes her a pleasure to be around. She understands that cosmetic needs are not the same for all situations or all clients, and she's therefore able to give everyone exactly what they need. She is hands down the best... as well as the sweetest. If you're searching for a make-up artist, stop searching. Seriously. Just stop. You've found her. read more

Nikol Elaine has casually done my hair and make up off and on the last couple years, so when I found out she not only loves, but also does a beautiful job with bridal hair and makeup, I booked her the moment I could! I couldn't have her for my actual wedding in Maui, but was able to for our large reception in Walnut Creek. She did an AMAZING job, particularly compared to the 'professionals' I had in Maui -- she did better on my hair and make up within the hour I had to get ready than the TWO ladies did in the 3 hours plus, for my ceremony. She has this remarkable ability to make you look your best without looking overdone or cakey, and the make up application is SO light and natural with great coverage. But more than anything, my eyes were UNREAL!! I've never even thought about adding false lashes since my lashes are already pretty long, but the enhancement made SUCH a difference. I wanted to hire her to do my eyes on a daily basis but apparently she has other clients..... Bottom line, I HIGHLY recommend Nikol Elaine for any of your make up needs. She is very talented and can enhance your beauty in ways you never thought about. She is sweet, responsible and blends in as part of the family -- she wants your day to be more special that you've ever imagined!! read more

I started working with Nikol professionally several years ago and last year hired her to do my makeup for my wedding. She did an excellent job both times and I'm more than excited at the thought of working with her again in the future. I recommend her to all of my friends, she is simply the best! read more

Nikol Elaine Makeup Artistry - Makeup Artists Near Me

See all

Nikol is amazing! She came to my house to do my makeup and she was great! I showed her the dress I was wearing and she immediately knew what to do. She asked what I usually highlight and played up that feature while keeping everything else simple and clean. I got a lot of compliments on my makeup throughout the evening. I will definitely be using her again! read more

Nikol did my makeup for my wedding, Sept. 22, 2012 and was one of the best parts of my day. She is not only professional, talented and artistic she has a wonderfully calming presence and awesome personality. She did my make up as well as my mom's onsite, in the hotel room, the morning of my wedding. She kept us talking, and gleefully excited the wedding the entire time. I did a lot of research before I booked Nikol and choose her based on her diverse backround and ability to replicate a number of different styles. Her portfolio is amazing, and after a quick chat with her on the phone I knew she was the best fit for my wedding day. If you're looking for a sweet, talented professional makeup artist for your wedding day or big event I'd highly recommend booking Nikol. She's by far the best choice in the Bay Area and beyond. read more

I've worked with Nikol in a couple of capacities: I've hired her to do my makeup for headshots and photoshoot for my new website (she did my business partner's too). She's so good she's now our go-to-girl for my clients when they book a headshots or do a website photoshoot with my marketing shop. In short, Nikol is THE person I want the morning of a photoshoot. Within minutes of meeting her, you know she's genuinely a good person; she puts my clients at ease and gets them excited to step in front of the camera (even if they hate having their photos taken). She's also incredibly talented at making you look like YOU. Forget the "Kardashian-pounds-of-makeup look," she's going to make you look beautiful and real. (Although she's so talented I'm sure she can give you dramatic if you want it). Nikol will also be my go-to whether it's for my clients or for myself. read more

Nikol is such a pleasure to be around -- which is extremely important the day of your wedding when you already have a case of nerves and underlying stress and all while trying to smile pretty for the cameras. She just has such a sweet, mellow vibe that you can't help but be put at ease. Even more important, she has a wonderful, light touch with the makeup -- she calls it being an "underdo-er". I call it "making you look beautiful AND natural." When we first met for my trial, I definitely knew that I wanted to look more or less like myself for my wedding. I didn't want to look too dramatically different and I wanted everyone in the wedding party to not look too "done up." It is no easy task to make six very different looking women (including my mom) look their best, but I was so amazed at how beautiful everyone looked -- just like themselves, but better! read more

Nikol Elaine not only is one of the most talented makeup artists I have worked with, but is a lovely, generous, and easy going person. She is very easy to communicate with, and can assess very quickly what her approach will be to her art. I'll hire Nikol again! read more

Last week I had Nikol come teach a make up basics class to a group of friends and I. Make up is something I've always liked to play around with but feel my skills were always a little sloppy or gaudy. We learned soooo much in two hours! We learned how to embellish instead of hide our natural features and left with a list of what we needed and some brand recommendations. The next day I went to purchase some of the items and tried my first "Five Minute Face". I noticed how much more confident I felt in applying make up as well as my confidence that I looked great leaving the house. Nikol is a wealth of knowledge and I would highly suggest her classes or services! read more

About 6 years ago, Nikol and I met working on a photo shoot together. She was the MUA and I the model. She was hands-down one of the most artful, talented, intuitive, professional and wonderful make up artists I've ever worked with. That day marked the beginning of a beautiful professional and personal friendship. Since then, we've worked together on a couple more photo shoots, and I even used her to do the make up and hair for a short film that I wrote. My advice to you is BOOK HER. If you're getting married, have a special event to attend, hosting a fashion show, are a photographer, or are a model, BOOK her. Request her. Beg her. She's simply a first-rate artist. And don't you deserve the best? read more

Nikol did my makeup and my mom's makeup for my wedding this past Sunday. She did such an incredible job that I had to write a review even before heading out for my honeymoon! Nikol is absolutely incredible. She made me feel comfortaable instantly. She was so sweet and acted so genuinely excited for my wedding day. She listened to exactly what I wanted to achieve with my makeup and she did my makeup better than I thought possible. My makeup looked natural, but absolutely perfect, and lasted all day. My mom and I both got compliments all day. I'm a bit of a snob about doing my own makeup because I think I do it very well, but Nikol did my makeup WAY better than I ever could have, and I have incredible photos to prove it :) read more

I haven't actually had my make-up done by Nikol... yet. I have only had the pleasure of working by her side for a bridal party, I did the hair and she, the fabulous make-up. She is not only beautiful on the outside, but an amazing woman on the inside. It was truly a pleasure working with her as she is professional and fun to be around. I look forward to sharing that experience again next month. Thank you Nikol and I look forward to having you work your magic on me someday! read more

Nikol is a phenomenal artist! On top of being talented and professional, she's an absolute joy to be around. Her fun, yet calming presence helped to put me at ease and set the tone before my event. She's my new go-to artist. I'm so glad I found her! read more

I rarely wear makeup, but I wanted to look extra beautiful on my wedding day, especially with all the pictures I knew would be taken. My hairdresser (who did my hair for the wedding) recommended Nikol and she did a FABULOUS job! My makeup looked so natural and simply enhanced my facial features. We did a trial for my bridal shower and after that my mother - who also rarely wears makeup - decided she liked Nikol's work so much, that she too would get her makeup done for the wedding. I received numerous compliments and - most importantly - felt beautiful on my wedding day. Thank you, Nikol!!! read more

I was lucky enough to attend a makeup workshop with Nikol. This session transformed my relationship with makeup and truly demystified how to use makeup to enhance my own beauty. As I said during the session, this was much more fun and informative than reading a teen magazine for beauty tips! read more

Nikol saved the day this past Valentine's day! She completely beautified me, my makeup was natural and very sexy at the same time. She cut multiple false lashes and pieced them together, which I have never seen before. Nikol makes you feel great, confident, and I completely trust her to pay amazing attention to detail. Even after hair and makeup, I still felt like I looked natural. Not too overdone and definitely not caked on. I loved my experience with Nikol! Will definitely be going to her again :) read more

Nikol is the epitome of professionalism. I knew I made the right choice after our initial trial/consultation, but she really blew me away on my wedding day. Not only did she do a wonderful job on me, my bridesmaid and my mom, but she made sure that I took breaks to drink water and eat. I wish I had another excuse to have my makeup done again, because spending time with Nikol was so great! I was also impressed with how she would send me emails periodically between our trial and my wedding date to check in and see how I was holding up and to see if I had any questions or concerns. She is truly wonderful at what she does! read more

Nikol did makeup for me and my bridesmaids for my wedding over labor day weekend. Not only was she completely professional, but our makeup was unbelievably gorgeous. One of my bridesmaids was initially skeptical about getting her makeup done professional because she does not typically wear makeup. However, after Nikol did her makeup she said that her opinion of professional makeup was changed. Each one of my bridesmaids felt that Nikol did exactly what they requested her to do- their makeup was soft, natural, and accentuated their already beautiful faces. I received numerous compliments on my makeup and have been receiving emails from guests asking what brand of makeup Nikol used. Excellent, excellent job Nikol! read more

Nikol Elaine is not only a talented make-up artist, but super professional. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this AMAZING lady! I have hired Nikol for many of my commercial shoots and everyone falls in love with her. My talent always looks camera ready and feels beautiful afterwards. This make-up artist bring smiles on set along with her talented make-up brushes. I highly recommend Nikol Elaine's Makeup Artistry for any occasion. read more

Nikol is PHENOMENAL. She did my make-up for a photo shoot for my professional website, and I couldn't have asked for anyone more talented or more pleasant to be with. I don't tend to like having my picture taken, and I was especially nervous about these photos as I am in the process of starting my own business. Nikol helped me feel confident, beautiful, and relaxed. Nikol asked questions about what I was hoping for, and how I approach make-up on my own. She listened closely and continued to check in with me throughout the process. Her approach was thoughtful and responsive, and I LOVED my make-up. Nikol has an artist's eye for detail, and she created the soft yet special look that I was hoping for. It was amazing in the pictures, and I continued to get compliments all day. I highly recommend Nikol. She is everything you could hope for in a make-up artist. read more

First off, Nikol is amazing! She did my makeup a little over two years ago for my wedding and did an amazing job! I did several trials with other artist, and just left not feeling so confidant. However, after my trial with Nikol I knew she was the one the minute I looked in the mirror! She was has a great sense of humor, professional, kind, and insures that you feel your best! She is organized, arrived on time, and was able to I would highly suggest Nikol to anyone who is looking for a makeup artist for a special event or their wedding day. read more

Nikol did my makeup last month for a portrait shoot and I was blown away by her talent ! She made me look natural and like myself... only worlds better! She's also fun, sweet, and super calming which is a huge bonus if you're a little camera shy like me. I would highly recommend Nikol and am, in fact looking for a reason to have her make me look pretty again very soon! :) read more

Nikol has taken such good care of my clients over the years, that when it was time for me to have a new head-shot done (eek!) she was the only call I made. She calmed my nerves, made me laugh and made it all so fun! and.. of course, she enhanced and just slightly glammed my looks without making me feel like I was hiding behind a mask... I felt like a bright and luminous version of myself- pretty and polished... and we had a blast. highly highly recommend this gem of an artist & woman. read more

I really enjoyed meeting Nikol this past week. I hired her for a huge networking event for the wedding industry. She was so pleasant to work with and made everyone at ease. She is a talented makeup artist that did a fantastic job on the makeup for the bride model and myself. She is very professional and came on time to the event. I liked her responsiveness as she answered all of my emails right away when I was coordinating the event with her. So many people that evening commented on how great I looked. Nikol did an excellent job and I hope to hire her again in the near future! read more

I have hired Nikol to do my makeup for several special events, most recent being my wedding in July. Nikol always arrives on time, is professional and pleasant to be around. She made me look and feel beautiful on my wedding day. Family and friends were thanking her while we were in the bridal room....my mom was still talking about how great she was 3 days later! I have recommended her to friends with upcoming weddings and will continue to do so. She does great work! read more

A friend (my photographer) recommended Nikol to me for my wedding makeup. She was very thorough and professional on the phone, and I just got done with my trial makeup, which was AMAZING AMAZING!!!! Nikol seriously knows what she is doing and has wonderful taste. She is so easy to work with and easy to talk to. All her products felt extremely light and comfortable, but looked fancy and glamorous. They all came off really easily later that night, too. I cannot say enough great things about Nikol and her makeup! read more

Nikol Elaine did the makeup on the set of a music video I was producing. I have only positive things to say: extremely courteous, professional, made everyone feel very comfortable around her, and of course the quality of her work was beyond reproach. Definitely someone you want on your team. read more

Speechless! Nikol Elaine will leave you speechless! She has an incredible talent for bringing out your own natural beauty. I have NEVER seen makeup look so fresh and REAL!! She's a great listener and remarkably warmhearted. If you want to look fabulous for your event you can rest assured knowing that she's got you for a canvas. No clown makeup here!!! Just pure glam! read more

I first worked with Nikol in 2012 on the set of an eCommerce Marketing shoot I was managing and have since used her services both personally and professionally. She is reliable and creative, and on top of that a joy to work with. Simply put, she adds value to any project she is involved with beyond the scope of her job description. read more

Nikol is an extremely talented hair & make-up artist - and a lovely person to boot! I hired Nikol recently to do hair & make-up for two actors on a recent video shoot I was producing. The shoot turned out to be a brutal 15-hour day, but Nikol was the epitome of grace under pressure & kept up her marvelous work and wonderful attitude. I would absolutely work with Nikol again & would recommend her to anyone and everyone. read more

Nikol Elaine saved my sisters wedding! Literally 4 days before we the wedding we had to do a last minute scramble to find a replacement makeup artist. Nikol was very quick to respond at a time when we were really freaking out and was extremely flexible and understanding considering our situation. She even found time to fit in a consolation before the big day. She was awesome, we totally lucked out!! Nikol was able to achieve the look my sister was hoping for. The make up was beautiful, natural, and made my sister look radiant. She did my make up as well- I had no direction for her, but it turned out great and lasted all night. She was also super fun to have around- extremely nice, laid back, professional, and great sense of humor...really an all around doll! I'm so happy things worked out the way they did and Nikol was there for my sister on her wedding day. Thanks a ton!!!! read more

I had the chance to work with Nikol for a photo shoot for portraits. She was great! I liked that Nikol emphasized a more natural look and was very good about asking for feedback or specifics on what I wanted. She made sure I was set up for both indoors and outdoors for the shoot. She even took into account my wardrobe for the final look. Very professional, great personality and awesome work. I highly recommend her. read more