I visited Bloom for the first time to have my hair and makeup done prior to a friend's wedding. I…read morehad just had my hair and make up done a few weeks prior at a different salon -- with great results -- but that other salon was very pricy. Bloom was a little cheaper and the reviews, although few in number, were glowing, so I decided to give this new-to-me place a try
My makeup artist (Sarah) was young (like college-age), but was very friendly. When she asked if I had a certain style I wanted, I told her that she should do what she felt would look best. I had to have my makeup appointment before my hair appointment due to their schedule limitations, but she washed my hair first (after I mentioned my concern) so that the makeup wouldn't be messed up. The makeup appointment took surprisingly long. I would say a full 40-45 minutes, but I was not in much of a rush so I didn't mind.
I brought my own makeup with me because I have certain products that I know work well for my problem areas. I told the makeup artist about my product, but made clear that she could use her products if she thought they'd do the trick. She told me she had the right kind of product to cover my under eye circles, so I told her to use what she had. I did note that she did not curl my eye lashes, which disappointed me somewhat since I told her I did not want the false eyelash application (extra $10).
After a long while, I get to check myself out in the mirror (the mirror behind the makeup counter, no individual hand-held mirror). I could still see my under eye circles a little (it got me wishing that I insisted she use my coverup) but over all, the makeup looked pretty nice and fairly natural. I was surprised how light the foundation looked because it felt like she was putting on a bajillion layers. I appreciated not looking clown-like, but I did want to look more even-toned than it appeared.
When I returned home and could look up close at a mirror, I felt a pang of disappointment. The makeup she used under my eyes had settled, resulting in noticeable creases under my eyes. It did not look like any concealer was applied to the bottom third of my face (tip of nose, mouth area, chin, jaw) and imperfections were visible. Finally, several of my eyelashes were stuck together, which I attribute to not being separated when the lashes were wet from the mascara.
After I spent some time cleaning up under my eyes, evening out the foundation, and curling and separating my eyelashes, I felt the makeup looked nice and I then felt satisfied. Yet, I had just spent $50 (plus 20% tip) and wish I didn't have to perform the fixes. Overall, I didn't feel like I had felt a few weeks before when I had my makeup done at a different salon, or like or was something drastically different from what I could have done on my own. Interestingly, none of my friends at the wedding noticed I had my makeup done. They all assumed I had done it myself.
As for my hair, I have no complaints. The blow out was $25, and I felt the stylist did what I asked, was polite, asked me whether or not I wanted certain products in my hair, and my hair looked nice all day.
In summation: Bloom is a small, but clean and stylish salon. It provides a little less in the "frills" department than other places (no drink was offered when I arrived, for instance), but you do save a few bucks. One minor thing: it was super cold at the back of the salon where they do the makeup (though it was a snowy and blustery winter morning) and the chair on which the makeup is done (a director's chair) was a touch uncomfortable (I felt I had to perch on the edge so she could so the makeup). The professionals I worked with were polite and very friendly. Nobody pushed products on me, which I appreciated. I don't think I'll return for a makeup application, but I'd consider it again for a blow out.
