Ask Hannah!

Can you tell me a good place to get a makeover and maybe a picture at a fair price (I’m a crossdresser)?

Thank you!

There are salons alllll over the world. I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota and I exclusively visit Rita Ambourn and Cajah Salon.

Google is (usually) our friend. If you search “makeovers + (city name)” you will find options. Sephora, Ulta, and MAC also do makeovers and in my experience are all very transfriendly. However, these salons paused makeovers during COVID and I am not sure if they have resumed doing them.

When it comes to scheduling a makeover, I never disclose that I am transgender or that I am a crossdresser. I totally get why some of us feel this is necessary, however. For some of us, we want to make sure that the artist is comfortable with meeting with a girl like us. Let’s face it, there are too many people in the world that hate the transcommunity. For others, we want to find an artist that is skilled when it comes to doing makeup for, well, a girl like us.

But here’s the thing. Every face shape is different, skin is different from person to person, makeup goals are different depending on the occasion.

If my wife and I each sit down for a makeover, we will each have a completely different experience. Not because she is cis and I am trans, our experiences will be influenced by things that have nothing to do with our genders.

She has a cute little heart shaped face. Mine is more square. Because of this, I need a lot more contouring than she does.

I have hair growing out of my cheeks. She does not. Therefore I need color correcting.

My wife has a light skin tone. Mine is darker. We each will use different foundations.

My wife tends to go for a more natural look. I am looking for BOLD.

None of these things have anything to do with gender. Some women have facial hair, some women have a square jawlines and so on.

I’ve been asked at every makeover I’ve ever had “what are we doing today?” This question is really asking “what are your makeup goals?”. My typical responses can be:

“I have a photo shoot today and I need makeup that can stand up to bright studio lights.”

“I’d like an eyeshadow that compliments the color of my dress.”

“I am wearing a light layer of foundation, could you please build and contour on top of that?”

“I prefer a really bold lip color and I love overdrawing my lips a little.”

“I’d love to accentuate my cheekbones.”

“I have a square jawline, I’d love to minimize that.”

“I feel like trying a smokey eye today.”

Again, none of these goals are saying “turn a boy into a girl”. These responses are specific and attainable.

As for photos, if you are in the Twin Cities area and you would like to schedule a photo shoot with my photographer Shannonlee, please email me and I will be happy to put you two in touch with each other.

If you are not in the area, again Google is your friend. I do understand wanting to find a photographer that is LGBTQIA+ friendly, so searching “LGBT photographer + (city name)” is the way to go.

Love, Hannah

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