Out to Lunch with Brandi Hoover

Written by Greta Sharp

Gulf Coast Bride You’ve just celebrated The Sanctuary Salon’s one year anniversary. Tell us a little about your salon.

Brandi Hoover We totally renovated the building which is in downtown Fairhope. It was really dark and dreary, gray walls, gray concrete, but it had so much character and it had a red door on it. We allowed three weeks to renovate and opened Nov. 17, 2006, with a full book, just me and a receptionist. I had a chair, mirror, products and a sink. The decorating part came later. There was still the smell of paint. My clients loved it. I managed to get two very talented people: Lacey Dawkins and Chandise Ost. People who come in have a lot of fun. It’s a comfortable setting. I almost feel like we’re not working, just hanging out with friends and clients. I always hoped this would happen.

GCB What do you offer for brides?

BH We offer a free consultation for a bride and a bridal “Day to Remember” package with a style, a massage or foot treatment, and a MAC makeover. A massage therapist comes in and we completely close for the bridal party. We also have food, champagne and music.
 
Brides are so overwhelmed with details. We as hairstylists help guide them through this. We have a lot of last minute brides who call maybe one month in advance. We’ll help brides out, move appointments around and really cater to them.
 
We do a complete run-through with hair and makeup for brides. Once the hair and makeup are perfect, they’re confident. When they come in for the wedding day, they know what it will look like.

GCB What do you recommend as far as scheduling appointments?

BH At least three to four months in advance, sit down for the consultation. You can pick your day and time. We’re customizing your time. We do on-site and in-salon consultations.
 
A lot of brides don’t really know what time to get their hair done. The photographer likes three hours before the wedding. We help the bride know what time to start.

GCB How do you help the bride determine her style?

BH We have scrapbooks, hair design books and magazines. We ask ‘what kind of style is your style?’ Up, down, a combination of both. We will customize any hairstyle that you want. We look at fashion style: classic, trendy. We get what their style is first and go with that.

GCB Why choose you?

BH I’m a MAC Certified Makeup Artist. There are not many professional makeup artists in the area. I understand bridal makeup. I’ve had the classes and training. I’ve done hair and makeup for seven years professionally.

GCB Why use a professional stylist?

BH These are pictures that are going to last forever, capturing the best you can possibly look. Why wouldn’t you want your hair and makeup to look the best it can look?

GCB What is the biggest concern for a bride?

BH They’re scared they won’t look like themselves. If someone wears a slant bang every day of her life, you’re not going to pull it straight off her face. If you don’t feel anything like you normally do, you’re going to be more nervous. When your hair and makeup looks good, you feel good and you don’t think about it. That’s true every day.

 
GCB What trends are you seeing now in bridal looks?

BH We’re seeing a lot more glamorous, vintage brides. The smoky eye is going away. Brides are wanting a natural glamorous look; they want a very fresh look.

GCB Tell us a little bit about you.

BH I’m always thinking—I’ve always had a plan. I knew I would have a salon and I knew what it would take to get there, so I worked and worked until I got there. Some people are so scared to take that leap. It was easy for me. I’m ready. I worked hard to make it happen. My husband Jeffrey Hoover and I definitely worked at this. We had a plan, a goal, for an artistic salon with creative people that doesn’t charge outrageous prices.