Makeup at Gilded Lily is booked in the salon by appointment and planned around the occasion. That can mean a clean, natural look for a professional headshot or LinkedIn photo, a polished face for a family session, or full glam for a pageant, gala, or night out in Champaign. Loni works on every skin tone and matches foundation and undertones in person, so the finish holds up in photos and in real light. Clients with a University of Illinois event, a graduation shoot, or a career portrait coming up can book a makeup appointment with a consultation first.
The appropriate type of hair extensions depends on the hair thickness, hair texture, color, and time available for maintenance, which is difficult to determine based on pictures found online. The different types of hair extensions available at Gilded Lily in Champaign are sandwich extensions, I-tip hair extensions, cylinders, U-tip hair extensions, V-light hair extensions, NBR hair extensions with cylinders, and sew-in hair wefts. She will test the quality of your natural hair during the free consultation and match the hair extensions to the color of your hair.
Brow lamination softens the natural brow hair using a lifting solution, allowing it to be styled into one direction. This procedure gives you a bushy and groomed brow with an attractive shape, and it is very effective on brows growing in various directions and which may have some gaps that need to be filled without any additional drawing. A tinting process is typically done during brow lamination at Gilded Lily.
In microblading, a hand-held needle is used to draw fine hair-like strokes, depositing the pigment right below the skin’s surface. During the process of microblading at Gilded Lily, Loni chooses the appropriate instrument and the pigment based on a thorough consultation because the incorrect pigment could heal in gray, blue, or orange, and rough techniques could result in texture or scarring. The design is planned considering your facial structure and the area around the eyes with a focus on how it would heal, and not only during the procedure. Microblading in Champaign works well for people who have normal to slightly oily skin types.
The process of brow tinting involves applying a semi-permanent stain to both the hair of the brows and the skin below, making the brows appear fuller even when there isn’t any pencil or powder being used. The tint color will be created at Gilded Lily specifically for your hair and skin color so that the eyebrows appear natural and not black. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, inquire about combo or nano machine brows.
Combo brows combine hand-drawn microblading strokes with soft machine shading. The strokes give the front of the brow a natural hair look, while the shading adds depth toward the tail and fills gaps between hairs. This works well for clients who want more definition than microblading gives on its own, and for those with oily skin where blade strokes alone can blur as they heal. Loni uses both tools in one session and designs the shape to match your natural arch.
Lip blush is a semipermanent procedure that involves the use of a machine to create a slight tint in your lips. It can help create some color or give more definition to your lip colors, even out pigmentation, and neutralize the grayness in your skin. It uses very subtle color applications such that it will look like your natural lips during a perfect day, while numbing will be done for the entire duration of the process.
The process of nano machine brows involves using a very fine needle on a machine to create hair strokes. This is a softer technique suitable for aging, thin, or sensitive skin where using a manual blade would be too rough. Nano strokes can cover old microblading strokes, which makes it the standard method for touching up old permanent makeup jobs. Loni will examine the client’s current work before appointment scheduling, as corrective work carries a separate price point.
Permanent eyeliner is done with a machine and designed for the shape of your eyes. Options range from a tightline that makes lashes look thicker without any visible line, to a subtle wing that lifts drooping outer corners, to the Dating Stardust shaded design for a full “just did my makeup” look. You work directly with a career makeup artist, so the line placement is planned as carefully as it would be for a photo shoot. It suits clients with watery eyes, shaky hands, contact lenses, or a busy morning routine.
Gilded Lily offers hair and makeup styling for the bridal party either at their studio located on South 1st Street or at the wedding venue in Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding areas. Loni styles the bride, the bridesmaids, and even the family members, and her scheduling is based on your wedding ceremony time. For booking purposes, please visit the “Get in Touch” page along with your wedding date and number of guests to get back an availability and pricing quote for the entire party.
With the dry haircutting technique from France, the hair will be trimmed when it is still dry and in its natural form; hence, Loni will have an idea of where the curls are and where the weight lies. This technique works well for those with naturally curly hair as well as those with long and thick hair with layers. The layers merge rather than forming steps; thus it retains the volume and form of the hair.
Airbrush makeup sprays a fine mist of foundation, blush, or highlighter onto the skin with a small pen-style gun and compressor. It builds in thin layers, looks like natural skin, and holds well against sweat and heat, which is why it is requested for events, high-definition video, and bridal makeup. Skin must be exfoliated and prepped beforehand, because a very fine mist can highlight dryness or flaking. Brides who expect tears may prefer traditional makeup, since airbrush should not be rubbed hard. Loni Hale trained in New York City under Dina Ousley, the creator of airbrush makeup for media, and has worked with airbrush on film, television, advertising and professional photography under hot lights.
Loni Hale is a veteran cosmetologist, salon owner, and commercial hair and makeup artist who has worked in advertising and trains other beauty professionals. She has worked on well over a thousand faces and heads of hair, across permanent makeup, hair, bridal and media work. “Beauty is literally everywhere; enhancing what is naturally lovely is my passion,” Loni says.
Take a closer look at our work and discover beautiful results achieved through personalized treatments and expert care.
Microblading involves the use of a hand-held device that creates fine hair-like lines which emulate natural-looking hair growth in the brow area. Combination brows involve both the manual and machine methods, where machine shading is done within or around the hair-like strokes to create 3D dimension. Nano machine brows make use of an ultra-fine needle and machine to create hair strokes in the pigment implantation process. Your technician will suggest the best method to achieve your goals through a permanent makeup consultation. A consultation is required, especially if there has been a previous permanent makeup service done by another artist. This is often correction work, and the fees will vary.
With the array of hair extensions including tape-in, K-tip, V-light, and natural beaded rows, the safest method for you will depend greatly on your natural hair density, texture, and lifestyle. Through a hair extension consultation appointment, an analysis of your hair will determine the best and safest hair extension method for your hair type.
Both semi-permanent procedures are completely personalized and designed to accentuate your best features. Lips are done using a hand-held pen that implants your preferred shade and fixes asymmetry. Eyeliner can be applied according to the shape of your eyes, whether it be a tight line or winged look. Topical numbing cream is constantly used for the entirety of the procedure.
Unlike traditional wet cuts, the French dry-cutting method promotes natural fall and movement of the hair. This specialized technique ensures a perfect balance of shape and texture, beautifully defining your layers while managing weight and frizz. This method is perfectly suited for curly textures and creates a seamless, lived-in style that celebrates and enhances your natural volume.
Yes, luxury on-site wedding makeup and hair services are offered not only at our salon but also at your chosen venue. To inquire, contact Gilded Lily Beauty by using the “Get in Touch” page with the date and number of guests, and you will be contacted by the owner with date availability and pricing details.
