How much does a professional wedding hair & makeup artist cost? Find out with our ultimate guide to wedding hair and makeup costs.
Your wedding day is one occasion on which you want to look your absolute, top-dollar best. Not only are you going to be immortalized in wedding photos for eternity, but since it should be one of the happiest days of your life, you want your external appearance to match the greatness you’re feeling inside. In order to put your face quite literally in the hands of a fabulous wedding hair and makeup artist, you’ll need to budget for hair and wedding makeup costs—whether you’re going for an understated natural look, full-on glam, or something in between with your hair and makeup services.
Below are the average prices you can expect to pay for wedding hair and makeup:
Bridal Hair and Makeup Costs: Expect to pay anywhere from $150-$600 for bridal hair and makeup. Typically, brides pay around $300 on average for hair and makeup, depending on the type of hairstyle, products, and wedding makeup used.
Bridesmaid Hair and Makeup Costs: Around $150 per bridesmaid in your bridal party. This average cost estimates $75 for makeup and $50-75 for hairstyling.
Find out exactly what you should expect to pay for wedding hair and makeup costs with our ultimate guide below.
How Much Do Wedding Hair and Makeup Cost?
The average cost of wedding hair and makeup will vary considerably based upon your location, how many people and/or services you’re looking to schedule, and the intricacy of your styles. On the low end, wedding hair and makeup artists might only charge around $60 for a single application, but in large cities, bridal hair and makeup could cost over $1,000. That being said, the average price most couples spend on wedding hair and makeup is around $300—but anywhere within the range of $150-$650 is typical.
If a wedding hair and makeup artist needs to travel to the event (or to your getting-ready location), the cost could go up, as he or she might add a travel fee. If you’d like your stylist to remain on-site for touch ups (for example, a touch up after you put on your wedding dress), that could also raise your costs: most wedding hair and makeup artists will charge by the hour to remain at your wedding location, ranging anywhere from $30 to $125 per hour.
What’s Included in the Price of Wedding Hair and Makeup?
As mentioned above, you’re primarily paying for your wedding hair and makeup artist’s time. The higher the number of hours that you’ll need to book your stylist, the higher your price tag will be. In general, the tools and materials required to create your wedding hair and makeup look are included in the cost, but certain types of hairstyles, products, and makeup applications will run you more:
Wedding updos tend to cost more than blowout hairstyles, with the average price of an updo costing about $45 more ($51 for a blowout versus $95 for an updo).
Airbrush wedding makeup will cost more than a traditional makeup package. Expect to pay around $50 more for airbrush application, as the average cost of airbrush makeup is $155 while traditional makeup costs on average $100 per face.
In addition to beauty services on the actual wedding day, some artists offer free consultations and/or hair and makeup trials before the wedding—but some artists charge anywhere from $50 to $150 for trials. See below for more information about trials. See below for more pricing information to factor into your average wedding cost.
How Much Does a Wedding Hair and Makeup Trial Cost?
It just makes good sense to get a hair trial and makeup trial before your wedding to ensure that you and your stylist(s) are on the same page about what kind of wedding look you want. Yet not all hair and makeup artists offer this service for free (or as part of their consultation appointment). If you’re asked to pay for a wedding beauty trial, you could be looking at a cost of anywhere from $50-$150, with the average price being around $75. (Keep in mind that you may need to pay a separate fee for your hair trial and your makeup trial—bringing your total average cost up to $150.)
Should I Tip My Wedding Hair and Makeup Artist?
Just like at a regular salon, tipping for wedding beauty services is generally expected. You should prepare to tip your wedding hair and makeup artist(s) anywhere from 15-25% of the total bill for their services if you think they’ve done a great job.
Are There Any Add-On Costs With Wedding Hair and Makeup?
We’ve already discussed a few of the “hidden” or add-on costs that you might discover when budgeting for your wedding hair and makeup. Here are some of the extra charges you might encounter for fancier styles, more expensive products or applications, or for simply more complex logistics:
Skin prep in the weeks leading up to your big day, like wedding facials, tanning, or any special products to give your skin that wedding day glow
False eyelashes/false lashes, updo hairstyles, or airbrush makeup are usually more expensive.
Nail services, like a manicure and/or pedicure
Travel fees might occur if your hair and makeup artist(s) are required to travel to your location. Factor in additional costs if mileage (for long distances) or parking fees also come into play.
Trial runs of your wedding hairstyle and makeup might cost you an additional $50-100 per trial.
Hair extensions if you want to add any length or volume to your hair for your bridal hairstyle
Extra people beyond just the bride—such as the bridal party or the mother of the bride—will naturally add to your costs. A professional hair stylist and makeup artist might even need to bring an additional stylist or an assistant (for example, a makeup team for the bridal party or an extra stylist to manage bridesmaid and flower girl hair).
Extra hours beyond the initial styling (for example, if you want touch ups later in the evening, or a different hairstyle for the reception) will cost you more, as you will be paying your hair and makeup artist by the hour to remain on-site.
Tipping your wedding hair and makeup artist(s) is generally expected, just like at any salon appointment.
How Much Does Bridesmaid Hair and Makeup Cost?
Mother of the bride and/or bridesmaids makeup and hair generally costs around $150 per person, or if you want to break it down, around $75 for makeup and $50-$75 for hairstyling (blowout versus updo). Again, this number can go up based upon the location and the complexity of the style or the logistics.
Who Pays for Your Bridesmaids’ Hair and Makeup?
It depends: if the bride is requiring that her bridesmaids have their hair and makeup professionally done, then it’s expected that the bride (or her parents, depending on who’s paying for the wedding) cover these beauty costs. But if professional hair and makeup are being offered only as an option, then the bridesmaids should expect to pay for their own services. A bride might also consider whether she’d like to pay for her bridesmaids’ hair and makeup as part or all of the traditional bridesmaids’ gift.
How Far in Advance Should I Book My Wedding Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist?
We recommend you book your wedding hair and makeup artist(s) no less than three months before your wedding date. Of course, it’s always better to check this item off your Wedding Planning Checklist earlier if possible—you’ll want to have plenty of time to choose your wedding hair and makeup artist(s) carefully, get to know him or her so you’re really comfortable on the big day, and schedule a trial run to iron out all the kinks before the wedding-day timeline begins ticking. Head over to Zola Inspiration to browse wedding hair and makeup stylists in your area right now!
