Bridesmaid’s hair and makeup

I’ve had both. I think the rule is if you’re requiring a certain style or stylist, bride pays. If it’s an option, then you can have them pay.

While some brides pay out of generosity, it's neither standard nor necessary. Actually, the traditional etiquette rule is that you can offer to pay or offer the availability of services but you can't require hair and makeup at all. That is ultimately a personal decision and up to each bridesmaid. For that matter they can go to their own salon or have their own hair and makeup people come to them as long as they are there on time to assist and for photos. The fact that many people do take advantage of the convenience doesn't mean it's obligatory.

Depends on what the norm is in your social circle. In my social circle, the answer is yes. I've been a bridesmaid 8 times and every single time, the bride paid for my hair and makeup (and in some cases, nails as well). I paid for all of my girls' hair and makeup.

I think the general consensus is that if you're going for a certain look or if it's important to you that your bridesmaids have their hair/makeup done by a professional, then you need to pay. If hair and makeup are optional, then you don't have to pay. Just be prepared for some DIY looks in your photos if go the optional route.

Again, while the majority of women are probably very happy to take a bride up on the offer to pay for pro hair and a MUA (I would be), don't forget, not everyone is into those things. You can't obligate anyone to use your chosen vendor or any vendor for that matter, any more than you can tell people to cover up their tattoos or dye their hair a natural color. That's true even if you are offering to cover the entire cost. It would be overstepping personal boundaries.

Technically, if you're requiring professional HMU, then you should pay for it. If it's only an option, and the choice is theirs, they can opt to have it and pay.

Since asking somebody to be a bridesmaid is supposed to be your way of honoring them, I always feel it is a kind gesture to offer to pay for hair and makeup. Especially since you are requesting them to stand on display in front of all your guests, and for pictures.
It was important for me that everybody felt confident and beautiful, so I offered professional hair and makeup services (which they had the option of declining), which I paid for.

It’s up to the bride and what she can afford and is willing to pay for. If a bride has a specific look she requires or the bridesmaids must use a service, then she needs to pay for everyone. If it’s entirely optional, then each bridesmaid is given the opportunity to pay themselves if the bride doesn’t cover expenses.


On the flip side, the argument “they can do their own” doesn’t hold up. Because many women were never taught to do their own hair and makeup for a number of reasons and all the tutorials in the world plus $1000s of dollars of makeup and hair products for at home trials won’t give them any more skills and confidence than they started with and they’ll be out a ton of money with products they have no use for in the end.

View Quoted Comment You are assuming that bridesmaids must be professionally made up or made up at all for that matter. It is entirely up to the bridal party whether they want to DIY, go natural, use their own salon or take advantage of a bride’s offer to pay or provide access.


I like getting professional hair and makeup services but not everyone does. It’s certainly not a requirement for being in a bridal party, no matter who is offering to pay for what.

If you want a certain look, then you should pay for hair and makeup. If you just want them to do "half up?" and let them choose their hairstyle, then they should pay for it. I also think you should consider how much bridesmaids want to pay when you book these vendors!