How do you ask/tell bridesmaids about hair and makeup

Skip the ipod and pay for their cosmetic stuff if you are requiring it.

General consensus is that if you require them to get their hair done, you should pay for it. Otherwise give them the option.

You mean for THEM to pay for it? You don't do that....

I'm guessing you mean updo, not iPod. Damn you auto correct. And no, there's not a nice way to say it. If you're requiring them to have an updo, you should offer to pay. I emailed my girls the prices for hair and make up but I told them that they didn't have to have either professionally done if they didn't want to. I also offered to pay for half of their cost if they chose to have it done.

If you are requiring that they have it done then you should pay for it. Also, I'm assuming you meant updo not ipod?

If you're paying for their hair then tell them that and then say if they'd like the salon to do their make-up it's $__. If you're not paying for their hair there's no nice way to say it. I've been a bridesmaid who had to pay for my own hair and it sucks especially if you don't like the result. They should have the option to do their own hair if they have to pay for it.

Confused... you want you BM's to get an iPod? I think if you require makeup/hair you should pay for it or at least pay for 1/2.

If you're requiring them to get their hair/makeup done you should be paying for it.

We are paying for our BM's to get hair done. Anything else they want (tan, makeup, etc.) is on them. I would pay half or all of it if I were you.

Hahaha sorry guys I was on my iphone when I started this. Damn autocorrect, I meant updo.

I am not requiring makeup and although I love my friends non of us are friends because we have mad hair skills (unless we were doing some french braids out of boredom). My one bridesmaid maid it sound like paying was normal, but from the sounds of it that is not the case.

I've paid for my own in every wedding I've been in. The last wedding I was in, I paid for the hair, the bride paid for the makeup.

You don't tell them how to spend their money. If you are requiring a professional updo, you pay. Otherwise, give them the option, and if they choose to use professional services, they can pay for it. But it's their choice.

I couldn't even imagine telling my bridesmaids they had to pay for hair if I wasn't even giving them the option to do it themselves. I paid for all mine to be done and im so glad I did

Emily makes sense but that is why I am asking, I heard from my best friend that the girls pay and then when I googled it a lot of articles made that sound like it as well. Thus why I am asking now before there is no flexibility in my budget for a $500 expense.

Brittany did you have a choice in the weddings? Do you agree with how it was in the ones you were in? Just want to get an idea on what the different views are with all this.

I did a lot of research and found a good price for my area. I told my girls the price (more in a "I found hair and makeup for $x!" excited tone) and let them know that it was completely optional. I think all of them want it done anyway. I don't really care what they have done as long as it's not ridiculous. I'm definitely treating everyone to manicures and I hope to squeeze some money out to give towards hair and makeup anyway.

I think I am just going to add this to my budget then! Thanks ladies!

Athena, I didn't have a choice. It was presented as all of us going to have things done and we understood that we were to pay. For one wedding we were asked if we were comfortable doing our own makeup and since we were there were no professionals needed for that. The only real choice I had was in the most recent wedding. My hair is extremely short (much, much shorter than my picture) and the bride didn't think the hairstylist would be able to do anything with it that I couldn't just do myself. None of us were put out by the cost, we all just expected to pay as part of the bridal party.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but of course, it depends on what the norm is for your friends. I'm requiring my BMs to get hair and makeup done (how they want each is completely up to them), and I'm going to ask them to pay for $50-75 of it, which would be half or less. But I've had very frank convos w them all, and they can all afford it, and even offered to pay for it in full. I guess it's a bit different in that you're telling them how they have to do it. That's still totally in the realm of normal in my circle, but if you're making them pay, maybe they could have more of a choice...

Yah..... well honestly have no idea what I want anymore but no places will quote me times and if they can even without a count of how many hair and how many makeup services. I think my friends can do just fine with the makeup but yah I think I will just pay for the hair, not worth the hassle and that way I am sure on the head count even if I am not sure what I want!