Who pays for bridesmaids hair and makeup?

If it's in your budget, it would be a very kind gesture for you to cover the cost! Otherwise, are you requiring your bridesmaids to get their hair/makeup done? If so, you should cover the cost. If it's optional, then it's totally fine for the bridesmaids to cover their own hair/makeup costs.

This depends on whether you are requiring hair and make up services be done. If you are requiring that your girls have professional hair and make up, OR if you are requiring them to do their hair or make up in a certain way, then it is your responsibility to pay for those services. If you are not requiring hair or make up (ie, they can just do their own in any style they want), then I have seen some brides have their wedding party pay for themselves. However, if it is in your budget to pay for those services, I would definitely extend that courtesy.

Traditional the bride does, but if it's not in your budget then you can ask your bridal party to cover it. When you ask them to in your wedding party you let them know the details and ask if they can cover the costs. Some brides can afford it and some can't, it is what it is.

Also, if you are making it optional and your bridesmaids are covering their own costs, ask who is planning on paying to have their hair/makeup done, and then find out their budgets. When you book a hair/makeup artist, try to find one who is within the budget your bridesmaids listed. Another thing you could do (if you make hair/makeup optional and it's within your budget) is cover a portion of the cost, and your bridesmaids could cover the rest.

I am paying for professional makeup and the bridesmaids are paying for their hair (if they would like it done)! I have two bridesmaids who are doing their own hair. I would love to cover the cost of hair for everyone, but it is another $1000 added to the cost of the wedding.

I am paying for everyone’s hair and make up (my bridesmaids, my mom, me and my flower girl). It’s in my budget and it’s just a little something I know I can do to ease their time. I also told them if they do not want to have their hair and make up done that’s totally fine and just to let me know. It’s a nice gesture if you can swing the cost.

In my experience (the 8 times I've been a bridesmaid + my own wedding) the bride has always covered hair and makeup for the bridesmaids, even when hair and makeup is optional. But I think the general consensus is that if you want all your girls to get their hair and makeup done professionally, then you'd need to cover these services. And if you don't care and hair and makeup is optional for them, then they can pay themselves.

This is something that needs to be transparently discussed before you ask anyone to be a bridesmaid, along with all expenses they are responsible for. If you require a certain look or that the service is used, then you pay. If they are allowed to wear their hair/makeup how they want, they pay. Not every bride has the funds to cover this for their bridesmaids, especially since they have other attendant expenses to cover. That also means you may have to limit the number of bridesmaids you have. If you have the extra money to pay, then go for it.


When I have been a bridesmaid, it was always our responsibility to pay for hair/makeup.

As a professional hair and makeup artist, who has done numerous weddings, have experienced both. I've even had to bring an "a la carte" menu of prices for bridesmaids, in the case where they just needed a touch-up for their hair or makeup. Most brides, at the very least, have paid for their maid of honor, moms, and flower girl(s). I even had to touch up the men's haircuts/fades/beards before. It also depends on style you want for the bm's and if they're able to achieve it on their own (ie, french braids, updos, extentions, etc). Some THINK they won't need help with hair/makeup until they see everything in action, then change their minds and want theirs done...lol.
Maybe, instead of getting all of your bm's a customary gift, you can pay for hair/makeup to ensure everyone is on point and looking fab!

For me all the girls paid for their own hair and make up if they chose to get it done. I also didn’t force them to be all glammed. Most preferred to do their own make up and hair. In the end they all looked amazing. Every wedding I’ve been in I’ve always paid for my own hair and makeup.

I kept my number low - just 3 girls, myself and my mom. I will be covering costs for hair and make-up , but I am using my usual salon that is not super fancy and I am going to them at the salon to help and try to keep costs down.