HOW TO HIRE · BEAUTY & GROOMING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a bridal makeup in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A bridal makeup in Ireland costs €80–€300 per booking, typically around €150. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a bridal makeup in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers bridal makeup work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — eye Makeup Techniques — eye makeup is a focal point in bridal looks, often involving techniques like contouring, highlighting, and the application of false lashes.
- How does artist's experience change the price?Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the look change the price?The trickiest part of the job often takes the longest. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does additional services like trials or travel fees change the price?Rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Foundation Application — A flawless foundation application is crucial for bridal makeup — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a bridal makeup job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO HAIRDRESSERS, BARBERS, BEAUTICIANS OR NAIL TECHNICIANS. Anyone may trade. The line that does exist is medicines: anything involving a PRESCRIPTION-ONLY MEDICINE — botulinum toxin above all — may only be prescribed by a registered prescriber, and that is a medical matter rather than a beauty one. A clinic offering injectables with no named prescriber is the single clearest warning sign in this family.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
For injectables, WHO PRESCRIBES — a named, registered prescriber who has seen you, not a prescription arranged remotely for someone they have never met; For any treatment that breaks the skin, what is single-use and what is sterilised; A patch test before colour or lash work, and enough time before an event; The training and the insurer for the specific treatment, not the salon generally; What the aftercare is and who you call out of hours if something goes wrong; Photographs of their own work on hair or skin like yours.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect treatment-specific professional indemnity — a policy for facials may exclude needles entirely. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers bridal makeup work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — eye Makeup Techniques — eye makeup is a focal point in bridal looks, often involving techniques like contouring, highlighting, and the application of false lashes.
A good answer: Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The trickiest part of the job often takes the longest. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Foundation Application — A flawless foundation application is crucial for bridal makeup — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a bridal makeup job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect treatment-specific professional indemnity — a policy for facials may exclude needles entirely — skin Preparation — bridal makeup often starts with skin preparation, which may include cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturising to create a perfect canvas.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the bridal makeup starts, and an itemised invoice after — special Effects Makeup — application of specialised makeup techniques for themed weddings or unique bridal looks, such as fantasy or vintage styles.
Getting the quote right
- Artist's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it.
- Complexity of the look — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest.
- Additional services like trials or travel fees — rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns.
- Products used — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: artist's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the look — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest
- They will not talk about it: additional services like trials or travel fees — rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns
- A price for the bridal makeup before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the bridal makeup has begun
What a bridal makeup costs: €80–€300 per booking
The figures are for the job, per booking, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Bridal makeup consultation and Bridal makeup trial each carry their own band. Bridal Makeup price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Bridal makeups near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstArtist's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it — that is what the bridal makeup is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the look — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAdditional services like trials or travel fees — rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherProducts used — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the bridal makeup is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, size of the bridal party — the price follows the size more closely than anything else here.
- Skin Preparation
- Bridal makeup often starts with skin preparation, which may include cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturising to create a perfect canvas.
- Foundation Application
- A flawless foundation application is crucial for bridal makeup.
- Eye Makeup Techniques
- Eye makeup is a focal point in bridal looks, often involving techniques like contouring, highlighting, and the application of false lashes.
- Bridal Makeup Consultation
- A discussion to understand the bride's preferences, skin type, and wedding theme, setting the foundation for the makeup look.
- Touch-Up Services
- Providing makeup touch-ups throughout the wedding day to maintain the bride's look during key moments and events.
- Special Effects Makeup
- Application of specialised makeup techniques for themed weddings or unique bridal looks, such as fantasy or vintage styles.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a bridal makeup: questions people ask
The cost of bridal makeup can vary based on the artist's experience, the complexity of the look, and additional services like trials or travel fees. High-demand artists or those using premium products may charge more.
Typically, a bridal makeup application can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the desired look and any additional services. It's advisable to schedule a trial beforehand to gauge the time needed.
While a general makeup artist can provide services, a qualified specialist with experience in bridal makeup is recommended for the best results. They understand the specific techniques and products that work well for weddings.
Same-day bridal makeup services may be available, but they are often subject to the artist's schedule and availability. It's best to book in advance to secure your desired time slot.
Yes, many makeup artists offer packages that include bridal makeup along with hair styling or makeup for the bridal party. This can often be more cost-effective than booking each service separately.
Bridal makeup services typically do not include skincare treatments or makeup removal. Additionally, some artists may not provide services for extreme looks or special effects, focusing instead on traditional bridal styles.
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