HOW TO HIRE · BEAUTY & GROOMING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a facialist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A facials in Ireland costs €50–€150 per treatment, typically around €80. 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 facialist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers facialist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — additional Treatments — many facial services may include additional treatments such as exfoliation, masks, and facial massages.
- How does type of treatment change the price?A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does products used change the price?The quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does expertise of the esthetician change the price?Years on the job are part of what you are paying for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Typically, facials do not include additional body treatments or services like waxing or hair cutting — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a facialist 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 facialist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — additional Treatments — many facial services may include additional treatments such as exfoliation, masks, and facial massages.
A good answer: A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Years on the job are part of what you are paying for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Typically, facials do not include additional body treatments or services like waxing or hair cutting — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a facialist 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 Analysis — A professional facial often begins with a thorough skin analysis to identify individual needs.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the facialist starts, and an itemised invoice after — types of Facials — facials can vary widely, including options like hydrating facials, anti-aging treatments, and deep-cleansing facials.
Getting the quote right
- Type of treatment — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit.
- Products used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given.
- Expertise of the esthetician — years on the job are part of what you are paying for.
- Location of the service — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for.
- 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: type of treatment — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit
- They will not talk about it: products used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given
- They will not talk about it: expertise of the esthetician — years on the job are part of what you are paying for
- A price for the facialist 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 facialist has begun
What a facialist costs: €50–€150 per treatment
The figures are for the job, per treatment, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Classic facial and Anti-ageing facial each carry their own band. Facials 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
Facialists 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 firstType of treatment — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit — that is what the facialist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneProducts used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfExpertise of the esthetician — years on the job are part of what you are paying for — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherLocation of the service — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the facialist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, skin condition — heavy build-up has to be dealt with before anything else.
- Types of Facials
- Facials can vary widely, including options like hydrating facials, anti-aging treatments, and deep-cleansing facials.
- Skin Analysis
- A professional facial often begins with a thorough skin analysis to identify individual needs.
- Additional Treatments
- Many facial services may include additional treatments such as exfoliation, masks, and facial massages.
- Anti-Ageing Facial
- Focuses on reducing fine lines and improving skin elasticity using specialised products and techniques.
- Acne Facial
- Designed to treat and prevent acne, incorporating deep cleansing and targeted products to reduce breakouts.
- Hydrating Facial
- Targets dry skin by providing intense moisture and nourishment through hydrating masks and serums.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a facialist: questions people ask
The cost of a facial can vary based on the type of treatment, the products used, and the expertise of the esthetician. High-end spas may charge more due to premium products and a luxurious environment.
A typical facial usually lasts between 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the specific treatment and the client's needs. Some advanced treatments may take longer.
While many facials can be performed by general beauty therapists, certain advanced treatments may require a qualified specialist with specific training. Always check the credentials of the practitioner.
Same-day availability for facials depends on the salon or spa's schedule. It’s best to call in advance to check if there are open slots for your desired treatment.
Typically, facials do not include additional body treatments or services like waxing or hair cutting. It's important to clarify with the salon what is included in your facial package.
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.
MORE GUIDES