HOW TO HIRE · BEAUTY & GROOMING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a special occasion makeup in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A special occasion makeup in Ireland costs €50–€150 per booking, 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 special occasion makeup in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers special occasion makeup work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — photoshoot Makeup — makeup for photoshoots is crafted to look stunning on camera, often incorporating techniques that enhance facial features under different lighting conditions.
- How does artist's experience change the price?A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the look change the price?It is agreed before the work starts, not after. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional services such as trials or touch-ups change the price?It moves the price in both directions depending on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Prom and Graduation Makeup — prom and graduation are key milestones where special occasion makeup enhances the celebratory mood — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a special occasion 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 special occasion makeup work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — photoshoot Makeup — makeup for photoshoots is crafted to look stunning on camera, often incorporating techniques that enhance facial features under different lighting conditions.
A good answer: A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is agreed before the work starts, not after. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It moves the price in both directions depending on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Prom and Graduation Makeup — prom and graduation are key milestones where special occasion makeup enhances the celebratory mood — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a special occasion 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 — bridal Makeup — special occasion makeup often includes bridal services, where makeup artists create a flawless look for the bride on her big day.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the special occasion makeup starts, and an itemised invoice after — makeup for Special Events — this encompasses any unique occasion such as anniversaries or galas, focusing on personalised styles that suit the event.
Getting the quote right
- Artist's experience — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours.
- Complexity of the look — it is agreed before the work starts, not after.
- Any additional services such as trials or touch-ups — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job.
- Products used — consumables add up quietly across a long job.
- 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 — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the look — it is agreed before the work starts, not after
- They will not talk about it: any additional services such as trials or touch-ups — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job
- A price for the special occasion 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 special occasion makeup has begun
What a special occasion makeup costs: €50–€150 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 and Prom makeup each carry their own band. Special Occasion 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
Special occasion 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 — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours — that is what the special occasion makeup is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the look — it is agreed before the work starts, not after — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional services such as trials or touch-ups — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherProducts used — consumables add up quietly across a long job — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the special occasion makeup is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, time required for application — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip.
- Bridal Makeup
- Special occasion makeup often includes bridal services, where makeup artists create a flawless look for the bride on her big day.
- Prom and Graduation Makeup
- Prom and graduation are key milestones where special occasion makeup enhances the celebratory mood.
- Photoshoot Makeup
- Makeup for photoshoots is crafted to look stunning on camera, often incorporating techniques that enhance facial features under different lighting conditions.
- Prom Makeup
- Designed for high school prom events, it typically features youthful, vibrant looks that enhance natural beauty.
- Evening Glam Makeup
- This service focuses on bold, dramatic looks suitable for evening events, parties, or nights out.
- Festival Makeup
- This includes creative and artistic makeup designs that fit the theme of music or arts festivals, often using vibrant colours.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a special occasion makeup: questions people ask
The cost of special occasion makeup can vary based on the artist's experience, the complexity of the look, and any additional services such as trials or touch-ups. High-demand periods, like wedding season, may also affect pricing.
Typically, a full special occasion makeup application takes between 60 to 90 minutes. However, this can vary depending on the desired look and any additional services requested, such as hairstyling.
Many makeup artists offer emergency services, but availability may be limited and often incurs additional fees. It's best to inquire in advance to secure a booking for short notice events.
Yes, many makeup artists offer package deals that include hairstyling and other beauty services. Booking multiple services can also provide a more cohesive look for your special occasion.
Special occasion makeup generally does not include skincare treatments or extensive hair services, unless specified in a package. It's important to clarify what is included in your booking to avoid misunderstandings.
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