Does a special occasion make-up artist need a licence or registration?

No — there is no licence and no register for special occasion make-up artists anywhere in the UK. Judge them on their work and their insurance instead.

What are my rights if the occasion make-up goes wrong?

You can ask for the occasion make-up to be done again at no cost, and if that fails or is impossible, for a reduction that can go up to the full price (Consumer Rights Act 2015).

How much does a special occasion make-up artist cost in the UK?

£40–£100 per booking, typically around £65. Lashes, travel to your home, early starts and the artist's experience move it. More detail sits in the special occasion makeup price guide, and typing your town above brings up special occasion make-up artists you can book.

Do I need to book a prom make-up artist early?

Yes — prom and wedding weekends fill first. Get the time in writing.

Can I cancel occasion make-up booked online?

Within 14 days, under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, unless the make-up is done in that time at your request; then the written terms apply.

What if my occasion make-up melts off?

Tell the artist in writing. Make-up not done with reasonable care and skill is a reason for a reduction.

Special Occasion Makeup — beauty & grooming in the UK

HOW TO HIRE · BEAUTY & GROOMING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026

How to hire a special occasion make-up artist in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence or register applies to occasion make-up artists in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, so you check their portfolio, kit hygiene and the booking terms. This guide covers what to ask for a prom, party or wedding guest look, what the price should include and what to do if the make-up or the booking goes wrong.

No licence covers special occasion make-up artists in any UK nation. Here is what to check, what to ask, and what to do if it goes wrong.

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 make-up artist in five steps

Show the outfit and the lookA photo of each.
Arrive with a clean faceMoisturised, no make-up.
Ask about lashesIncluded or extra.
Check kit hygieneClean brushes and single-use applicators.
Get the terms in writingTime, price, deposit and travel.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

The law in all four UK nations is silent on special occasion make-up artists — no licence, no register, no required qualification. An occasion make-up sits outside the skin-piercing rules councils enforce.

Ask for the certificate from their occasion make-up training, and the insurer's name.

Insurance that covers the occasion make-up

Ask the special occasion make-up artist about insurance before the occasion make-up, not after: policies list the treatments they cover, and anything left off the schedule is not insured.

Ask who insures them, and whether the occasion make-up is named on the cover.

Trader status under the Consumer Rights Act 2015

A special occasion make-up artist who trades, not a friend doing a favour, owes you reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — and an occasion make-up done badly gives you the right to a redo or money off.

Find the trader badge on the profile, and keep the confirmation with the price on it. legislation.gov.uk →

Booking terms under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

A special occasion make-up artist booked online or by phone makes a distance contract: you have 14 days to cancel, unless the occasion make-up happens inside that time at your request. Deposits and late-cancellation terms need to be in writing to bind you.

Ask the special occasion make-up artist for the deposit, balance and cancellation terms in one message before you pay. legislation.gov.uk →

VAT

Make-up for a party, prom or event is standard-rated at 20% from a registered special occasion make-up artist. A business over £90,000 of taxable turnover must charge VAT per face and show it separately.

Ask whether a VAT number goes on the booking, and check group prices say whether VAT is in them. gov.uk →

ASK THESE

“Can I see occasion make-up you have done for proms and parties?”

A good answer: Real clients, in daylight and flash.

“Are lashes in the occasion make-up price?”

A good answer: Yes or no, with the price.

“How long will it take?”

A good answer: A time for the look you want, from the special occasion make-up artist.

“How do you clean your make-up kit?”

A good answer: Brushes cleaned between clients and single-use wands.

“Can you patch test a new product?”

A good answer: Yes, ahead of the day.

“What deposit do you take?”

A good answer: A figure and refund terms in writing.

“Will it last through the evening?”

A good answer: Honest advice on long-wear products and setting.

Getting the quote right

The look — soft or full glam
Lashes, travel and early start
Group prices for several guests
Who actually attends: the special occasion make-up artist you booked, or an assistant for a group, and whether that assistant is employed or subcontracted
The artist's VAT number if registered, with VAT apart from each look, the lashes and the travel

Walk away if

Dirty brushes or shared mascara wands
No written price
Filtered portfolio only
Lashes glued without asking about allergies

LOW

£40

TYPICAL

£65

HIGH

£100

What a special occasion make-up artist costs: £40–£100 per booking

Occasion make-up artists price per booking, with lashes, travel and early starts priced on top. 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 make-up artists 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.

ON THE DAY

Look agreedOutfit and photo discussed.
Skin prepCleanse, moisturise, prime.
BaseFoundation and concealer matched in good light.
Eyes and lipsApplied with clean tools; lashes if booked.
SetSetting spray and touch-up tips from the special occasion make-up artist.

Full glam: Contour, lashes and bold eyes.
Soft glam: A lighter, natural look.
Strip lashes: False lashes on a band.
Contour: Shading to shape the face.
Setting spray: A spray that helps make-up last.
Group booking: Several guests booked together.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the bookingPrice and terms.

Take it off properlyAnd watch for any skin reaction.

Note the shadesTo repeat the look.

Leave the reviewYou can review a special occasion make-up artist on Locufy once the booked visit is done. If the occasion make-up is not right, use the make-it-right step first so the special occasion make-up artist can put it right before the review goes up.

IF IT GOES WRONG

STEP 1Tell the special occasion make-up artist, in writingKeep it factual: what was agreed, what you got, what you want now. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you a redo first and money back second.

STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyGive the occasion make-up under four stars and we ask whether to send it to the special occasion make-up artist first; we follow it through with them, and then you review.

STEP 3No regulator — Trading StandardsNo body licenses a special occasion make-up artist, so an occasion make-up dispute you cannot settle goes to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133) in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland (0808 800 9060) or Consumerline in Northern Ireland (0300 123 6262).

STEP 4Small claims, if it comes to moneyIf the special occasion make-up artist will not refund or redo the occasion make-up, you can claim without a solicitor: up to £10,000 on the small claims track in England and Wales, up to £5,000 under simple procedure in Scotland, and up to £5,000 in the small claims court in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a special occasion make-up artist: questions people ask

: No — there is no licence and no register for special occasion make-up artists anywhere in the UK. Judge them on their work and their insurance instead.
: You can ask for the occasion make-up to be done again at no cost, and if that fails or is impossible, for a reduction that can go up to the full price (Consumer Rights Act 2015).
: £40–£100 per booking, typically around £65. Lashes, travel to your home, early starts and the artist's experience move it. More detail sits in the special occasion makeup price guide, and typing your town above brings up special occasion make-up artists you can book.
: Yes — prom and wedding weekends fill first. Get the time in writing.
: Within 14 days, under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, unless the make-up is done in that time at your request; then the written terms apply.
: Tell the artist in writing. Make-up not done with reasonable care and skill is a reason for a reduction.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in beauty & grooming

How to hire: Makeup Artist How to hire: Bridal Makeup How to hire: Mobile Makeup Artist How to hire: Makeup Lessons How to hire: Bridal Hair How to hire: Henna & Mehndi Artist How to hire: Spray Tan How to hire: Mobile Beautician All 701 hiring guides →

Special occasion make-up artists near you

Special occasion make-up artists in London Special occasion make-up artists in Manchester Special occasion make-up artists in Birmingham Special occasion make-up artists in Glasgow Special occasion make-up artists in Belfast All special occasion make-up artists on Locufy →

How to hire a special occasion make-up artist in the UKThe checks, the questions and the paperwork.