Reasonable Make-up and Hair Budget

[sparklyme]

Okay ladies, I don''t know about you, but I''m convinced that I''m not competent enough to do my own make-up and hair.

So... how much do you think is reasonable, or how much did you spend to get your hair and make-up done on your big day? Do I need to worry about travel time and early wake up and stuff?

Thanks for the help!

 

[E B]

My hair and makeup artist will do both for $95 if I come to her, $120 if she comes to me. She''s really great (judging by her portfolio) so I think it''ll be money well spent.

 

[RoseAngel04]

I'm a bride-to-be getting married this coming August!! We're taking our engagement photos and I have booked to get my make-up done then for a place that I HOPE to book for my wedding day if I love them as much as I think I will.

Needless to say they are NOT cheap by any means, but hey it is going to be the most important/special day of my life and it's a once in a lifetime thing. For the Sr. Makeup artist (whom I want for my day) it's $150 for face/make-up if I go to her. You don't even want to know what they price is for her to come to me, so I plan on going to her.

Not sure about hair, but I expect around 70-120ish?!

 

[qtiekiki]

I spent $275 for both hair and makeup (on location) and $150 on the trial for both in L.A. I spent $250 for both hair and makeup and the trial (in studio) in Oakland for our second reception.

 

[AmantdeChat]

$175 hair and makeup. Getting married at a resort and it''s their stylist/makeup artist, which I have heard good things about so fingers crossed. I won''t have time for a pre-session!

 

[curlygirl]

I don''t know where you''re located but for me in NYC, I paid $300 EACH for hair and makeup. Yes, I spent $600 and it was worth every penny!!! They did give me a free trial before and I was totally sold because these 2 girls were so amazing. They came to me on the day of the wedding so I didn''t have to rush around and they kept me calm and entertained the whole time. To me, it was really important to look great that day since it was all going to be captured on film and video. I have no complaints and would totally do it again!

 

[jcrow]

$30 per person for hair. i''m in louisiana though.

 

[DonaBella]

As far as makeup and hair is concerned, alot does depend on where one lives and the basic costs there, as you have already read. I live in Riverside, CA, and if one is getting married here locally and go to the makeup artisit, you can have it done with a purchase of touchup lipstick or gloss and maybe blotting powder for about $40 not including the cost of the two makeup items. My DIL got her makeup done at the MAC counter in Nordstrom at the Galleria at Tyler mall before heading down to Orange county for her wedding and her makeup was perfect! True, it wasn''t the same like having them come to you, but if you save money going to the artist, then go to them and save the dough!

As far as hair is concerned, I say if you have a regular stylist, first check and see if can accommodate you and help you out on your special day. It may cost a tad more or she might throw in her coming to you as her gift, but it would be worth it if you have your regular stylist. If that is not an option, you need to do a little phone calling and get referrals. Do not go on strictly a referral though. See their work. Make an appt. and get a trial hair demo on YOUR hair, even if it costs a little, it is worth it now so you can have what you want on your wedding day.

I wish I had done that with the gal who ended up doing my hair for my son''s wedding...and I wasn''t even the bride. She was ok and did a fab job on my girls, but I was not happy with the end result on mine. It was just ok. The makeup artist who she worked in tandem with was just ok. My younger daughter and I both agreed that we would touch up our own makeup once the ladies left our hotel room and that is what we had to do. I do admit that the foundation they chose lasted the whole day, but the colorations were a tad off. Not worth the $540 I spent for all 4 of us(my niece had her makeup and hair done since my DIL changed her mind at the last minute and I was already obligated to the costs) to have the services we had done.

I share this so you can benefit from what we learned and not spend money where you do not need to. Investigate thoroughly. Demos are invaluable and worth it. Your day will be captured in your photos and you do not want to look at any of them and wish that you looked better or different or had taken the time to choose someone else to have done your hair and makeup.

Hope this helps...

 

[sparklyme]

Thank you so much to everyone for your wonderful input!!!

I''m getting married in San Francisco. I found a WONDERFULLY nice make-up artist...but can''t afford her fees. Seeing what everyone approximately paid for their make-up and hair grounded me, and made me realize that it IS possible to get hair and make-up for under $500!!!

Any recommendations for hair/make-up for the bay area?

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Sparkly- YES, it's possible to find hair and makeup for under $500 (i'm in S.Cal)

Just do your homework, and chat with other brides. Also check out craigslist. I made contact with a couple of people that way, but didn't end up going with them. When you do contact someone, ask to see pics of their work and make sure they're flexible and listen to you!

Here's my costs:

Makeup- Included airbrush foundation and individual lashes, by a MAC-trained artist- $50 trial, $80 day-of. My gal was great. she had been a mentee to one of THE San Diego wedding makeup artists and was branching out on her own.
Hair- I lucked out and found a guy that a bunch of brides raved about on a local board. He's not for everyone (very laid back, dry sense of humor), but we clicked. He was the bargain of the century - no cost for a trial (during certain days), and only $35 day of. I tipped him very well!

Neither of my "people" charged me traveling fees- And I was in a kinda remote location. They were both gems! The makeup gal did a light application on my mom, and the hair guy helped one of my gals with her "glamour ponytail" at no extra cost.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[TravelingGal]

I used Joyce Luck here in So Cal. She traveled to me and got there at 7 am. I can''t say enough good things about her...she truly is an artist. Not cheap at $325 for makeup and hair, but I don''t think that''s crazy either. When you see how intricate and amazing the hairdos she does are, you can see she does fab work.

 

[diamondlove]

I've actually been astounded at how much make-up and hair costs here in Houston. I have friends who have had hair and makeup cost anywhere between $120 to 1100.00 with the average being $2-400.00.

I'll have to do a few trials with different vendors to see which one will suit me best but I'm certainly not going with the $1000+ one. I just can't justify that cost. Hopefully I'll be able to find a good fit around $1-200.00. I'm also still tossing around the idea of covering at least the hair cost for my bridesmaids which will total my hair/makeup bill to $1200+ (5-6 bridesmaids plus the moms) so I'm still weighing it out.

oh and these prices are for them to come to us.

 

[appletini]

Hair: my hairdresser and I are very close so he didn''t charge me, but if he had probably ~$65.
Makeup: At least $120 at their studio...so worth it.