Hair or makeup first? For most looks, do your hair first, then your makeup, then finish with a light mist of hairspray while you shield your face. Hot tools and blow-dryers make you warm, and styling products drift, so doing hair first keeps your finished makeup clean. The main exception: if you’re wearing your hair down with no heat at all, do makeup first so your hair stays as fresh as possible.
Search makeup or hair first and you’ll find a split answer, and both sides have a point. This guide gives a clear rule, a situation-by-situation table, the “split order” that saves time, and tips for curly hair, wigs, headwraps, weddings and grooming. For the order of the makeup steps themselves, see our guide to makeup steps in order.
- Default: hair first, makeup second, hairspray last with your face covered.
- Makeup first: when your hair is down and you’re not using any heat.
- Save time: set your hair in rollers or pins, do your makeup while it sets, then finish the hair.
- Getting dressed: wear a robe or button-front top so nothing goes over your head.
- Setting spray: goes on last, after the final hairspray.
Should you do hair or makeup first? The short answer
So, do you do hair or makeup first? In most cases, hair comes first. Three things make that order work better:
- Heat. Blow-drying and hot tools take time and warm you up. Wedding makeup artist Michelle Schultz, founder of Willow House Beauty, explained to The Knot: “Typically, we like our brides to go to hair first and makeup last.” Her reason: “In case our bride sweats a bit from a blow dry or hot tools, we won’t have to worry about keeping makeup out of the way.”
- Products. Hairspray, dry shampoo, oils and texture sprays can land on your face. Doing them before makeup, and covering your face for the final spray, keeps them off your finished base.
- Time. Updos, braids and curls usually take longer than makeup. Getting them done first means your makeup is the freshest part of the look when you walk out.
Makeup first makes sense when your hairstyle is simple and heat-free, like brushed-out hair worn down or a loose, natural texture. In that case, styling last means your hair hasn’t been flattened by a clip or headband while you did your face, and nothing about the hair routine can disturb your makeup. It also follows a simple logic: loose hair can be brushed out again in a minute, while finished makeup is much harder to redo.
One more factor is your skin. If your face gets shiny quickly, doing makeup last means less time for oil to show through before you head out. Blotting any shine just before your final setting spray helps too.
Hair or makeup first by situation
Use this table to decide for the look you’re actually doing today.
| Your plan | Do first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blow-drying, curling or straightening | Hair | Heat and time; products stay off finished skin |
| Updo, braids or a sleek ponytail | Hair | Takes longest, and pulling hair back tugs at your hairline |
| Rollers or pin curls | Split | Set the hair, do makeup while it sets, then finish |
| Diffused curls | Hair | A diffuser is heat, so treat it like any hot tool |
| Air-dried curls or waves | Split | Wash and style, then do makeup while hair dries untouched |
| Second-day hair, or an overnight twist-out or braid-out | Makeup | No washing or heat today; take down or fluff your hair last |
| Hair fully down, brushed, no heat | Makeup | Hair stays fresh and full; half-up styles pinned near the face count as styling, so do them first |
| Short hair, quick restyle | Makeup | Short styles take minutes to finish last |
| Wig | Makeup | Keeps foundation off the wig; follow your stylist for glued lace |
| Hijab or headwrap | Base makeup | Then the covering, then final touches around the face |
| Wedding or event with pros | Hair | Makeup last so it’s freshest for photos |
If your look combines two rows, such as blow-drying your hair and then wearing it down, go with whichever step uses heat or needs the most time. That’s almost always the hair.
The split order: how to get ready without redoing anything
One of the most time-efficient approaches isn’t strictly hair first or makeup first. It’s a split routine that lets your hair set while you work on your face. Here’s how it works for most styled looks:
- Wash and dry your hair. Blow-dry, diffuse or let it air-dry. If you’re using heat, do it now, before any makeup.
- Set the style. Put in velcro or hot rollers, pin curls, or braids for waves. For an updo, finish the updo now and skip step 5.
- Clip your hair away from your face. Use a soft headband or clips that won’t leave dents in the areas you’ll wear down.
- Do your skincare and makeup. The time your hair spends setting is the time you spend on your face. A primer can help makeup hold through the rest of the routine; our guide on what primer does for makeup explains when it’s worth it.
- Finish your hair. Take out rollers or braids, brush out or shape the curls, and fix any pieces around your face.
- Hairspray, with your face shielded. Hold a hand, a piece of card or a folded tissue in front of your face, close your eyes, and spray from a distance. If foundation ends up on your hairline anyway, gently blot it with a damp cloth or makeup wipe rather than rubbing.
- Setting spray last. Mist your face once all the hair products are done.
- Get dressed with care. If you haven’t already, step into your outfit rather than pulling it over your head.
This routine works because the slow hair steps happen early and the messy ones happen last, with your face covered.
Curly hair, wigs, headwraps and short hair
A few common routines don’t fit the simple rule, so here’s how to handle them.
- Curly or coily hair, air-dried: wash and apply your styling products first, then do your makeup while your curls dry without being touched. Finish by gently fluffing or shaping once they’re dry.
- Curly hair, diffused: diffuse before makeup. It’s a warm, fairly long step, so treat it like blow-drying.
- Wigs: secure your natural hair under a wig cap, do your makeup, then put the wig on and style it. This keeps foundation and powder off the wig. If you wear a lace-front wig that’s glued or taped, ask your stylist which order suits your install, since the hairline area is part of both steps. The same face-first, wig-last order works for heavy stage or drag makeup.
- Hijab or headwrap: do your base makeup first, then put on the covering, then finish any details around the face. Pins and fabric near your cheeks and forehead can shift foundation, so touching up after is easier. If you wear glasses, decide whether the arms go over or under the fabric before you pin it, so you don’t re-pin near finished makeup.
- Short hair: makeup first usually makes sense. Short styles take only a few minutes, and a quick restyle at the end won’t disturb your face. If you use a flat iron on short hair, do that first.
- Extensions: follow the same rule as your natural hair. If they need heat to blend, style first.
For quick everyday styles to pair with your makeup, see our guide to easy hairstyles to do yourself.
Hair or makeup first for a wedding or big event
When professionals are doing hair and makeup for a wedding, the usual order is hair first and makeup last. The Knot’s hair and makeup timeline puts it simply: “Ideally, hair is styled first, followed by makeup.” Makeup last means it’s the freshest part of the look when photos start.
With a team of stylists, hair and makeup may happen side by side, with one stylist working on hair while another does makeup. Your stylists will set the schedule based on how many people they’re working on. Doing your own hair and makeup for the day? Follow the split order above and do a full trial run beforehand.
Two practical points for event days:
- Wear something that opens at the front. The Knot’s guide to getting-ready robes asks: “Need to wear something that doesn’t go over your head to preserve your wedding updo? Bridal robe.” A button-front shirt does the same job.
- Eat before makeup. A meal or snack between hair and makeup is easier than eating around a finished lip.
Grooming order for men
The same logic works for men’s grooming: anything that involves water or heat goes first, and the finishing touches go last.
- Shower, then wash your hair and face.
- Shave or trim facial hair. Rinse off any stray hairs.
- Skincare: moisturizer and sunscreen on freshly shaved skin.
- Style your hair. Blow-dry and apply product.
- Any concealer or powder for shine, if you use it, goes on last.
Styling your hair after skincare means the pomade or clay on your hands doesn’t end up mixed into your moisturizer or sunscreen. Wash your hands again before you touch your face.
Hairspray, hot tools and your face: safety habits
A couple of simple habits protect both your makeup and your eyes and skin.
- Keep hairspray out of your eyes. U.S. federal rules require aerosol cosmetics like hairspray to carry a warning that begins “Warning—Avoid spraying in eyes.” The National Capital Poison Center’s advice on hair styling products is to “Avoid contact with the eyes or the skin” and to “Immediately rinse eyes or skin after contact with hair styling products.” Closing your eyes and shielding your face covers both.
- Keep sprays away from flames. Aerosol hairsprays can be flammable, so check the warnings on your can and never spray near a lit candle or while smoking. Let hairspray dry before using a hot tool on the same section.
- Keep hot tools away from your face. Straightener plates get very hot. A study in the Emergency Medicine Journal on burns from hair straighteners notes the plates “are designed to heat up to temperatures of 180–220°C.” Work carefully around your hairline and ears, especially near freshly made-up skin, and put tools down on a heat-proof surface.
Hair or makeup questions
Should you curl your hair before or after makeup?
Before, in most cases, for the heat-and-time reasons above. Curl your hair first, pin the curls up or let them cool, then do your makeup. Brush out or shape the curls afterward and spray with your face shielded. If your makeup takes a long time, pinning the curls while they cool helps them last.
Should I do hair or makeup first for photos?
Hair first, then makeup. For photos, you want your makeup as fresh as possible when the camera comes out, without shine from the warmth of styling. Doing makeup last also gives you a chance to fine-tune it once your hair is finished, since a different hairstyle can change how a look reads. Finish with setting spray right before the photos.
Does setting spray go on before or after hairspray?
After. Hairspray is part of finishing your hair, and some of it can drift onto your face even when you shield it. Setting spray is the last step of your makeup, so it goes on once all hair products are done. If you touch up your hair later, cover your face again before you spray.
Should you do makeup before or after a shower?
After. Shower first, then do your hair and makeup. Steam and water can smear makeup, and a warm bathroom can make you sweat. Give your skin a few minutes to cool down and let any moisturizer absorb before you start your base, and open a window or door if the room is still steamy.
Hair or makeup first when you’re short on time?
If you need heat, do your hair first, even if it’s quick. If you don’t, do makeup first and finish with the fastest possible hairstyle, like a sleek low ponytail or a claw clip. Either way, skip steps that need drying time, and keep your hair clipped back while you do your face. Getting a child ready too? Do their hair first, then your makeup while they get dressed.
Where do nails fit in?
Do nails before the day, or first on the day, so the polish has time to dry fully before you start handling brushes, clips and hot tools. Wet polish smudges easily when you’re working with your hands, and it can pick up hair or makeup. If you’re getting a manicure, schedule it the day before your hair and makeup.
Your getting-ready order at a glance
Hair or makeup first comes down to one question: will your hairstyle involve heat, setting time or pinning near your face? If yes, start with hair, or use the split order. If your hair is simply brushed and worn down, start with makeup. Either way, hairspray goes on with your face shielded, and setting spray goes on last.
New to doing your own makeup? Our guide to makeup for beginners covers the basics of each step in the routine.
