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By Melissa Fleur Afshar
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A bridal hairstylist's "unpopular opinions"—which she shared in a recent social-media video—have sparked debate among viewers online.
Harley, known online as @harleydoeshair_, spoke out about her wedding hair do's and don'ts in a post to TikTok from May 28. More than 500 viewers have voiced their own opinions under the Arizona-based hairstylist's clip, which played against the backdrop of her list on a digital notepad. The destination stylist's post has been viewed more than 282,000 times.
"I am a bridal hairstylist and these are my unpopular opinions," Harley said. "They are just my opinions, but I have been doing weddings for over a decade."
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Harley's first opinion is that the bride should pay for not only her own wedding day hair and makeup, but also that of her bridesmaids.
"I think that the bride should pay for it," she said, "especially if she wants everyone to have it done.
"[Professional] makeup can cost over $300 these days," Harley added.
The hairstylist justified her opinion by bringing up the fact that most weddings involve guests who have to travel long distances to reach the venue, or had previously paid for bachelorette parties and gifts. Harley is of the opinion that the bride, and perhaps groom, should alleviate some of this financial burden.
She then moved on to photography, saying that, in her opinion, even the most excited of brides should spike the monogrammed robe and personalized hanger aesthetic—and the photos that often come with it.
"I know a lot of people love them," Harley said, referring to the image of a bride and her bridesmaids clinking glasses of champagne while wearing fluffy pajamas.
"But are those the photos you are really going to hang up and look back on?" Harley said.
She added that involving a photographer and videographer in a bride's getting-ready process can cause confusion and unnecessary stress among both the wedding party and those working the event.
"I think that the photographer should arrive when hair and makeup is 100 percent complete because things get stressful when the photographer arrives," Harley said. "From there, you can pretend to do getting ready photos.
"But I don't think that it needs to [take] more than five minutes long. I don't think we need to do robe photos," she added.
The hairstylist wrapped up her list by laying out her preference for brides not to follow trends and to attend their trial runs alone.
"Don't follow trends," Harley said. "Do what you want to do and what you are going to feel good in."
As for the trial runs, Harley told viewers that having a mother or maid of honor hovering over a bride while she's trying out wedding hairstyles can lead to pressure and noise. The hairstylist said that she often witnesses tension during these trials as the bride's guests tend to clash on what they think looks good.
Of the 500-plus viewers that have shared their own wedding opinions under the post, many voiced perspectives that contrast with Harley's.
"If I were to pay for all of my bridal party's hair and makeup it would [cost] $1250, not exactly similar to the cost of $30 pajamas for each bridesmaid," one user, @livski__, wrote.
Another, @devlinar, added: "Everyone bride I know of in Ireland or the U.K. pays for their bridesmaids hair, makeup and dresses. It's part of our wedding costs! It's crazy to expect your friends to pay to be a part of your wedding!"
"Except...Paying for everyone's hair and makeup is $1000-plus. Paying for robes and slippers is maybe $100 to $200. Unfortunately, these are totally incomparable," a third user, @caitlyndivittis1, shared.
Another, @chloecasket, posted: "2025 bride here! Humbly disagree about the not needing getting ready photos. I cherish my grandmother's and mother's getting ready photos and have fond memories of looking at them as a young girl!"
Newsweek reached out to @harleydoeshair_ for more information via TikTok.
Do you have any funny wedding videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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