Bridal hair and makeup trials are an essential part of putting together your own iconic wedding look. And they can be tons of fun as well! Some parts of a wedding can seem daunting, but going in for a hair and/ makeup trial shouldn’t be one of them. Here are 10 ideas on how you can make the most of your trial before, during, and after.
Pre-Trial: 5 Ways to Get Ready for Your Trial
1. Think Ahead for Your Makeup and Hair Trials
Trials can seem like a breeze, but make sure you’re scheduling it well in advance in case you need to make changes. About 2-3 months before the wedding is standard, as this allows you to test out the “wear and tear” of your hair and makeup, request changes, schedule another stylist, or even change stylists altogether.
2. Anticipate Potential Mishaps
Think about any future bridal shower plans where you’ll be wearing your fabulous look. This isn’t just utilitarian, but a great way of ensuring that your hair and makeup holds up throughout the day. If you really want to test your look’s fortitude, have your bachelorette party later that evening. Take note of how your hair holds up and any deterioration in your makeup that you think the stylist might be able to help with.
3. Plan Your Look
To help the stylist really pinpoint what it is that you’re looking for, plan your look ahead of time. Think about exactly how you want your hair and makeup to look, consider any products you do or don’t like, and bring tons of pictures. Pictures are a stylist’s (and your) best friend! Bring as many as you’d like. It’s also important to be clear about what types of things you don’t like. This can be just as helpful to a stylist when putting together your hair and makeup.
4. Don’t Forget Your Essentials
Accessories, favorite makeup (or makeup you might have a particular allergy towards), beloved hair products, hair extensions, and—of course—that trusted person. It’s important to bring along your essentials so you can really see how everything looks together. If something changes and you purchase new extensions or accessories, don’t panic; just make sure you let your stylist know so that they can throw ideas at you on how to incorporate it into your look.
A trusted friend, bridesmaid, maid of honor, or your mother might also be someone you bring along. Be careful about bringing too many people, though. Too many voices might end up muddling your own vision. Instead, bring that one person who knows exactly what look you’re trying to achieve and can give honest feedback.
5. #NoFilter
Make sure you wash and dry your hair and don’t wear any makeup or hair products to your makeup trial. This saves a lot of time but also ensures that none of your own products are affecting the products that the stylist will be applying.
During the Trial: 2 Tips to Keep In Mind
6. Ready, Set, Go!
Make sure you time your wedding makeup trial from start to finish. This will help in deciding how much time you need to get ready on the big day. If you’ve brought someone along, have them keep track of how long it takes to style your hair and apply the makeup. Afterwards, you can decide if you think that will be enough, too little, or too much time on the day of the wedding.
7. Be Vocal
Don’t hesitate to let your stylist know if something doesn’t look right. This is the time to make corrections and find the look that works for you. If you’re unsure about something, ask about it. Whether it’s something as simple as your foundation shade or how you wear your accessories, engage with the stylist to ensure they know how you’re feeling.
Post-Trial: 3 Things to Think About
8. How Do I…
Remember to ask your stylist about touch-ups. Have your friend take note of products that were used so that you can build a small touch-up kit for the big day. If you are having your hair put up, it’s always a good idea to ask how you can make changes or adjustments throughout the day without messing it up.
9. Talk it Over
Talking things over with your stylist after you’ve found a look you love is really important. Remember to keep things professional but to be honest about things like pricing and scheduling. Try to remember to talk about the following:
- Pricing on the wedding day
- Other commitments they might have on your wedding day
- Contingency plans if they are unable to make the appointment
- Whether they do on-site styling or not
Don’t make any commitments right away—you first want to see know everything holds up throughout the day. Be sure to contact them as soon as you’ve made a final decision. Stylists are in high demand during “wedding season” so schedule early. Also, don’t forget to tip every stylist you take a trial with, even if they don’t become your chosen stylist (a 15-20% tip is the usual amount).
10. Test Drive the Trial Look
Now is the time to carry on about your day. Hopefully you’ve managed to schedule a few things you can do to repurpose your look throughout the day. Keep note of how things hold up and how you feel. Ask yourself if the look is comfortable, functional for what you intend to do, whether it will hold up, and most importantly, if it makes you happy.
Above all, don’t fret about your wedding makeup and hair trials. Keep these few bridal hair and makeup trial-tips in mind, and enjoy a day of pampering!
Do you have any other tips that you would like to share with us? Let us know — we would love to hear from you! If you’re still in the process of wedding planning, why not check our article on Wedding First Looks: 10 Tips on Making the Moment Perfect?
Plus, don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Pinterest pages for a daily dose of wedding inspo!
This article was written by WeddingDresses contributing writer, Kat W. Jackson.
