Your wedding hair and makeup trial is a chance to work out what feels right for you before the big day. It’s not about showing up knowing exactly what you want. Part of the reason for having a trial is to figure that out together.
A little preparation beforehand can make the appointment more useful and help you get the most out of your time in the chair.
Bring your inspiration
Having a few photos of hair and makeup you love is really helpful. They give us a starting point and help me understand the overall style you’re drawn to.
You don’t need to bring twenty different screenshots. A handful of images that have something in common is much more useful than a whole Pinterest board of completely different looks.
It’s also worth thinking about what you like about each photo. Is it the soft skin, the eyes, the hair shape, how natural it looks or the overall feeling? Sometimes you might love a look without necessarily wanting the exact same thing on yourself.
Your features, hair and personal style are all different, so the goal isn’t to copy someone else. It’s to take the parts you love and create something that works for you.
Think about your wedding dress and overall style
If you already have your dress, bring a photo of it or tell me a little about the style.
Your dress, veil, jewellery and overall wedding style can all help guide your hair and makeup choices. A soft, relaxed look might suit one wedding perfectly, while something more polished might make sense for another.
You don’t need everything figured out before your trial. It’s simply helpful to have an idea of the overall look you’re creating.
Have your beauty treatments done
If you’re planning on having other beauty treatments for your wedding day, it’s a good idea to have them done before your trial too.
Things like a spray tan, lash extensions or a lash lift and tint, brow shaping or tinting can all change how your final hair and makeup look comes together.
Having these treatments in place for your trial gives us a much more realistic idea of the finished look. It also gives you the opportunity to see how everything works together and make any changes before the wedding.
You don’t necessarily need to have every treatment booked this far in advance, but if you already know what you’re planning to have, try to replicate it for your trial as closely as possible.
Come with clean skin and clean hair
For makeup, arrive with clean, moisturised skin where possible. You don’t need to do anything complicated beforehand. Your normal skincare routine is usually enough.
For hair, follow the instructions your artist gives you before your appointment, as this can vary depending on your hair type and the style you’re having.
There’s no need to arrive with a head full of dry shampoo and five different styling products unless you’ve specifically been asked to. Your hair needs to be in a good starting place so we can see how it behaves naturally.
Wear something similar to your wedding day neckline
You don’t need to turn up in a white dress, but wearing something with a similar neckline or colour to your wedding dress can be helpful.
It gives you a better idea of how the hair and makeup work with the overall look, rather than looking at them in isolation.
If you’re planning on wearing a particular pair of earrings or have your veil already, bring those along too if you can.
Be honest during the trial
This is probably the most important part.
If you love something, tell me. If something doesn’t feel quite right, tell me that too.
A trial is the perfect time to make adjustments. Maybe you want the makeup softer, the eyes a little stronger, more volume through the hair or something completely different. It’s much easier to make those changes at your trial than on your wedding morning.
You’re not going to offend me by saying you want something changed. I’d much rather know.
Don’t put too much pressure on the trial
Your trial doesn’t have to be the moment where you immediately know, this is it.
Sometimes we get there straight away. Sometimes it takes a little adjusting. Sometimes the look you thought you wanted ends up not being the one you feel most comfortable in.
That’s completely normal.
The best result is usually a combination of your inspiration, my experience and a bit of trial and error. The goal is to create something that looks beautiful, photographs well and, most importantly, still feels like you.
Give yourself time afterwards
If you can, don’t schedule your trial right before you have somewhere else to be.
Give yourself a little time afterwards to see how the hair and makeup wear, especially if you’re trying something you haven’t worn before. Take some photos in different lighting and pay attention to how you feel throughout the day.
Do you still love the makeup a few hours later? Does the hair feel comfortable? Is there anything you’d like to change?
Those little observations can be really useful when it comes to your wedding day.
A little preparation goes a long way
You don’t need to have every detail decided before your trial. Bring your inspiration, come with an open mind, and be honest about what you like and don’t like.
If you’re planning on having a spray tan, lashes, brows or other treatments for your wedding, having these done for your trial can also make a big difference. The closer we can get to your final look, the more useful your trial will be.
Your trial is there for you to try things, ask questions and make changes. By the time your wedding day arrives, you’ll already know what you’re wearing, how it feels and that you’ve had the chance to make it your own.
