How to Prepare for Your Bridal Hair and Makeup Trial

Photography by Jessy Jones

So you've booked your bridal hair and makeup artist, but now you're wondering:

"How long before the wedding should I book my trial?"

"What do I ask for at my trial?"

"Should I get a spray tan?"

"How should I prep my hair and skin?"

"What shall I wear?"

"HELP!?"

And you start turning to the bridal groups on Facebook for advice.

Well, let me stop you there. My very first piece of advice, HAS to be this: For 100% clarity, please send your questions to the MUA or hairstylist you have personally booked.

As a professional HMUA, myself, I can tell you that I have encountered several hiccups when my clients have received well-intentioned advice from other people - including other professionals. We all do things differently.

Additionally, this gives YOU the chance to assess your chosen suppliers' communication style early on, and gives you time to go in a different direction if it's not working for you. With that being said, if you're finding yourself in an internet rabbit hole in the middle of the night, I can tell you how I like to work in order to give you a rough idea, to soothe your anxiety until you have a chance to confirm.

1. When should I book my trial?

Aim to book your trial roughly three months before your wedding date. If you book your trial too early, you won't have all the aesthetic elements for the day locked in, and these can influence your choice of hair and makeup style. On top of that, your tastes may change, and even your appearance. Your HMUA's kit may be updated, and even booking your trial in a totally different season could affect your choice of look and how it wears. Book too close to the date, and you run the risk of needing a second trial, with no time to have one, as well as causing yourself extra anxiety with that mental hair and makeup tab still open.

2. What type of inspo pics should I show my hair and makeup artist?

Some artists are going to give you a very different answer to this question, but here's my unpopular opinion: I am happy for you to show me any of the following inspo pics: • AI generated • Heavily edited • On a model who looks totally different to you • Totally and utterly unrealistic And here's why... Firstly, I give my clients the respect that they're not stupid. You know if you're 50 and your inspo pic is of a 20 year old. You know you're not going to come out of your appointment looking like an AI creation. You know if you're a brunette and you're looking at a photo of a blonde. Secondly, a good hair and makeup artist will use that image as a very loose starting point for colours, textures, shapes and styles, NOT as an absolute blueprint for your look. They will ask questions about your usual routine, your preferences, your skin type etc. They will consider what works for your face and make recommendations. If you have booked someone who attempts to copy and paste exactly what you show them onto your face without asking any questions - you've booked the wrong person. So think of some words that describe the style you like. Pop those words in front of the words 'bridal hair and makeup' on Pinterest, Instagram, Google, or wherever you like to browse, and save a few that stand out to you, without overthinking it. Equally, feel free to show photos of times you've had your hair and makeup the way you like, or even show no photos at all. An experienced HMUA should have enough techniques under their belt to be able to create something with just a verbal brief.

Photography by PM Photography

3. How do I prep my hair for the trial?

Your hair should be clean and fully dry before your trial, unless you are having a blowdry or have been specifically instructed otherwise. But wait... Doesn't dirty hair style better? No. Excessive amounts of oil will weigh down your hair and break down even the most water-resistant products. We have products and techniques to help your style hold - we don't need dirt.

General guidelines:

• Normal to oily hair: Wash on the morning of the trial.

• Frizz-prone or dry hair: Wash the evening before. For this hair type, that small amount of natural oil will be just enough to smooth the hair cuticle, preventing frizz, and locking out some of the moisture from the environment without destroying your style.

• Curly, wavy or frizzy hair: Dry in sections and lightly smooth through with a brush beforehand. If this is tricky to manage yourself, your stylist may be able to book you in for a blow dry the day before. I would not recommend booking this with someone else unless discussed with your hairstylist. As I said at the beginning of this post - we all do things differently, and someone else's blow dry may not provide the base your wedding day stylist is looking for.

• Thick or dense hair: Make sure to get the hair squeaky clean. On thick hair, sometimes the nape of the neck needs extra attention when shampooing and when rinsing out conditioner, as oils and product can collect here. Give the hair two good shampoos, with an extra scrub in this area.

For products, keep it simple. A light heat protectant is fine, but avoid anything else, unless discussed beforehand - if a product makes your hair more slippery, or more textured, this may not work for the techniques your stylist plans to use. Additionally, refrain from using tight bobbles, buns, braids or anything that will cause excessive kinking and texture the night before or morning of your trial. Hair down, or in a ponytail with a loose, soft scrunchie is perfect.

4. How should I prep my skin, and should I get a spray tan?

The gold standard of skin prep would be to have a great skincare regime, or even regular treatments, in the run-up to your wedding day. And if you are going to do this, you need to do exactly the same for your trial to test how your makeup sits over the products you're using. However, if you aren't a skincare girl and have no desire to be, the minimum I'd recommend is to exfoliate your skin the night before your trial, use a lip scrub, and put some moisturiser and lip balm on overnight - ensuring all of the products are ones you have used before at least once, so you know they will not cause an adverse reaction on the day (story time: I don't have sensitive skin at all, but recently decided to do a face mask the morning of my friend's wedding. An emergency trip to the shop for antihistamines and an hour later, and the bright red burn mark that had randomly appeared on my jawline JUST went down enough to be hidden by my makeup in time for the ceremony. Even I, an expert at this, am not exempt from the occasional brain fart). And as for tanning - again; if you're planning it for the day, do it for the trial. If you've never had one before at all, do not make your trial your first time.

5. What should I wear? Do I take my accessories?

Trying to judge your bridal glam in a hoody is a bit like seeing an iPhone in a period drama. It looks totally out of place. And if you're someone who isn't even used to having your hair and makeup done, it's probably going to feel a bit out of place at first anyway - you don't need that double whammy.

• The best option: A top as aesthetically similar to your dress as possible. Look for something in a similar colour, fabric and with a similar neckline if possible. This allows you to really see the vision.

• An alternative: A plain, neutral coloured top will be totally fine if you don't have the above - just try to make sure it leans dressy rather than casual if you can.
  

Having your bridal jewellery with you at your trial also allows you to picture the finished look more clearly.

And if you are going to wear a veil, I'd recommend showing this to your hairstylist too. Some of the combs they attach with are very bulky and need consideration when choosing a style - personally, I often ask my brides to have this removed and to attach some loops so that I can secure it with pins rather than shoving a giant comb into the finished hairstyle.

6. Can I take my mum, maid of honour, my daughter and my uncle's mate's dog sitter?

This will depend a little on your HMUA. If they have a studio, or you're attending their home, they may simply not have the space for other people to attend with you. Personally, I am fully mobile and attend my brides' homes+ for the trial. I find this to be far more comfortable for my clients, since a trial can take several hours (I recommend blocking out a full morning or afternoon. While it is unlikely to take quite this long, I like to ensure there is time for plenty of tweaks or even a total redo). In your own home, you can get up and down for drinks, toilet breaks etc as you please, and to be honest - who you have there is your call. I would, however, suggest not taking more than one trusted person with you. Everyone has different preferences, and the opinions of too many people can cloud your judgement. It also takes a little longer to do hair and makeup when there's lots of people chatting. Finally, if you can make alternative arrangements it is preferable, but sometimes it is just unavoidable that there will be children at home. In this case, it is best to let the person you have booked know, as they may like to allow more time for disruptions. Personally, I love your little ones and if your future flower girls are running wild, I'll always try to help by asking them to 'assist' or bribing them with free hairstyles!

Haven't booked your trial yet?

If you are still searching for your hair and makeup artist, I am Lincolnshire based, but equally happy to travel far and wide depending on your budget. For a quote, fill out my contact form here.