3 IMPORTANT Steps for Your Hair and Makeup Trial to ensure GORGEOUS Results for Your Wedding Day
Photographer: Style & Story: Creative
To save a little money in the wedding budget, you canceled your hair and makeup trial, without much concern because certainly the picture from Pinterest will show the stylists exactly what you want your hair and makeup to look like.
The morning of the wedding, the stylist warns that the model in the picture has extensions to both lengthen and thicken her hair which has a major impact on the final look, but you insist she try to make that look work.
3 hours later, the chair turns toward the mirror and the panic sets in.
Had a proper hair and makeup trial been completed, this would have been avoided.
Yes, hair and makeup trials cost some money, but in the end, the importance outweighs the cost.
Looking and feeling the absolute best on one of the biggest days of your life is worth shelling out the extra money to ensure that the hair and makeup stylists fully understand your vision for the day.
There are certain factors to consider prior to the trial to ensure that it is as successful as possible.
1. Choose a style for your wedding hair and makeup
Hair by Megan Cox Bridal (Cleveland, Ohio)
When you look back on your wedding album in 20 years, do you want to smile or *gasp*? Sorry 80’s brides, maybe you thought shoulder poofs, teased hair, and blue eyeshadow would be in style forever, but I have to imagine that many of you are the gaspers 40 years later.
When you decide on a wedding look, it’s typically best to choose timeless, classic, and conservative. Brides should look like themselves on their wedding day with a little extra umph.
But if the look is so different from your typical hair and makeup, you may look at your wedding pictures down the road and barely recognize yourself.
Remember, your fiance is marrying you for the YOU you are now, not the you plastered in extra makeup and fancy hair, and sometimes, the most beautiful wedding looks are the simplest.
So, to decide on a vision and bridal look, use all of the lovely world of the internet (and my advice on keeping it classy and simple), and narrow down to one or two looks for both hair and makeup to show your stylists.
2. Bring photo inspiration to your stylists AHEAD of the trial
Makeup by Mirror Mirror Bridal (Cleveland, Ohio)
This is VERY important. Ask the stylists WAY ahead of the trial date if the look in the picture is actually achievable, so you can plan something else if not.
“What do you mean achievable?”
Well, I’m going to take a moment to be very honest with you.
It’s very possible that certain looks may not be 100% possible on you for various reasons.
Did you know that many hair and makeup looks you find on Pinterest are actually photoshoots set up by photographers, magazines, dress designers, florists, and more to advertise various wedding vendors or to sell something?
That model did not dance the night away and maintain that perfect hair. She did not cry at a ceremony with those lashes. And in between each set of photos, her hair and makeup are most likely touched up by a team.
Your wedding is a real event. You are a real life bride.
And unless you have a celebrity life, you most likely will not have a team of people following you around to fix your hair and makeup all day long.
That being said, when you find inspiration pictures on various websites and social media platforms, keep in mind you may be looking at a model whose hair style is achievable with hundreds of dollars worth of high end extensions to both thicken and lengthen her hair.
Hair by Megan Cox Bridal (Cleveland, Ohio)
Longer, thicker hair can make a HUGE difference in the final look of a bridal hair style and should be taken into consideration when deciding on a look.
Don’t know if you’re looking at a model’s hair or a real bride?
Ask your hair stylist!
He or she knows your hair, and so do you. Together, you can discuss what it takes to achieve that particular look and if it’s actually possible.
There are many factors to consider.
Does your hair hold curl well? Is your hair too thin to create a certain style? Do you need extensions to ensure that you’re happy with the final wedding look? Will you be a sweaty mess and miserable if your hair is down like the bride in that picture? Are you wearing a veil or headpiece? Does your hair, like mine, frizz with ANY sort of humidity or moisture?
All of these questions can be answered by the expert stylist. And all of these questions need to be considered before finalizing a look.
Last reality check on photo inspiration.
Makeup in magazines and in planned photoshoots is airbrushed. Don’t be fooled. Even still, your makeup can, and will look gorgeous on your beautiful real, non-airbrushed skin.
To avoid the disappointment of choosing an unachievable wedding day hairstyle or makeup look, try choosing a photo from the stylists social media pages that will actually be doing your hair and makeup. This way you know it’s a realistic option on real brides and not just models.
3. Show up to your Hair and Makeup Trial Prepared
Makeup by Mirror Mirror Bridal (Cleveland, Ohio)
You’ve brought inspiration pictures and you’ve spoken with your hair and makeup stylists about the reality of recreating those looks. Now you’ve all got a true picture of the exact look you are going for on your wedding day.
So, the time has come to actually implement and try out the hair and makeup to ensure that all of your visions are brought to life in the way you expect.
Don’t leave for your appointment without these 2 crucial items:
Bring the photos back to the salon with any notes you may have taken regarding changes and ideas that were previously discussed.
If you plan on wearing a headpiece or veil (or both), you have to bring those items with you to the trial. If you do not bring these items, your final wedding look will be drastically different from the trial look.
During your appointment, take notes about decisions that are being made to refresh your memory that day. You may think you’ll remember everything on your wedding day, but trust me, it’s a whirlwind, so write it all down in the notes app of your phone for safekeeping.
So what should you write down?
Note what colors are being used in your makeup (lipstick, liner, eyeshadows, foundations, blush, and more). Note any changes that are made during the hair trial that differ from the photo inspiration.
At the end of the appointment, take photos of both the final hair and makeup so that your stylist and makeup artist have a perfect refresher on your wedding day.
Bottom line. Schedule the trial. You don’t want to look in the mirror on your wedding day and panic.
