Your bridal hair and makeup trial is about so much more than deciding what you want to look like on your wedding day. It’s an opportunity to test your look, make sure everything works together and get to know the person who will be with you throughout your wedding morning.

Here are my tips for getting the most out of your trial.

When should you have your trial?

I recommend having your bridal hair and makeup trial around 3–6 months before your wedding.

Having your trial too far in advance can sometimes mean that your ideas change before the big day. Trends, styles and even your own preferences can change significantly over the course of a year.

Having your trial closer to the wedding also means your hair is more likely to resemble how it will look on the day, particularly when it comes to length and colour. This is especially important if you’re considering extensions, as they can then be matched to your final hair colour and length.

Bring your veil and accessories

If you have already chosen your veil or hair accessories, bring them with you to your trial.

This includes decorative combs, pins, clips, bows, or even dried flowers. I do keep a small selection of accessories and a veil in my kit, which can be useful for giving you an idea of how something might look, but there really is no substitute for trying your own accessories.

Veils can have very different attachments. Some have combs, some have clips and some have no attachment at all. Knowing what we’re working with means we can create your hairstyle around it.

Sometimes attachments can also be removed or altered to make them work better with your chosen hairstyle. It’s always best to do this in advance to not take any time off of the wedding morning.

Bring inspiration pictures

I love inspiration pictures.

Describing a hairstyle or makeup look in words can be surprisingly difficult because words such as natural, glam, sleek, soft and voluminous can mean completely different things to different people.

Even “curled hair” can mean anything from beach waves to defined Hollywood curls.

A picture removes that uncertainty and gives me a much clearer understanding of what you’re envisioning.

I always welcome brides to choose inspiration from my own gallery. These are looks I have personally created, so I know they are achievable and I can talk you through exactly how we could adapt them for you.

When looking elsewhere for inspiration, I recommend choosing images of people with similar hair and features to your own where possible. Hair colour, thickness, length and extensions can all dramatically change how a hairstyle looks. The same applies to makeup, where skin type, tone, age and features can affect how a look translates.

One thing I would recommend avoiding is AI-generated bridal inspiration. It can create beautiful images, but they don’t necessarily represent a hairstyle or makeup look that can actually be recreated in real life.

Come with clean hair and skin

There is a common belief that dirty hair holds a hairstyle better. In reality, clean hair is usually a much better starting point.

Greasy hair can sometimes be much harder to work with and can make styling more difficult. I can always add texture and grit using the professional products I bring with me to achieve that lasting look.

For your makeup trial, arrive with clean skin and try not to make any major changes to your skincare routine beforehand. I will always give you recommendations for skincare and beauty treatments in the lead-up to your wedding where I think they will benefit your final makeup.

The same applies to your hair colour. If you’re planning a particular colour for your wedding, ideally have this done before your trial. Your hair colour can affect how certain styles look, and it’s particularly important if you’re having extensions fitted, as these need to be matched to your hair.

Treat your trial as a test run

Don’t think of your trial as simply trying something on for an hour and then taking it straight off.

I recommend wearing your hair and makeup for the rest of the day if you can.

This gives you the opportunity to see how everything feels over several hours. Are your lashes feeling too heavy? Do your pins feel secure? Are your extensions comfortable? Does your makeup still feel good later in the day?

It’s also a great way for us to identify anything that might need adjusting to improve longevity before your wedding day.

It’s about finding the right fit for both of us

Your trial is, of course, about making sure you love your hair and makeup.

But it’s also about making sure we’re the right fit for each other.

I’ll be spending several hours with you and your bridal party on one of the biggest days of your life. I’m not simply creating a look, handing it over and leaving. I’ll be part of your wedding morning, so it’s important that we get along, feel comfortable together and that you trust me.

The trial also allows me to properly understand your hair, skin and preferences. By doing a trial run, I can identify exactly what products and techniques work best for you and whether there is anything specific I need to prepare or bring on the wedding day.

Ultimately, the goal is for you to leave your trial feeling excited, confident and completely reassured that your bridal look is in safe hands.

And when your wedding morning arrives, there should be no guesswork. We’ve already done the trial run. Now you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy being pampered.