What to expect from your hair and makeup trial session

At your make-up and hair trial session, you will sit down with your makeup artist and hairstylist to discuss your vision for your wedding day and how makeup and hair can be a part of that vision.  Then, your makeup artist and hairstylist will apply one or more looks, making any changes that you request until you have your perfect wedding-day makeup and hair look dialed down.

Do I need to prepare for my trial session?

Absolutely! Your trial session will go much smoother with a little bit of preparation.  By already having an idea of what look you want, it will be much easier for you and your makeup artist and hairstylist to be on the same page.  Ideally, you will also have pictures to show them because you and your artist may have different notions of what terms like “natural” or “smoky eye” mean.  I recommend using Pinterest to pin pictures of bridal makeup looks and wedding hairstyles that you like to a board that you can then share with the makeup artist and hairstylist.  Sharing pictures is all a part of communication, and the better the communication is between you and your makeup artist and hairstylist, the more likely your vision and their work will be one and the same.  Additionally, it is helpful to share pictures of any looks you had in mind for the maid of honor, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, and anyone else who will be having their hair and makeup done.

Do I need to do anything special to my face and hair before my trial?

Before your trial, you should have a clean face, free of any makeup, as well as clean and dry hair.  This will allow your makeup artist and hairstylist to focus their time on your wedding look.

Should I schedule my trial session for the day I take my engagement photos?

By scheduling your makeup trial session on the same day as your engagement photo session, you can save money over having your makeup applied and hair styled specifically for the engagement session.  However, when it comes to your wedding, saving a little money is not always the way to go.  Using your trial makeup and hairstyle for your engagement photo session will leave you wearing the identical makeup and hair for both your engagement photos and your wedding photos.  Depending on the setting of your engagement photos, your wedding day look may not be appropriate for engagement photos.  Just as the clothing you will wear for your photos will be tied the setting, so, too, should be your makeup and hair.

Follow these tips, and you will be sure to get the most out of your bridal hair and makeup trial!