How To Properly Prepare For Your Bridal Hair and Makeup Trial Run

Bride getting ready with her bridesmaids in the Graham  Mill Wedding Venue in Graham North Carolina. Bride and Bridal party makeup done by bridal team alter-image bridal hair and makeup.

How to Properly Prepare for Your Bridal Hair and Makeup Trial Run

Bridal Trials, a peek into what you’ll really look like on your Wedding Day. An exciting time to work up a game plan with your stylist/MUA and make your vision come to life.

One of the biggest questions prior is, "What Do I Need To Do To Prep For My Bridal Hair Or Makeup Trial?"

Have no fear, we’re here to bring you some tips and tricks! By the end of this post, you’ll be more ready than ever, and you’ll have your stylist/MUA impressed with how prepared you are for your session!

When Should I Book My Hair and Makeup Trial Run?

To ensure you secure your spot, it's best to book your hair and makeup trial run as early as possible. As a bridal hair and makeup artist who has been in the industry for almost a decade here at Alter Image we recommend booking at least 2-3 months in advance, especially during peak wedding season.

Here is a sneak peak into our paste Bride Kelsie’s Trial Run she had at her wedding Venue The Graham Mill Located in Graham, North Carolina.

How Do I Prepare for My Hair Trial?

First things first, you're going to want to make sure your stylist has a fresh and clean canvas. Whether you wash your hair the night before or the day of, make sure that it’s 100% dry before your stylist arrives.

  • This allows you to jump right into your trial run session without taking away from your appointment time!

We love to provide our Alter-Image Brides with a short but detailed questionnaire to make sure we have all of your concerns mapped out.

Whether you're unsure if you'll need hair extensions for the wedding day or if your hair doesn't hold a curl, our artist can come fully equipped with everything they need to address your personal needs.

  • Once we have your questionnaire, we'll send you details on what time to expect your artist to arrive,

  • as we are an on-location bridal hair and makeup company. We'll also provide a few tips on how to prep prior to your artist arriving at your location. (what we need when setting up on location)

During your trial run, have a chat with your stylist to see what's best for your hair texture and current hair length. You can discuss whether you'd need any filler hair or if extensions are needed.

We can recommend the best brands that would photograph perfectly in your wedding day photos!

Bride having her first look with her bridal party in the bridal suite of the graham mill wedding venue located in graham north carolina

Tips for Finding Hair Extensions or Clip-Ins for Your Big Day

When choosing hair extensions, make sure to have them color-matched prior by your personal stylist or through email communication leading up to your trial. This ensures a seamless blend with your natural hair.

Choose human hair extensions, as synthetic hair is less costly but doesn't take a curl well (she will melt lol) if too much heat is applied, which is not ideal for your special day.

We share our top 2 favorite brand of hair extensions with our alter image bride and they can even get color matched online!!

Do I Need to Book a Bridal Hair or Makeup Trial?

Before we get properly prepped, let's talk about the point of a Bridal Trial anyway!

Bridal Trials are a great way to test out what works and what doesn't. Can you imagine the stress that you would feel not knowing how your hair and makeup are going to look before you walk down the aisle?

Booking a trial allows your stylist to work with you to create the perfect makeup look, along with the right hairstyle for your special day.

Bridal Trials are also great to book prior to events like a date night, engagement session, or the most common bridal portraits. This way, you can create that special look and go on looking like a queen for the rest of the day or evening.

And see how your makeup or hair would hold up throughout the day!

How Do I Prepare for My Makeup Trial?

Skin, Skin, Skin!

When it comes to prepping your skin, again, less is best. You'll want to keep the product use to a minimum! If you do apply any product to your skin, try to stick to a light moisturizer and a little SPF.

This way, your skin is nice and moisturized but also ready to assist in a smooth makeup application.

ing first look at the Graham  Mill Wedding Venue located in Graham, North Carolina

Hydration Is a Must!

Another thing that's great to do for both your trial and your wedding day is to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

This helps prevent dryness on your face and also helps to prevent/ease any puffiness that may come from the day/night prior.

If you have a couple of designer bags under those eyes, throw a couple of spoons in the freezer the night prior, and place them under your eyes for a few minutes.

Pro tip: If you're short on time, wet a paper towel and wrap it around the spoons before placing them in the freezer for a few minutes!

film wedding photography of bride and groom at north carolina wedding venue the graham mill

The Next Step

So, do you feel a little more in the know? Knowing what to expect helps you get your ducks in a row and allows for a smooth appointment. In the meantime, gather those inspiration pictures and dream up the look you desire! Don't be afraid to ask your stylist/MUA questions, and remember to have a backup plan.

If you have any questions about booking a Bridal Trial or if you're ready to book your own, be sure to contact us. We'll be more than happy to help you out!