Preparing For Your Hair & Makeup Trial
THE TRIAL – “IT’S AN ARTISTIC PROCESS”
It’s the time of year where we are starting to think about getting your trial booked in, so I thought I would write a blog post on how you can best prepare for your trial.
The trial is very much a creative process, and you will have probably already thought about how you might want your hair & makeup to look. Your trial is your time to bring all those ideas to the table and we can start creating a look that is perfectly suited to you. The trial session is a working process, very much like what you would expect at you dress fitting or having a bespoke dress made. You would have your fitting to work through any little niggles or final details. Hair and makeup trials are the same, I need you to enter your trial with the mindset that this is a working session.
Prior to your trial appointment I will look at your pre-trial questionnaire you will have filled out and I will have and idea of the look and direction you wish to go in.
At the trial I will be looking to pull out all your ideas and inspiration for the look. I will be forming some ideas and professional advice to weave into our session. The physical hair & makeup part of the trial session is a creative process, I will always say if you leave the session at 80% happy then this is a wonderful place to be. We can think of the remaining 20% as potential lipstick, change or maybe we go with a different colour palette for your eye. All these things are TOTALLY OK 👌 and I promise nothing to panic about, because we don’t know until we try it right?
The trial timeline will look a little like this.
20 Mins - Tea/ Coffee & Consultation - I love to kick things off with a cup of tea (or coffee) and a chat, for me to create something that is really “you”. I like to hear all about the details, dress, flowers the bridesmaid’s dresses, you name it I love to hear about it! This is where we will go all through your trial inspiration you have submitted on your form and really start to form your ideal hair and makeup look.
1hr 10 Mins - Hair Prep - This is where I will start to prep your hair for your chosen style. If you have chosen to try hair extensions then this is we will colour match and fit them as I prep your hair ready for styling.
1hr 20 - Makeup Application - This is where you will start to see the look all come together. I will start by applying your makeup using the natural light available. When the majority of your makeup is on we will work together with you facing the mirror so you can direct and have input as the final look is coming together.
50 Mins - Hair Styling - This is where I will style your hair into your chosen hair style. You will be facing the mirror and I will be asking you lots of questions about your preferences in relation to your chosen hair style. This is where you can really see the whole look taking shape.
20 Mins Tweaking & Taking Photos - This is where we will make any of those changes you wish to make, have a play around with any veils or hair accessories. And take lots of photos so you can look back and reflect on the session.
⠀My sessions are 4 hours for a full hair and makeup trial, please do allow the full time allocated as it is so important not to rush this process.
I have included a few tips to consider before coming to your hair or make-up trial.
Hair - A Few Tips Before Your Hair Trial
Keep your pintrest board to a few select images, definitely pin a few different elements of each hair style you really love but ultimately don’t go overboard. Together we can pick out your favourite bits and create you something fabulous!
Start to consider will you want to wear a veil, fresh flowers or a hair accessory? these all need to be considered when choosing a style for your hair.
If you have your veil already then please do bring it with you to try, if you don’t have yours yet I do have one you are welcome to try.
If you have any chosen hair accessories then please bring this with you also, however if you are still deciding, I have a couple of beautiful hair vines supplied by Eden B to try with your chosen hair style.
Please wash your hair the night before or on the morning, a double shampoo is advised and a light conditioner. Please don't put any styling products or deep conditioning treatments in your hair after you have washed it.
Hair Extensions
If you are worried about needing a little extra “oomph” then hair extensions are amazing for creating a little extra length and thickness or temporarily adding volume to up-do’s.
I currently stock Milk & Blush Hair Extensions, Made with 100% Remy human hair. The extensions are multi tonal so you never get a flat finish. Milk & Blush Extensions blend beautifully and look so natural no one would know any different and you can add as little or as many as you like.
Hair extensions can be tried with your chosen hair style & colour matched at the trial for no extra cost.
If you wish to have a look at the products yourself then please head over to Milk & Blush to veiwtheir full collection
Makeup - A Few Tips Before Your Trial
Keep a list of definite do and don’t likes. Have you ever had your makeup done previously by a makeup artist? If so, what works for you and what doesn’t? As your bridal makeup artist it is so handy to know any preferences you may have.
If you think it will help, then by all means bring a few of your favourite pieces of makeup with you, whether its a blusher you can’t live without or a lipstick that you love, then we can always factor these in.
If you have any concerns regarding highly sensitive or eczema-prone skin then its really important I know about this. I can advise on a super hypo allergenic skincare brand I use specifically for these skin types.
Ultimately this is a really fun couple of hours to try out a couple of new things and pick up some tips and tricks along the way. I would advise taking lots of photos at the trial, it helps you see how it will look under camera, I would also advise keeping your make-up on for as long as possible, its a good idea to see how long it wears on your skin and makes sure you’re happy with the coverage of the foundation etc.
It is really important that you can (where possible) keep the makeup on, I want you keep looking at it throughout the day, let me know how it is wearing on your skin, are you looking oily? how do the lashes feel etc.
Sometimes clients say to me “it feels like a lot of makeup” and its often really hard to visualise this makeup with the wedding dress, especially when you are wearing your casual clothes. This is another reason it is so important you keep the makeup on, it needs time to settle. I guarantee on your wedding day your makeup will fall into context, you will put that dress on and feel AMAZING!
Want to factor in a makeup change on the wedding day? lets talk about this, I can do a call back service to re - style or just refresh your hair & makeup? the possibilities are endless. If you want to try out a bold lip or a smokier eye for the evening we can factor this into your trial.
Get that skin care regime in place! if you suffer from dryness/oilyness/ or problematic skin, please do not be afraid to ask, I have some amazing products I swear by! I am always happy to help. I have written a blog on skincare to help my brides, to have a look at this click here.
The trial session is designed to address one hair & one makeup look per session. If you are looking to try and create and evening hair & makeup look also then please let me know and I will extend the session by one hour so we can create your dream evening hair and makeup.
Aftercare Advice
Once the trial is over I actively encourage you to keep looking at makeup, I want you to observe how it wears throughout the day and whether you notice anything you might like to tweak. It is really important that you can (where possible) keep the makeup on, I want you keep looking at it throughout the day, let me know how it is wearing on your skin, are you looking oily? how do the lashes feel etc.
I will ask you to feed back any tweaks or changes that you would like made to your wedding day hair & makeup. After your session I will write up a full face chart and detailed notes of your hairstyle. I will then add your feedback notes to your trial notes and have a recap prior to your wedding day.
