How To Prep For Your Bridal Trial

Hello, beautiful bride or bride-to-be! I'm so excited to have you be part of this conversation and hope this offers plenty of knowledge about what to expect from a bridal trial and how to prep for one! Before we dive into today's blog, I wanted to pause and give you a second to breathe and relax. I know this isn't the case for everyone, but planning a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming! If that's how you're feeling, I want to remind you that your wedding day will be special because you're getting to marry your person. It's okay to rest and return to any of the to-dos on your list once you feel more relaxed! Alright, let's get into it, beautiful! You're going to love these tips!

Find The Right Stylist For You

It might seem like a no-brainer, but I want to share this from a stylist's point of view. Not all stylists are the same, and hairstylists have been starting to niche down into areas they exceed in. You might have to look around a little more to find the perfect match for you. It was common to look up a salon and book a formal style for a long time. The issue with this is you aren't guaranteed to be taken care of by someone who knows how to do bridal hair. The benefit to booking with someone with bridal hair within their niche is that you're getting an above-and-beyond experience because they constantly work to make their services the best they can be. I recommend asking other vendors who they recommend, doing a google search, and checking Instagram to see if you like any of the stylist's work. Make sure you love the stylist's work and style before you book with them.

2. Get Inspired And Know What You Want

Understanding what style makes you feel most confident and comfortable is a great start. For example, if you constantly have your hair down and aren't used to wearing it in an updo, it might be best to have it down for your wedding. I've seen a few times where brides love a style, but it doesn’t feel right to them! Knowing your preference prior can save time and means you're using the time in your bridal trial wisely. Once you know the general idea of what you're looking for, find some pictures you love. Bonus points if it's work from the stylist you booked with because you know what you'll receive! After that, figure out the common theme in your collected photos. If you notice a few of your images have a braid or a similar curl pattern, that might be something you want to try at your bridal session. You may like the amount of hair left out in the front or the volume each style has! Don't stress out if you're unsure what to look for; your stylist can help you with some of those minor details! Bringing inspiration photos is essential because it ensures your stylist knows exactly what you want.

3. Clean Dry Hair

For years, I've had at least one or two girls in a bridal party show up with oily hair, which made it hard to style the way they wanted it styled. Typically, this is great! I wash my hair sparingly, but it is impossible to get volume or an airy texture for updos. For your bridal trial and wedding day, plan to wash your hair the evening before and make sure it's 100% dry! Doing This ensures you get the most out of your bridal trial. If you have fine hair or hair that can't hold a curl, please don't worry! Your stylist should have the proper products and prep steps to help you achieve what you want!

4. Come In With An Open Mind

Your stylist wants to make sure you feel your absolute best walking down the aisle, but there may be a few things that need to be tweaked or changed. If you followed step one, you should be able to trust the stylist you chose! Your stylist might walk you through a few things to change or adjust to accommodate your hair's length, texture, or density! Trust that they are looking out for you! I have had many brides come in with inspiration pictures of perfect Pinterest hair that used extensions to make the style look full. This is great if you have thick hair or plan on investing in extensions, but if it’s not in your budget, there will be things that may not look the same! An open mind will help us make suggestions that make you feel like a total babe on your wedding day.

5. Go Solo

I know it's fun to bring the people you love; however, the style should be what makes YOU feel confident. Not what your mom, friend, or sister would feel good wearing. Going in solo gives you the freedom to decide what you want to look like on your wedding day. Your bridal trial is also a great time to get to know your stylist better and gives them a chance to share hair tips for you and your bridal party! Nothing is worse than walking away from your trial and not knowing if you love your style enough to want to have it on your wedding day.

6. Wear The Right Clothes + Makeup

I recommend wearing a color close to the color of your wedding dress and putting makeup on. This makes visualizing what you will look like on the day easier. It also cuts down on negative feelings and over-analyzing that we tend to do when we don't feel the best! I highly recommend doing your makeup and hair trials on the same day! There have been times I've gotten ready and felt like I overdid it. Doing both trials on the same day reduces the feeling that something is off on the wedding day. Also, it’s just fun running errands and looking like a princess. It’s a win-win!

7. Bring Accessories

Bringing your accessories along can help your stylist figure out what style will look best with them, the placement, and how to create the hairstyle to accommodate the accessory. Other accessories that would be great to bring are a veil and extensions if you and your stylist have agreed to use them! Please tell them before the trial that you would like to use extensions. The goal is to ensure your beautiful style is the same for your wedding day and that no significant adjustments need to happen.

8. Think About The Weather

Lastly, look ahead at the season you've chosen to get married in. The last thing you would want on a windy day if you have a wedding outside is your hair flying into your face the whole ceremony. It's hard to know what the weather will be like, but having a backup plan regarding your style is a good idea. If this is something that stresses you out, communicate with your stylist! They will have great ideas just in case plans have to shift.

That’s a wrap, my dear! These are my top tips as a bridal stylist to help you achieve your dream bridal hair. Thank you so much for taking time to read this. If you found it helpful, I would love to know what tip stood out to you. If you are a bride in Kansas, and looking for a bridal stylist that is passionate about creating an exceptional bridal experience, click on the bridal tab above and fill out the form. I can’t wait to meet you. Until next time, have a cozy day.

Find The Right Stylist For You