Your wedding day is one of the most magical moments of your life, and every detail matters, including your hair! A wedding hair trial isn’t just a test run; it’s your chance to perfect your dream bridal look, eliminate stress, and ensure you walk down the aisle feeling like the best version of yourself.
But how do you prepare for your trial? What should you bring? And how do you communicate your vision to your stylist?
Relax—we’ve got everything handled for you! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from preparation tips to what to expect on the day. Whether you’re dreaming of soft romantic waves, a sleek updo, or a boho braid, your perfect bridal hairstyle starts here. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Do I Need a Wedding Hair Trial and Why Is It Important?
- When Should I Book a Wedding Hair Trial?
- What Happens at a Wedding Hair and Makeup Trial?
- How Long Should I Expect My Hair Trial to Last?
- What Should I Bring to My Bridal Hair Trial?
- How to Prepare Your Hair and Skin for Your Trial
- What do I do after my wedding hair trial?
- Should I Have More Than One Hair Trial?
- Final Thoughts & Book Your Hair Trial with Izabella Bordignon
Do I need a wedding hair trial and why is it important?
Many top hair stylists require a trial before a wedding. This ensures you feel comfortable and confident while they work on your hair. A trial gives you the chance to see exactly how your hairstyle will look on your big day, so there are no surprises, disappointments, or last-minute anxieties.
It’s recommended to schedule your trial 2 to 4 months before your wedding. This timeframe allows room for a second trial if you want to explore another style or make adjustments.
A hair trial helps you choose both the perfect hairstyle and the right stylist.
Feeling confident in their skills and at ease in their presence is essential. Creating your dream hair style takes time and expertise, so you should feel assured that your stylist not only understands your vision but also makes you feel relaxed and cared for throughout the process.
Can’t decide on your wedding hair?
Stay true to your style. Your wedding day is not the time for a drastic hair transformation! If you’ve never straightened your naturally curly hair, for example, this may not be the best moment to experiment.
Your bridal stylist’s goal is to enhance your natural beauty and ensure you feel absolutely perfect. While it’s tempting to explore trendy styles, you don’t want to look back at your wedding day hair and regret choosing something that didn’t feel like “you.”
Think about the hair styles that have made you feel the most confident in previous occasions; the ones that have drawn the most compliments. This can be a great starting point for choosing a flattering and timeless bridal hairstyle.
When should I book a wedding hair trial?
Your trial day is a crucial step in perfecting your bridal look, ensuring that your hair complements your dress, theme, your wedding makeup and personal style. But when should you book it? Too early, and your hair texture or style preference might change. Too late, and you risk unnecessary stress or not having enough time for adjustments.
To help you plan effectively, here’s a detailed breakdown of the best time to schedule your trial hair, factors to consider, and tips to make the most of it.
To ensure the best results, it’s recommended to schedule your bridal trial 2 to 4 months before the big day. This allows enough time for adjustments and ensures a relaxed, stress-free process. However, if you plan to cut or dye your hair, it’s best to start discussing changes with your stylist at least four to six months in advance to ensure your hair reaches the desired length and colour in time. You should then schedule a touch up appointment around 2 weeks before the big day.
When should I colour my hair before my wedding?
For those making major hair colour changes, final colouring should be done about two weeks before the wedding to allow the colour to settle naturally while still looking fresh. If you’re considering a significant haircut, it should be planned four months prior, with minor adjustments or trims made about 10 days before the wedding to keep your style polished and refined. Proper timing ensures your dream hair looks flawless and effortless on your special day.
What happens at a wedding hair and makeup Trial?
A wedding hair and makeup trial is essential for refining a bride’s look and ensuring no surprises on the big day. Clear communication is key—brides should express their preferences so the stylist can tailor the look to their features and style.
Booking the trial on a day when the bride plans to go out helps test how the look holds up in a real setting. Documenting the process with photos and product notes also ensures consistency, making it easier to replicate the final look on the wedding day.
How long should I expect my trial to last?
Trials can last up to 3 hours. Your hair stylist is perfecting your look so you already know what to expect the morning of your wedding! Our expert team always recommend to our brides to schedule their trial 2-4 months before their wedding. Around this time they know exactly what they want. After the trial your stylist will know exactly how long they will need to complete your bridal look.
Your wedding hair is going to be one of the most important styles you ever wear, which is why booking a wedding hair trial is essential before your special day. Whatever type of wedding you’re going for – a classic white wedding or the simplest registry office ceremony – every bride will agree that she wants to look her best. And that’s a decision that’s just as important as the dress. Leaving it to the last minute, and trusting to luck, not only frays the nerves, but risks disaster.
What should I bring to my bridal hair trial for the best results?
To get the best results, it’s important to come prepared with the right essentials. Bringing the right items will help your hair stylist understand your vision, work efficiently, and ensure that your hair style complements your overall bridal look.
Before your trial you should send pictures of your wedding dress, any bridal hair inspiration or makeup inspiration photos, wedding decoration, aesthetics and wedding. These features play a big roll in understanding your vision and executing the look you are going for perfectly.
On the day of your trial, you should bring any accessories you are planning on wearing on your wedding day. This includes, a veil, hair clips, tiara etc. You should also bring your jewellery like earrings, necklace etc. This will just solidify your final look even further. Also make sure you are wearing a top or an outfit that is the same colour as your wedding dress! As well as the same style e.g the neckline.
Most importantly, arrive with clean hair! Contrary to the common myth that dirty hair holds styles better, greasy hair or unwashed hair can actually weigh down your hairstyle, make it harder to work with, and affect the longevity of the look. Clean hair gives us a fresh canvas to prep and style effectively.
If you are planning on wearing extensions on your big day, make sure you check in with your hair stylist on what ones they recommend. Please ensure you bring the right match to your trial so you know exactly how your style will look on your big day.
A well-prepared hair trial means a stress-free, flawless bridal look! 👰✨
How To Prepare Your Hair and Skin For Your Trial?
Hair
To ensure the best results for your wedding hair trial, arrive with clean, dry hair that is free from products. It’s advisable to wash and dry your hair the night before without applying any styling products, as this provides a clean base for your stylist to work with. Depending on your desired hairstyle, your stylist may have specific recommendations for hair preparation, so it’s a good idea to discuss this in advance. Additionally, communicating any past hair treatments or concerns with your stylist can help them tailor the approach to suit your hair’s condition.
Keeping your hair healthy in the months leading up to your trial is equally important. Regular trims every three months help prevent breakage and maintain healthy hair, but major changes such as drastic cuts or significant colour treatments should be avoided too close to the trial. If you need a final haircut, schedule it just before your trial to ensure your hair is at the right length for styling and to get an accurate preview of your wedding day look.
To make the most of your hair trial, bring inspirational photos of your desired hair style, wedding dress, and any hair accessories such as veils, clips, or tiaras. These elements help your stylist understand your vision and ensure the chosen hairstyle complements your overall bridal look. By arriving prepared and communicating clearly, you’ll set yourself up for a successful trial and a flawless wedding hairstyle.
Skin
In the weeks leading up to the trial, discuss your skincare routine with your artist so they can give you expert advice on understanding your skin type and tailor their approach accordingly. If you plan to have any major skin treatments, such as facials or peels, be sure to book them at least 2 weeks in advance to your trial and wedding day, allowing time for your skin to recover.
During the trial, open communication with your makeup artist is key. If you have any skin concerns, such as breakouts, dryness, or sensitivity, discuss them so they can adjust products and techniques to suit your needs. If you have any other references or inspiration your makeup pro has not seen yet, show them on the day of your trial. Point out the things you like and don’t like from each picture.
Doing these steps will ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, helping you feel confident that your look will be flawless.
Stay in control: Communicating your vision with your stylist
Remember that you’re the boss! If you don’t like what your hairstylist is doing, say so. Don’t get talked into a look that you’re not comfortable with. If it doesn’t look right the first time, start again – the whole idea of a trial is to test out ideas to arrive at the best result. If you’re not happy, your stylist won’t be happy either, so don’t be afraid to speak your mind!
This also applies if you are including your bridesmaids. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments or change the plan to achieve your vision. A lot goes into getting bridal party hair and makeup right, and when you have multiple people to consider, all with different hair and skin types, it can take a little work to get everyone on the same page. And you need to stay on top of the budget! Just remember: you are the bride, it’s your day. So create a clear, simple outline and take it from there!
Don’t be afraid to expand your vision: Exploring different styles at your trial
We’re talking hair extensions here! They don’t have to make your hair longer – they can be used to add volume and help achieve more striking looks.
Bridal hair can be intricate and the inclusion of hair extensions can be just the right thing to create that picture-perfect style you have saved on your mood board.
Similarly, it’s a great time to add highlighting features that add a lot to your style but which would be too much hassle to maintain as your everyday look.
What do I do after my wedding hair trial?
Put it all on record. Your stylist should take lots of pictures, during and after the trial and share them with you. Before you finish the trial, talk through the hair and beauty styles with your stylist and make lots of notes – that way you’ll never have to lie awake thinking that something’s been forgotten or wondering what was said!
Izabella’s expert advice: “Talk to me!”, she says. “I’ve styled hundreds of brides, and, though everyone is unique, working so closely with them has gained me enormous experience. Making every bride perfect for her wedding day is my passion, and the planning is just part of the joy!”
We will reach out to gather feedback, as this insight allows us to refine the style and ensure it remains secure and flawless for your wedding day. If you feel any changes are necessary, communicate them to us as soon as possible. Whether it’s adjusting volume, securing the style more firmly, or altering certain details, we can schedule a follow-up appointment to implement the modifications well before the big day. Open communication is key to achieving a look that makes you feel confident and comfortable.
Additionally, your hair trial helps us determine the best timing and scheduling for your wedding day preparations. By understanding your specific needs and the time required for adjustments, we can plan accordingly to ensure a stress-free and seamless styling experience on the day itself.
Should I have more than one Hair Trial?
Booking a second hair trial is optional, as 90% of the time, one trial is enough to finalise your look. However, if you want to experiment with multiple hairstyles or if your first trial is more than six months before your wedding, a second trial may be beneficial. It’s also recommended if you’re using the first trial to see if we are the right fit, as it allows for refinements closer to the big day.
If you’re unsure about your hairstyle, consider a second trial or bringing your trial date forward. The first hair and makeup trial is usually held two to four months before the wedding, with a second trial, if needed, four weeks before to perfect any changes.
Your hair trial helps ensure your hairstyle complements your dress, makeup, and accessories for a cohesive look. Keeping an open mind is key, as you may find your initial choice doesn’t suit you as expected. Documenting the trial steps also ensures consistency, as the same stylist will likely be working on your beautiful wedding hair on the day.
Ready to turn your bridal hair vision into reality?
Whether you’re dreaming of soft waves, a polished bun, or a timeless half-up style, your journey begins with the perfect hair trial. At Izabella Bordignon London, we specialise in creating bespoke bridal hairstyles that elevate your natural beauty and reflect your personal style. Our luxury experience is calm, collaborative, and completely tailored to you. Don’t leave your dream look to chance—book your hair trial today and let’s design the most beautiful version of you for your wedding day.
