A well-planned hair trial can take the stress out of hair style decisions and ensure you feel confident and beautiful when you walk down the aisle. Here are my top tips to help you prepare and get the most out of your wedding hair trial.
When To Book Your Hair Trial
Your wedding hairstyle is not just about your hair, it’s about your entire look, so don’t leave your trial until the last minute. I would recommend having your hair trial about 3/4 months before your wedding day. Hopefully you’ll only need one hair trial but if you do find it hard to settle on a style, or even on a hairstylist, allowing yourself plenty of time will ensure you have time to book in a second trial or even find a different stylist if need be. Starting early allows you to explore various styles, ensuring you find the one that perfectly complements your dress, your wedding theme and your personal style
When scheduling your hair trial, try to coordinate it with your makeup trial - choosing a hair and make-up artists who often work together can be really useful for this. For extra planning points if you can schedule a dress fitting for the same day too you’ll really be able to see the complete look and plan any tweaks to ensure everything works together perfectly.
Research and Inspiration
Before your hair trial, spend some time researching hairstyles. Platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, Tik Tok, bridal magazines, and wedding blogs are excellent sources of inspiration. Save images of hairstyles you love and bring them to your trial. This will give your hairstylist a clear idea of what you envision.
Your hairstyle should complement your dress and accessories. If you’re wearing a high-neck dress, an updo might be the perfect choice. For a strapless gown, flowing waves or a half-up, half-down style could be ideal. Think about how your hair will interact with your veil, earrings, and your hair accessories.
Timing Your Accessory Purchase
Whether to buy your hair accessory before or after your hair trial is a matter of personal choice (I’ve explored this question in detail here) but if you can, selecting your headpiece after you’ve chosen your outfit and before your trial is my preferred way of doing things. If you order your headpiece in time you can bring it with you to your trial so your stylist has a chance to play with ways of incorporating your headpiece into your hair style in advance of your wedding day so you’ll know exactly how everything will work together in advance. It also means they can ensure they know to keep them securely in place throughout your wedding day. It can be useful to bring things like earrings and necklaces too so you can check you’re happy with how all your accessories work together and with your hair.
Wedding Headpiece Options
I offer a range of styles of bridal hair accessories that cater to different hairstyles and preferences. Most of them will work with more than one hairstyle and can be worn in different ways - ideal if you're not certain of the hairstyle you will go for.
- Tiaras and Crowns: Perfect for a regal, vintage or whimsical fairytale look, these accessories work well with updos, short hair styles and flowing hairstyles. Whether you’re a celestial, botanical, woodland or classic bride we’ve got a crown to match your style.
- Hair Combs and Hair Pins: Versatile and elegant, these can be placed strategically to enhance your chosen style.
- Headbands: One of the easiest styles to wear, making them a popular choice for shorter hair styles. Choose from ornate crystal side-tiaras, embellished padded headbands or birdcage veil headbands.
- Hair Vines: Great for a bohemian, whimsical or vintage look Ideal for a bohemian or vintage look, these can be woven into and around your hairstyle and the styling possibilities are endless. These are another great option if you haven’t completely finalised your hairstyle choice.
- Veils: If you’re wearing a veil, consider how it will work with any other accessories you plan to wear. You’ll also want to think about how it will be attached and removed if you don’t plan to wear your veil all day and night.Your hairstylist, bridal stylist or hair accessory designer can advise you on this.
On The Day: Final Preparations
Your hair stylist is likely to tell you exactly what they need from you but as a general rule these are the key points:
- Arrive at your hair trial with clean, dry hair. Avoid using heavy conditioners or styling products the day before. Clean hair provides a fresh canvas for your stylist to work with.
- If possible, wear a top that mimics the neckline of your wedding dress. This helps you visualise how your hairstyle and accessories will look with your dress.
- Bring any hair accessories, jewellery, veil, and a photo of your wedding dress, with you.
Communication is Key
Be open and communicative with your hairstylist. Share your likes, dislikes, and any concerns you might have. Show them your inspiration photos and discuss why you like each style. The more information you provide, the better they can understand your vision.
Your wedding day will be long, so comfort is essential. If you’re not used to wearing your hair up, let your stylist know. They can create a style that feels comfortable while still looking stunning.
If you’re not completely happy with your finished look after your hair trial tell your stylist. A good stylist will want you to love your hairstyle and will work with you to get it just right.
Be Open To Ideas
Your hairstylist is a professional with experience in creating bridal looks. Be open to their suggestions, as they might have ideas that you hadn’t considered. They can also advise on what will work best with your hair type and length.
Don’t be afraid to try different styles during your trial. It’s better to spend extra time experimenting now than to have regrets on your wedding day. Take photos from different angles to see how each style looks in pictures.
Finalising Your Look
Once you’ve decided on your hairstyle, make sure your stylist takes detailed notes and photos. This ensures they can recreate the look perfectly on your wedding day. Make sure you have copies of the pictures in case of unexpected problems.
If you’re not feeling certain about your hair after your trial, consider booking a second one. It’s worth the extra time and expense to ensure you’re completely happy with your wedding day hairstyle.
- Browse my collection of bridal hair accessories for hair style and headpiece inspiration. You can also visit and follow my Pinterest account for lots of hair, accessory and general wedding inspiration.
- You can see my full guide to when to buy your wedding headpiece here.