Bridal Hair Trial- Tips to Prepare

Tips

Jan 25

It’s Go-Time for Bridal Beauty!
As you dive into the world of wedding planning, you’ve likely realized that meticulous preparation is the name of the game. Details can blur together, and the process might feel endless at times. To help simplify things + provide clarity, some vendors create guides or pamphlets specifically designed to prepare clients for their services—consider it a little rescue mission from the overwhelming to-do list!

Achieving beautiful wedding hair and makeup is truly an investment, and like all good investments, it requires effort from both sides. Booking your dream hair and makeup artist is just the beginning. To get the most out of our expertise, preparation and readiness on your part are key.

You may have heard of the 80/20 rule at some point, and it applies here too:

80% of the process is your artist’s skill, product knowledge, and commitment to ongoing education.
The remaining 20% depends on your preparation and readiness ahead of your trial and big day.

By following the right guidance and preparing well, you’ll ensure your bridal beauty experience is as seamless and magical as possible!

TIP: read EVERYTHING. Most often important info is overlooked

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TIP: read EVERYTHING. Most often important info is overlooked 〰️

Find Inspiration That Matches Your LCD: Length, Color, Density
When selecting bridal hair inspiration, focus on images that match your length, color, and density (thickness). As bridal stylists, our goal is to set realistic expectations tailored to your unique features. While we’d love to transform brunette hair into a blonde-inspired style, the reality is that dimension, texture, and length all play a crucial role in the final look.
To help you find the perfect style, explore the Beauty Asylum Wedding Hair Look Book—a curated collection of real client styles (not studio or artificial lighting setups). Each style is broken down by length, density, color, and theme so you can confidently choose a look that aligns with your vision.
Consider Clip-In Extensions
If your hair’s length or thickness doesn’t align with the style you’re dreaming of, clip-in extensions are a fantastic temporary solution. While it may not create a perfect match, extensions can bring you pretty damn close! For everything you need to know about extensions, check out our comprehensive Extensions Guide [HERE].
Pro Tips for Your Inspiration Search:
1. Save photos of both the front + back of the hairstyle.
2. If the style features face-framing pieces, compare their length to your own to ensure they’re not too long or heavy.
By finding inspiration that reflects your LCD + making adjustments where necessary, you’ll set yourself up for a bridal hairstyle that’s both stunning + achievable.
Shampoo
Before your trial, start by washing your hair with a volumizing (clarifying) shampoo. This removes any residue from previous products + creates the perfect foundation for your hair prep. For best results, shampoo your scalp twice. Use a quarter-sized amount of shampoo + distribute it evenly across your scalp, working it into a rich lather. Remember, shampooing the ends is not necessary—focus on the scalp + mid-shaft to effectively remove buildup.
Conditioner
After shampooing, apply a lightweight conditioner to prepare your hair. Concentrate the product mid-length to the ends, keeping it away from the roots. A heavier conditioner can weigh down your hair, leave residue, create excess oil, and make it harder for your hair to hold a curl.
Our Recommendations:
- Shampoo: EVO Gluttony Volumizing Shampoo or EVO Bride of Gluttony (fitting, right?)
- Conditioner: A lightweight, residue-free formula to complement your volumizing routine.
Don’t do it. Stop right now, and just don’t do it.
Dirty hair is a myth. No amount of dry shampoo in the world can cut through the oil in greasy hair. When there’s too much oil, hair stays flat, sticky, and piecey, no matter how much you try to mask it. So if we could leave you with one tip for the day: come to your appointment with clean hair.
Fine hair tends to show oil quicker than thick hair, so it’s esp important for you to show up with freshly washed, dry hair. If you’ve got super thick or curly hair and you know you can stretch it a day (or two), that’s fine—you know your hair best! But pls, don’t make your stylist suffer. Freshly washed + dried hair gives us a clean slate to work with, and we can bring in all the product we need to create texture + hold.
It’s a win for everyone. ✨
The Flat Iron: Volume’s Arch Nemesis
If you’re aiming for volume, avoid using a flat iron. It can make your hair flat, making it much harder for curls to hold. Flat irons seal the hair cuticle and create a silky texture, which, while smooth, leads to slippery strands that don’t hold shape—cue the dreaded comparison to a four-year-old’s virgin hair. Trying to curl + pin becomes a challenge when the hair just slides right out.
For Curly-Haired Babes
If you prefer not to work with your natural curls, the best option is a blowout. Alternatively, you can straighten just the first 2–3 inches of hair at the roots + leave the rest for styling. Keep in mind, though, that flat ironing even a portion of your hair can reduce volume.
Our Recommendation:
- Schedule a blowout on the day of your trial and wedding day for optimal results. If that’s not possible, a blowout the day before might work—just confirm with your stylist first!
If you’re envisioning soft, face-framing pieces for your wedding day hairstyle, it’s important to consider the length of your front layers. We often encounter clients with long, heavy hair who want these pieces down to frame their face. However, long + heavy hair tends to fall flat within an hour or less, making it difficult to maintain the desired look.
To prepare ahead of time, we recommend trimming front layers to just below chin length. This length is ideal for holding curls + perfectly framing the face, giving your hairstyle the best chance to stay beautiful and photo-ready.
It’s generally a good idea to avoid scheduling a haircut right before a big event like a trial or wedding day, unless you’re dealing with hair that’s breaking off or severely damaged. A fresh haircut often gives your hair a much smoother, almost “virgin” look—think of the soft, silky strands of a child’s hair. While this might seem great, it can actually make your hair more slippery + harder to style. A freshly cut mane tends to resist holding up in place + may not hold a curl or style as well, esp if you’re planning to use heat or intricate styling.
On the flip side, a fresh cut can work wonders if your hair has split ends or looks weighed down. It can help rejuvenate the overall look + remove dead ends, giving your hair a healthier appearance, but this is usually more of a post-wedding kind of solution, not one to be rushed into right before the big day.
If you’re not in urgent need of a trim, we recommend saving the haircut for after the wedding day. That way, you won’t risk having hair that’s harder to style or manipulate on the day of your event. But if you feel a trim is absolutely necessary, consider getting it done at least a week (or two) before the trial or wedding—this gives your hair time to settle + adjust.
Preparation Is Key
When our stylists meet you for the first time, preparation is everything! Our stylist admin team works hard behind the scenes to ensure you and your stylist are set up for a successful trial. To make the most of it, here’s what you need to know:
The TOP 5 tips we’ve shared are the most critical. Providing photos ahead of time helps us understand your desired style and allows us to make recommendations based on your hair's length, thickness, and texture. While you don’t need to fully commit to a style before your trial, it’s important to note that different hairstyles—whether an updo, glam waves, or a braid—each require unique preparation techniques.
- Sleek updos demand smoothing techniques.
- Romantic, whimsical styles involve base prep, texture spray, and pin setting.
- Glam waves often require extensions for fine or short hair to achieve the desired volume and length.
If your dream look involves full, voluminous waves or intricate updos, clip-in extensions or hair inserts (like a mesh donut) are essential to making it happen.
While hiring a professional is a worthwhile investment, readiness and preparation are equally important. We work miracles—but even we can’t wave a magic wand the day-of without the proper groundwork!
Hair Color
When searching for hairstyle inspiration, match your hair color to the images you’re saving. If you’re blonde, look for photos of blonde hairstyles, and if you’re a brunette, opt for styles featuring brown hair. Here’s why:
Blondes often have dimensional color that naturally creates depth + texture. For ex, braided styles on blonde or highlighted brunette hair tend to stand out more due to the shadow-and-highlight effect. In contrast, darker hair like brunette or black tends to appear more sleek + one-dimensional, particularly in intricate hairstyles. By choosing images that reflect your hair color, you’ll get a realistic expectation of how your chosen style will look on you.
Hair Thickness
If you’ve fallen in love with a voluminous, bombshell hairstyle, keep in mind that achieving it often requires more than natural hair. Extensions, the right products, and a blowout are essential to creating that full, fabulous look.
For those with fine, thin, or short hair, a little extra fullness can work wonders for the perfect bridal updo or flowing down style. Adding extensions or volume-enhancing techniques ensures your hairstyle matches your vision.
Curly Hair: Embrace or Recreate?
The first question we ask our curly-haired babes is: “Do you want to work with your natural curls, or do you prefer to re-curl your entire head?”
If you’d like to embrace your natural curls, stick to using your favorite curl-enhancing products. Allow your hair to air dry diffuse before your trial to minimize frizz + maintain the integrity of your curls. From there, your hairstylist can tailor the look to suit your natural texture and your desired style.
For the best results, always consult with your hairstylist ahead of time to determine the ideal approach for your curls + bridal vision.