There are 2 mistakes I see consistently from brides at their bridal hair trial — and I’m here to help you avoid them!
Mistake #1: Not sending hair inspo photos (and photos of yourself) before you book
First of all, if you’re not sending hair inspo photos along with photos of yourself — with your hair visible — to your bridal hairstylist when you initially inquire, you’re already starting off on the wrong foot. Not every stylist is skilled at every type of hairstyle, and this is not something you want to assume, only to find out months or even a year later that you chose a stylist who isn’t skilled at the style you’ve been planning on!
It can be as simple as checking their online galleries (website or social media) and seeing if the hairstyles represented there are styles you’re interested in for yourself.
When you inquire, include photos of your hair and your bridal hair inspo. The photos don’t have to be the exact style you know you want — after all, you may not have even picked out your dress yet — but if they represent the styles you like and are drawn to (trendy, classic, boho, sleek), it should be a pretty quick yes or no as to whether your stylist specializes in what you’re looking for. For example, I don’t offer boho style or mermaid style braids. I’m not good at them. I spend my time perfecting the styles I am good at and enjoy styling, and I focus on keeping up with the trends and techniques within the styles I specialize in.
It’s also important to know whether the stylist you’re interested in booking is comfortable working with your hair type, length, and texture. Will you be wearing your natural curls? Does your stylist have experience styling natural curls the way you’d like? Do you have very fine hair and want to wear extensions, or do you have sewn-in extensions? Does the stylist have experience styling with them or adding them in to achieve the look you want? Is your hair very thick and long? Will your stylist know how to work with it to achieve your desired style?
These are all VERY important questions to ask BEFORE booking your bridal hairstylist. Making assumptions and skipping these questions does a disservice to both you and your stylist — neither of you wants to be disappointed that they’re unable to deliver the style you’ve been so excited about!
Mistake #2: Coming to your bridal hair trial with no prior opinion.
The next mistake I see is brides not doing their due diligence ahead of their trial date — and sitting down in the styling chair with little to no insight into how the styles they’re interested in might actually look on them.
You’ve probably scrolled for hours, days, years — window shopping on Pinterest for your dream wedding day hair — but it’s all someone else’s hair on someone else’s head.
Now, this doesn’t mean you need to attempt to style your hair yourself to get the picture. But at least take a seat in front of the mirror and mock up elements of each look to get a feel for what you like!
Thinking about face-framing pieces but you’ve never worn them? Pull your hair back, pull some pieces out, and take a selfie. Thinking about a piled-high Pammy or Kim K moment? Bunch your hair up and pop in a scrunchie to see what it’s like to have a tousled, high-up style. Thinking of a half-up half-down? Pull back your hair and see if you like some left down above your ears, or more back but swooped over your ears, or snatched up a little higher and sleeker. Pull some hair around to the front and see how it looks versus all back with your shoulders clean.
All of this mirror play will have you showing up to your bridal hair trial with something to get the conversation started — and ultimately ensure you’re going into the process with a few preferences to give your stylist a head start on what you might like!
Does this mean you’ll leave with the exact perfect dream style with no adjustments needed? Maybe. Possibly. Probably not. But it will ensure you don’t spend 1–2 hours going in the completely wrong direction because neither of you had any clue where to start. After that, your stylist will know your hair, your preferences, and how to make a plan to create the ultimate wedding day style — curated just for you, based on the cues they got from your at-home mirror analysis.
I always offer a 2nd bridal hair trial if my brides want to try something different — but if you’re only looking to invest in one appointment, this is what I’d recommend to get the most out of it. So take notes, friend, and don’t make these 2 common mistakes at your bridal hair trial!
I hope this info is helpful and I hope you have the most wonderful wedding!
CRC Bridal Hair Co.
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