Hair and Make up Trial - Book before trial or after?

I haven't had my hair and makeup trial yet but I already booked it because the women who does my hair regularly is doing my wedding hair. If you already go to a salon ask them. The makeup artist also sits right next to my hair stylist so I talk to her all the time.

I had to book my hair person and sign a contract before the trial. Kinda BS and regretting it as she did a crappy job. Now I'm stuck with her but very vocal about what I want fixed for the day of.

I definitely suggest finding hair and makeup venders that allow trials before booking.

@Elizabeth - Thank you for that! I didnt even think about the fact that some vendors may require booking before the trial! It seems quite a few of them in my area have the trial fee double has the booking fee so I will make sure to add that to my list of questions when I speak with any H/MUA!

I'm not having a trial. My makeup artist is a professional and just got her second degree. She posts pictures of all the brides she does so I'm confident she will do a good job. Every single pic I've seen, the makeup looks flawless. I did put in a $10 deposit but that's it. She will also be coming to do my make up and hair at my home or wherever I choose to get ready at. .. I'm personally not doing a trial because I don't want my FH seeing my makeup before the wedding and I don't want to just wash it all off right after she's done with my trial.

@Melissa - All of the artists I have looked at are either professionals or salons in the area who do services on sight. The point of having a trial is partly to make sure the Artist is the right person for you to work with - but Also so that if the style you pick ends up not looking how you think it would or doesn't end up working with your veil for some reason, you have already worked out all the kinks in the styling and so have a smooth morning ahead of you the day of your wedding.

Mostly I am trying to figure out how people scheduled their trials and if it was worth it to them to pay more to try a couple of different artists. I also don't want to book with someone and find out the morning of that maybe the make up look I though I wanted wasnt right or the hairstyle I'm looking at doesn't actually work with or look right on my hair/face. I would hate the stress morning of of knowing that something isnt right or not actually what I wanted and then running late because it had to be redone

I did the trial first, and then booked immediately. However, my salon has since changed their policy, and now require a small deposit to hold the date (mostly if you're booking many months ahead this would apply, if you booked a trial and they had the weekend open still, they probably wouldn't require it). I think some HMUA have gotten burned in the past by holding a date and have the bride cancel for someone else too late in the game.

Most of my brides book both at the same time because the trial is discounted. If there is no day of booked with a deposit, then it is charged full price.

My trials are Thursday and although both artists know they are my top choices, I have not signed a contract or paid them. As long as all goes well on Thursday then they will be booked/deposit made on the spot.

@Mrs. Fall Bride - that's kind of how I feel about it! But I am worried when the time comes I may miss out on the person I want if I don't book right away! I would hate to sign a contract with someone and then get stuck if it turns out to not be the right person/company!

It is good to hear the artists you worked with where flexible for you! Though from the other opinions here it seems to be kind of a mixed bag based on what the vendors themselves require as far as trials/booking/deposits. I am definitely going to be asking some more details questions then I had originally planned though!

I just booked my hair trial and day of appointment with one stylist. My best friend is a stylist so she just told me which girl (at the salon where she works) would be the best for a formal hairdo, and that's who I'm using. I would have had my friend do my hair but I figured she would want to get her hair done as well as she's a bridesmaid

I booked mine before my trial. I read a ton of reviews and didn't want to miss out on her, so I just went for it. I was really happy with my trial so I definitely made the right choice in doing this. I think if you have hesitations it's okay to ask for a trial before hand.

I had to put a $100 deposit down before booking a trial, which I also had to pay for. But I was OK losing the $100 if I hated them. Which luckily I didn't.

@Mrs. Fall Bride - I am not looking to book any trials now, I know it is definitely waaaayyy to far in advance for that, just doing some base research to get an idea of pricing, plus looking at other threads people post with the results of their trials got me thinking about how exactly did trials work for other people, you know? Also, I like to be very prepared information wise so I know exactly which questions to ask and have all my bases covered

Thank you for that!! That is exactly what I would be worried about!!! And while I still have PLENTY of time before I need to seriously consider who I want to book and trial with or just hire in general, having all this information is making me feel very prepared for when that time comes!

My MUA wouldn't book untill I did a trial

I used her for my engagement pictures/ trail . She wrote down all my makeup numbers ( skin tone ) she will do another check the month of so that she knows my skin color hasn't changed

Ps I don't think it's ever to early ! MUA and hair dressers are ONE person and if you don't lock them in they can get booked ! Trials don't have to be exact to the wedding day , it's to make sure you like her work if you Have an event see if the MUA will do your makeup for the event and how you like it , doesn't have to exactly mimic your wedding day look !

Also , it may get confusing if you try many MUA/h... if you like and the price is right book

I booked after my trial and am still not sure....

I booked before my trial. but they had great reviews and they had a bunch of pictures of other brides on their facebook page.

i did my trial last month and was happy with it. but i was happy to do my own makeup if i didn't like it.

I booked my hair because she is my hair stylist and I wouldn't want anyone else doing it but I am going to do trials before I book for make-up to make sure its something that I like and that its a good fit.

I booked before my trial but she has amazing reviews and any of my vendors I asked recommended her.

Hello! I know this thread is a few months old now but I was wondering, what did you end up doing for booking your trial/day of hair and makeup? I'm in almost the same spot, just a little closer to my date and have the exact same questions! I'm nervous to miss out on someone great by not booking but I keep thinking a year ahead is too early for a trial, especially hair. I guess I'm not planning on changing my hair much and it would be good to get an idea of makeup on my pale winter skin since that's what I'll be dealing with day of anyway but I'm still sort of lost in all this. So long story short, thanks for the original post and if you can update that would be really great!