A hair and makeup trial for the bride is an essential part of any wedding day prep. It gives you the opportunity to work out what works and what doesn’t in advance of the big day. And while the perfect outfit might be top of the list for every Mother of the Bride or Groom, thoughts also inevitably turn to hair and makeup.

A wedding day look consists of two parts – style and beauty – so a hair and makeup trial might be hugely significant for your mum to look her best on your big day. So if your mum is getting her makeup done on your wedding day, here’s why you should also consider booking her a hair and makeup trial.

Should You Book Your Mum a Hair and Makeup Trial?

There’s no hard and fast rule, and it’s not the norm to book a hair and makeup trial for your mother or your partner’s mother. However, it can be helpful in some instances such as:

• If she’ll be with the stylist or MUA who’s doing the rest of the bridal party, it will streamline things on the day if everyone has already decided what’s being done.
• If your mum is someone who doesn’t have a lot of makeup or hair styling know-how, then having someone do her makeup in a way that will last all day and look great in photos will ensure she looks and feels her best.
• If your mum doesn’t usually wear a lot of makeup, or has never had her makeup done before, then having a hair and makeup trial means she can get used to wearing the look and can see how it works with her outfit.
• It might also be a case that she has had some recent changes to her skin or hair. For example, we spoke to one Mother of the Bride who had just underwent treatment for cancer and while her hair had grown back, it was now a different shade, and shorter and thinner than it was before. This meant the colours and styles that were her previous go-tos didn’t quite suit.

As well as all of the above, makeup and hair trials are just a lot of fun, and another excuse to enjoy a glass of bubbles!

When to Schedule a Hair and Makeup Trial?

If you’ve decided that you or your partner’s mum would benefit from a hair and makeup trial, then do your research in advance. Pull together ideas and looks she likes. These can be screenshots or images from magazines of different hairstyles or makeup looks that would suit your skin tone and hair length. If you have chosen your makeup artist (we have great MUA and stylist suggestions here!), look at their Instagram for inspiration and save the images you like.

The best time to book a hair and makeup trial is three months before the wedding. For the makeup session, arrange an early appointment and wear the look for the day to see how it lasts. As for hair, three to four months before the big day is a good time to discuss the wedding day look with the stylist that will be doing her hair. Plan any trims, restyles or colouring appointments with them and book dates accordingly.

Who Pays for a MOB or MOG Hair and Makeup Trial?

This really depends on who is doing the hair and makup trial. If your mum is going to her local salon on the morning of the wedding to get her hair done by her usual stylist, then she can arrange a trial when she is visiting anyway. In this instance there wouldn’t be an expectation to pay.

However, if your mum is part of the bridal party booking, which you will be paying for, if she’s getting a trial, then it’s a nice gesture to also pay for that. You can expect to pay between €50 – €100 for this, so it’s not cheap, and she may even offer to pay herself.

Get the Most from Your Makeup Trial:

• Do your research and decide what makeup look you like best.
• Bring your outfit if you have it, or something in a similar shade.
• Ask the MUA what skincare they recommend for the big day that works well under longwear makeup.
• Make a list of the products they use from foundation to concealer to wear another time.
• Ask for tips on durability, will you need a powder or setting spray for the big day?
• If you love the lip colour they use, buy it for top-ups during the wedding day.

Get the Most from Your Hair Trial:

• Make a hair plan with your stylist that includes cutting and colour.
• Bring images of hairstyles you like to show the stylist.
• If you plan to wear a hat or fascinator on the big day bring this to your trial.
• Ask for advice on hair health or volume if you need to work on that before the wedding, including supplements and treatments.
• Ask for product recommendations to keep the style in place all day. These might include hairspray, bobby pins, etc.

See our full hair and makeup trial checklist and costings here, as well as these gorgeous Mother of the Bride gift ideas. Plus make sure to follow us on Instagram for more great wedding advice.