How to Have Your Hair and Makeup for Wedding Dress Shopping: Tips for Looking & Feeling Your Best

Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting parts of your bridal journey, but it’s also a day where you want to feel comfortable, confident, and prepared. While it's easy to focus entirely on the dresses, how you present yourself—especially your hair and makeup—can make a big difference in your overall experience.

Here’s a guide to help you get the most out of your wedding dress appointments, including why a hair and makeup trial beforehand might be the perfect idea.

Consider a Hair and Makeup Trial Before Your Appointment

While you don’t need to have your exact wedding day look nailed down before dress shopping, doing a hair and makeup trial before your appointment can offer several advantages. Even if you haven't decided on your final hairdo or makeup, it’s a great opportunity to get a feel for how different styles will look with the dresses you're considering.

Here’s why:

• Visualize the Full Look: Seeing yourself with your wedding day glam can help you envision how the dresses will look when you're fully styled. It can give you a clearer picture of how different necklines or dress shapes work with various hairstyles and makeup looks.

• Guide Your Dress Choice: Whether you're leaning toward a romantic updo or loose waves, trying these styles before your fitting can influence the type of dress you feel most beautiful in. Makeup can also impact how different shades of white or ivory look against your complexion.

• Refine Your Ideas: You may not settle on the exact hair or makeup look for your big day during this process, but it can help you experiment with what works and what doesn’t. This trial-run will give you valuable insight into what colours, textures, and shapes suit your overall vision.

  
  

  

  
  

  Keep It Simple if You’re Doing Your Own Hair and Makeup

If you prefer to do your own hair and makeup on the day of your dress appointment, the key is to keep it simple and natural. You want to feel comfortable and confident, without feeling overly done-up or distracted by your beauty look.

Here are a few tips:

• Hair: Opt for an easy, polished style—whether that's a sleek ponytail, loose curls, or a simple updo. You want something that won’t compete with the dresses you're trying on, but still gives you a little glam to feel your best.

• Makeup: Keep your makeup natural and light. A soft foundation or BB cream, a bit of mascara, and a neutral lip will keep you looking fresh without overpowering your look. The idea is to let the dresses shine while still feeling like your beautiful self.

• Avoid Overdoing It: Less is more when you're wedding dress shopping. Your hair and makeup should enhance your natural beauty and not feel heavy or uncomfortable during the fitting process.

Don’t Overdo the Fake Tan

While many brides love a golden glow, it’s important to avoid applying too much fake tan before trying on dresses. Bridal salons often require you to step in and out of dresses, and fake tan can easily transfer onto the delicate fabrics, which can damage or stain them. Instead, stick to your natural skin tone or a very light layer of tan to avoid any mishaps.

Wear Nude or Skin-Toned Underwear

Choosing the right underwear for your dress try-on is essential. Opt for nude or skin-toned underwear, as this will help you get a better idea of how the dress will look on your big day. White or brightly coloured underwear can sometimes show through wedding gowns, and you don’t want any distractions while you're trying on your potential dream dress.

Why a Simplified Look Can Boost Your Confidence

The key to feeling great while trying on wedding dresses is to keep things simple and polished. By sticking with understated hair and makeup, you’ll feel more in control, allowing you to focus on how the dresses fit and flatter your figure. When you feel comfortable in your own skin, it’s much easier to picture how you’ll feel walking down the aisle in the gown you’ve been dreaming of.

Conclusion

Ultimately, when preparing for your wedding dress shopping day, it’s important to strike a balance between looking and feeling good, while also remaining practical. Whether you book a hair and makeup trial or keep things simple, the goal is to find the dress that makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Remember to avoid heavy tanning products and to choose your underwear wisely so that nothing detracts from the experience.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to make the most of your fitting and move one step closer to saying “yes” to the dress!