• Take note of the beautician's hygiene, make sure that their hands are sanitized before starting the makeup. Notice whether the make-up brushes are clean and that the makeup is applied using fresh sponges, wipes, and disposable wands for the eye-make-up.
• Notice the beautician's attention to detail. Ideally, you would want to find a beautician who has a similar taste and style to yourself or somebody who genuinely cares about your needs. She will be able to understand straight away the kind of style that you want and listen to your personal needs throughout the trial.
• Make sure that your beautician is up to date with latest colours and looks as well understand your particular cultural traditions and requirements, particularly when it comes to dressing or setting the dupatta.
• A talented make-up artist will know how to use effective highlighting and shading techniques to bring out your best features and minimize flaws. You will notice the difference it makes straight away when you look in the mirror and this style of corrective make-up art is a great bonus if your beautician is able to achieve it.
• Make-up artists should understand your skin tone and adjust the use of colours and shades so that it suits you. Notice if they have noted down what they have used so they remember the actual look for the day.
• Pay attention to the quality of their makeup products. Do you think these brands of makeup are long lasting and are likely stay looking fresh throughout the entire day?
• During the trial, do take a note of the amount of time spent with you to make sure you are happy with the result. This will also give you a rough indication on how long it will take your beautician to get you ready, hence helping you prepare a schedule for the day to help things run smoothly.
• If you have gone for a hair and makeup trial, make sure the artist completes your hairstyle as well until you are happy with the style you have chosen

ASK FOR REFERENCES
Testimonials from actual brides are helpful in finding out more about the beautician, as long as they are genuine! Make sure you ask the beautician for references from previous bridal clients. You can later follow through by calling them to get a real opinion from somebody who has used them in the past.

As well as the makeup and hair itself, ask about the beautician's punctuality, time management, ability to work under pressure and how they worked with everyone in the bridal party. Things can get hectic on the actual day (with family members rushing around, etc), hence it is important to find a beautician who is able to cope with the pressure and is organised enough to work efficiently if things are running late. Also, ask how they were referred to the makeup artist and if that individual would hire them again in the future.

TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS
Take a camera with you to the trial so you can see what the makeup looks like when a photo is taken. This is often very different to what you see in front of you and a makeup artist's real flaws are often exaggerated when a picture is taken from a digital camera.

Remember, bridal makeup for photography requires different rules than makeup for every day. A good makeup artist will know how to use colours, textures and tones within the makeup to ensure that you look just as great in person as well as in photographs.

OTHER QUESTIONS TO ASK

• Ask about their background, how many brides they have got ready, any disastrous experiences they've had, etc. Try to build a rapport with them; it will help to know if they have the sort of personality that will calm you on the actual wedding day.
• Know exactly what is included in your full makeup package. Clarify if accessories like false eyelashes, hair pieces and bindis are included in the package cost and if not, how much extra these are likely to be. You should also clarify transport costs to your wedding venue, if known.
• Ask how long the make-up will last? Ensure that the beautician gives you long-lasting and waterproof makeup that will throughout the entire day, including past the sobbing at the Vidai ceremony. Enquire if your make-up would require any touching up after a while and whether this would incur any extra costs should you hire the makeup artist for this.
• Check that your beautician is insured and ask to see a copy of their public liability insurance certificate for extra assurance. You would only need to know this for a worst case scenario in which you end up claiming for damages; you will know their insurance could cover the costs.
• Enquire how many brides she has booked on the same day as your wedding. There is nothing worse than compromising the quality of your bridal look by a makeup artist who is delayed from a previous appointment or has to rush off to another wedding.
• Also remember to ask if the charge for the trial itself can be claimed back if you decide to confirm the booking for your wedding.
  
  

SPEAK YOUR MIND

Bear in mind that a trial is a chance for you to experiment different ideas, so don't be afraid to try something different that you wouldn't normally imagine on yourself, or a style that your beautician suggests for you. You never know, it may be the perfect look for you.

After the beautician has completed the chosen look at the trial, remember one thing:- you know your face better than anyone. You need to ensure you have a fully coordinated look and that your makeup and hair work together and not against each other. The beautician is there to guide you, but if the end result is something you are not comfortable with, let them know. Even if you disapprove of any particular product or minor detail, make sure you speak up. Make up can easily be fixed so an understanding makeup artist should not be offended if you ask for a few changes to be made. Do not let yourself get talked into something you are not confident about; remember those wedding pictures will last a lifetime and you want to be proud of them.

Make sure you are 100% happy with the chosen look and have full confidence in the beautician before finalising any bookings on the spot. If at all unsure, just say you will have a think about it and get back to them at a later date. You may even change your mind afterwards about the look you have chosen during the trial, but it is important that you have confidence in your makeup artist's ability to recreate any look whatsoever (even without a trial) and make any adjustments on the day according to your new requirements.

CHECK THE DETAILS OFTHE DAY

If you are satisfied with the results of your trial and wish to place a booking, you will need to sign a contract and pay a deposit to secure your booking. Some inexperienced beauticians may not have an official contract, so it may be worthwhile for you to write down the terms of your agreement on paper before any money changes hands. Ensure that you understand all the contract conditions and that it covers the following points:

• Who will be getting you ready? Make sure it is the same person you did a trial with and not a trainee.
• Ensure the full date, time and location for the arrival of your beautician is given clearly in writing. Also negotiate a price for additional time incase your event is running late.
• A full description of the service you have booked - including any additional charges for transport, hair accessories, body art, dupatta setting, bindi/peer, makeup re-touches, etc.
• Ensure that the contract covers you by way of providing a substitute makeup artist in case of unforeseen circumstances, or compensation if your beautician turns up late on your event or doesn't show up at all.
• If you pay a deposit, make sure this is either stated in your contract or you have a receipt as proof.
• Ensure that the contract is signed and dated by both parties, otherwise it will carry no value!

CONCLUSION
What many brides don't always realize is that this initial consultation is actually a trial run - which means, most professionals will only want to give you an idea of the look you're after, not an exact replica of what to expect on wedding day. It's all about experimenting with different looks - your artist might do the left eye in one colour combination and the right in another, so you have a comparison of which works better.

Finding the right beautician for you can be more difficult than expected - especially with so many makeup artists in the Asian bridal market. With all the trials you go to, you're bound to find both positive and negative attributes on all the makeup artists, possibly making your choice even harder. The best advice would be to go with your instinct and book the beautician who gives you the most confidence about the big day in all areas - quality of work, reliability and personality.

By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to make the most out of your bridal trial, so when your big day arrives you will be able to sit back, relax and trust your makeup artist to work their magic on you.