Advanced Hairstyling: Bridal, Red-Carpet & Party Styles

From soft bridal buns and Hollywood waves to sleek ponytails and editorial looks for a shoot, here's what advanced hairstyling involves and how to choose the right style for your occasion.

What makes hairstyling "advanced"

A quick blow-dry is about finishing. Advanced styling is about structure and staying power:

• Prep and foundation: heat protection, volumising or smoothing products, and sometimes backcombing or padding, so the style has something to hold on to.

• Technique: pin-curling, setting curls to cool, sculpted waves, braided bases and secure pinning that spreads weight evenly, so the style stays comfortable for hours.

• Placement: planning where the maang tikka, dupatta, flowers or hair accessories will sit before the style is built, not after.

• Finishing for the camera: controlling flyaways and adding shine or a matte finish, depending on lighting and photography.

Bridal hairstyling

Bridal hair has to work with heavy jewellery, a dupatta pinned for hours and several ceremonies in one day. We plan it alongside the bridal makeup, so the whole look feels like one design.

• Classic low bun: elegant and secure under a heavy dupatta, often finished with gajra, fresh flowers or a bun accessory.

• Textured or messy bun: softer and more modern, a good choice for receptions and day functions.

• Braided styles: fishtail, Dutch or floral braids for mehendi, haldi and sangeet, when you want movement and comfort.

• Half-up, half-down: romantic and versatile, popular for engagements and receptions with lighter dupattas.

• Open curls and waves: for receptions and cocktail evenings, set to last through the night.

Bridal hair from ₹2,500. Most brides book a trial before the wedding to test the style with the actual jewellery and dupatta. [DECIDE: is the hair trial free or charged, and is it bundled with the makeup trial?]

Tip: wash your hair the day before the wedding, not on the morning itself. Freshly washed hair is slippery and holds pins and curls less well.

Red-carpet and celebrity-inspired styles

When you're going to a big party, an award night or a cocktail evening, you might want the kind of polished look you see on red carpets and in film promotions. Bring us a reference picture and we'll adapt it to your face shape, hair length and texture, so it looks like you, not a copy.

• Hollywood waves: glossy, sculpted S-waves swept to one side, a timeless red-carpet signature.

• Sleek high ponytail or sleek bun: clean, sharp and modern, and great with statement earrings.

• Voluminous blowout: big, bouncy, salon-fresh volume that photographs beautifully.

• Glam side-swept curls: soft curls pinned to one side to show off a neckline or jewellery.

• Wet-look and slicked-back styles: high-fashion and editorial, for shoots and statement outfits.

Editorial styling from ₹800, for photoshoots, portfolios and special events.

Party and festive styling

• Blow-dry: from ₹500, for smooth, bouncy or sleek everyday and party finishes.

• Curls: from ₹1,000.

• Hair-dos (buns, updos and braids): ₹800 to ₹1,500, depending on the style and hair length.

• Straight ironing: from ₹800. Crimping: from ₹700.

Prices vary with hair length and thickness; we'll confirm before we start.

Adding length and volume

Fine or shoulder-length hair can still carry a full bridal bun or long red-carpet waves. Colour-matched hair extensions add instant length and volume, from ₹7,999. For a single event, ask us about temporary volume options and padding that are hidden inside the style.

How to choose the right style

• Start with the outfit: heavy necklines and dupattas suit buns and updos; off-shoulder or sweetheart necklines suit open waves or side-swept curls.

• Think about the jewellery: a maang tikka or matha patti needs a centre or side parting planned in advance.

• Be honest about the event: dancing, outdoor heat and long hours need a more secure style than a two-hour dinner.

• Bring references: two or three photos of looks you like help us understand the mood you want.

• Prep your hair in the weeks before: a hair spa or hair fall therapy a few weeks earlier gives shinier, more manageable hair on the day. Keratin or smoothing should be done well before the event, not the week of.

Why style your hair at Elite Elegance Studio

• Planned with your makeup: for brides, hair and makeup are designed together by our team, led by Madhu, our chief makeup artist with more than 10 years of bridal experience.

• Professional tools and products: professional styling tools and L'Oréal Professionnel products, with heat protection on every style.

• Hygiene you can see: combs, brushes and tools are cleaned between clients.

• At the studio, at home or at your venue: we travel across Delhi NCR for weddings and events, and a travel charge applies.

• Open every day, 10 AM to 9 PM, with early-morning bridal slots by arrangement.