Updo · Eastchester, NY
Updos for weddings, proms and events
An updo at MAK Salon in Eastchester, NY is a pinned style built by hand for weddings, proms, galas and milestone events, and it is built to hold through the whole event, usually 6 to 8 hours or more. We plan every updo around your hair, your outfit and when the event starts and ends, and we recommend a trial run before any wedding, prom or milestone event.
Updated October 2026
What Is an Updo, and Who Is It For?
An updo is more than pulling your hair up. It is a structured style with a foundation underneath it, so the shape stays put through heat, humidity, dancing and photo lighting. Brides, bridal parties, prom guests, gala guests and anyone with a black-tie evening book it.
Fine, thick, curly and straight hair can all hold an updo. What changes is the foundation. Fine hair often needs support at the root before it can carry a low chignon. Hair that slips may need a mesh base under the style so the pins have something to grip. We decide that at the consultation, not on the day.
Which Updo Style Suits Your Event?
-
Classic updos
Chignons, French twists and low buns. Clean and structured, they suit formal events, galas and black-tie evenings, and they show off statement earrings instead of competing with them.
-
Romantic updos
Soft, textured styles with loose pieces and volume. They suit weddings, engagement parties and outdoor events. A half-up style with hidden pins sits in this family too.
-
Modern updos
Sleek, architectural shapes with clean lines and a polished finish. They suit editorial looks, photo shoots and fashion-forward events.
What Happens at Your Updo Appointment?
The first thing we ask is not which style you want. It is what the event is, and what time it starts and ends. A two-hour dinner and a wedding day that runs from a morning first look to a late send-off need different builds. How long the hair has to hold, and the light at the venue, set the product, the pin count and the finish.
- We look at your photos, your outfit or neckline and any accessories you are bringing.
- We check your hair for grip and density, then build texture and grip at the root with texturizing spray and powder.
- We set the foundation: sections, support at the root and, where the hair slips, a base the pins can hold.
- We shape and pin the style, anchoring pins through the structure instead of resting them on the surface.
- We check it from every angle, including the back, and finish with a hold that still lets the hair move.
How Should You Prepare Your Hair for an Updo?
Wash your hair the night before and dry it completely. Skip heavy conditioner and oils at the roots. It is a common myth that dirty hair holds an updo better: scalp oil weighs the root down, and texturizing spray gives us more control over hold. Avoid a new smoothing treatment in the six weeks before the event, because a very slick surface gives pins less to grip.
Bring photos of styles you like, a photo of your outfit and any veil, comb or hair accessory you plan to wear. Wear a button-down top so nothing has to come over your head after styling.
Do You Need a Trial Run Before Your Event?
For weddings, proms and milestone events, yes. The trial is a full appointment where we create the style, see how it holds, take photos from several angles and adjust. You leave knowing what your hair will look like on the day. For a wedding, we schedule the trial about 6 weeks before the date. For proms and other events, 2 to 4 weeks ahead is usually enough. Wedding-season weekends fill first, so reserve your trial and your day-of time as soon as you have a date.
For the trial, wear a top that buttons or zips with a neckline close to your dress. Strapless, V-neck, backless and high-collar necklines each change which shape and placement works. For a bridal party, the trial is also where we plan how one style will land on different hair types, so the group photographs as a set.
Will Your Updo Hold in Westchester Humidity?
It holds when it is built for the weather. In summer humidity, a style built for indoors frizzes, and pins slip once outdoor photos start. For a humid day we use more grip at the root, pins anchored through the structure and a finish that resists moisture. Accessories go on last, spread across several anchor points so no single pin carries the weight.
Who Will Do Your Updo?
Several of our stylists do event and bridal styling. Pick a stylist from our team, or book the Updo on our Service Menu and we will match you with someone who fits your date and your style.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an updo last?
A formal updo is built to hold through the event, usually 6 to 8 hours or more. A wedding style is built for the full day. How long the hair has to hold is the first thing we plan around.
Should I wash my hair before an updo?
Yes. Wash it the night before and dry it fully, with no heavy conditioner or oil at the roots. Clean hair gives us a better foundation, and we add grip with texturizing spray and powder.
Can I get an updo with fine or short hair?
Usually, yes. Fine hair needs support at the root, and hair that slips may need a base under the style for the pins to grip. Very short hair may suit a half-up or pinned-back style better, which we will tell you at the consultation.
Can I wear an updo with hair extensions?
Yes. Tape-in and hand-tied extensions both allow updos, and hand-tied wefts sit especially flat once the hair is up. Tell us about your extensions when you book so we plan placement around them. See our Hair Extensions page for how they are installed.
Can you style hair for a whole bridal party?
Yes. We coordinate group appointments with a timeline that keeps everyone on schedule. Contact the salon with your date and party size so we can plan the right amount of time and the right number of stylists.
Book Your Updo
Current pricing for updos is on our Service Menu. Complexity, hair length and accessories all shape the final number.
You may also like Hair Styling, Haircuts or Keratin Treatment. Planning an event? Read Should You Wear Bridal Hair to a Gala? and What We Tell Every Bride Before We Book a Trial.
See recent updos on our Instagram.