Sonal, a bride who is set to get married this December, sent in this query on which makeup artist to choose:
Meenakshi Dutt or Senior/junior artists of Ambika Pillai at Rajouri?
Blog readers, can you help her out? Any reviews, or if you’ve seen any brides with makeup done by any of these MUAs?
Shinjini Amitabh Chawla 
Hi 🙂
I have seen brides from both Meenakshi Dutt and Ambika Pillai (Punjabi Bagh)
Here is what I think about both–
1) My cousin got her wedding make up done from Meenakshi Dutt, and she literally transforms a person, but that may not be nice all the time. I found the make up a bit too loud. Thought he base was almost perfect, i am not a fan of glitter on lips etc. So it was a bit jarring to the eye.
2)My friend got ready at the Ambika Pillai Salon at Punjabi Bagh, and for someone who has been a tom boy all her life, she was looking like a darling literally. She got ready from a senior MUA, there was the right amount of glitter. I also find the hair guy better at the Ambika salon. Another observation, I found the Junior MUA better than the senior just coz they were more open to ideas and feedback.
I will advise Ambika Pillai, because I have seen them work and I found it better. But it is all so subjective. I will also advise you to visit the salon, while there are brides getting ready, you will observe a lot, and then you can weigh your options 🙂
Let me know if you need pictures, I am sure I can pull something out 🙂
Have a super wedding!
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thanks for such a detailed response, Mansi! And yes please, would love to see some pictures! You can email them to me at thedelhibride at gmail dot com
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Do you have any idea of Ambika Pillai’s charges ?
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30000 by ambika her self. 14000 from sr.MUA and 7000 from the Jr MUA
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why choose only between these two? plenty of more {better} options out there 🙂
but among Ambika & Minakshi, I would go for Meenakshi Duttt! If you are fond of makeup then nothing better than this.
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Hi..well I haven’t got any makeup done from either but have seen bridal makeup and party makeup by both.
Personally, I would go for neither of them as they are too loud. But if you have tl choose between them then ambika pillai’s senior mua would be better than meenakshi. Meenakshi’s makeup is wayy too loud. Too much glitter and oodles of foundation..makes you look oily and transformed not in a nice way.
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thnk u so much frnds.. And pls suggest me any more mua .. I am open to the best and worth one.. I m really confused..
And one more the pls help me abt the photgraphy as well.. Its way too expensive the places i enquired.. Pls tell me the best quality for the best price phtotography and video.
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try chandani singh for makeup! she’s really good 🙂 saw seen 5~6 brides done by her.
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Sonal, please tell us your budget for an MUA. You can also go to b:blunt (GK2) or to Makeup by Simran Kalra.
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my budget is max 20000.. But i expect a worth work for the same too.. 🙂
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Sonal, you should also check out a previous post on this blog – thedelhibride Asks…about Makeup Artists. Go through the comments on this post, you’ll find a lot of useful information!
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expressions at ashok vihar is gud. my fren got ready there for her wedding and she looked stunning. but whatever you do, dont go to Aashmeen Munjal also in ashok vihar! she will make u a walking oil factory!!! also, there are many freelance MUA’s who will ready you at your home. but they are tad expensive so u need to see ur budget. one such freelancer goes by the name Makeup by Synons. she is good! this is her FB link – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-Design-Yourselves-BY-Synons/220714051300174
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very useful info..can u please let me know much does a senior artist at ambika pillai punjabi bagh charge.
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I am also looking forward to ambika pillai at punjabi bagh. Do share whatever info u get to know.
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Senior MUA at Ambika Pillai will take 12000 exclusive of taxes.
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bridal or engagement ?
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The last time I checked, there was no discrimination event wise, only by senior or junior MUA no matter you choose them for what occasion. If you are considering Punjabi Bagh, I will say go for a Junior MUA, i worked with one for my engagement, and my friend used a senior for her bridal and junior for her engagement. Junior MUA’s are more subtle and open to suggestions.
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Can you share the name of the junior MUA who did your makeup?
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Unfortunately I do not remember her name, but there is a lady called Krishna, she is really good. Also Ambika Pillai wont let you choose your Junior MUA, they are subject to availability on that day. I wanted to take Krishna for my engagement, but they said if she is available on my engagement day then she will do it, but they will not give a confirmation for the same. Its weird. But they have this norm. Fortunately all junior MUAs are good. So my make up came out to great. 🙂
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that sounds great. how do MUA who travel to the venue work? what if the venue doesn’t have room with good lighting and stuff ?
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Ambika Pillai MUAs wont travel to your venue. And they do just that. There is a different guy for hair. A different lady for draping. You will have to go to one of their salons.
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I am considering Simran https://www.facebook.com/makeupbysimran for wedding makeup as she travels to venue and Ambika Pillai for engagement.
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I have heard good things for her. Majorly. 🙂 When is your wedding?I know how much anxiety a MUA decision involves 🙂 Good Luck 🙂
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Wedding is in november. I got to know about her through this blog.
I am so confused as the one I got to know about turned out to be very expensive. Makeup is such an important part and the prices are going sky high which I personally feel is not worth it. I want to get both bridal and engagement makeup in 25k. The only way to judge MUAs is through their FB pages.
Do you think getting makeup done at the venue is a good idea?
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Frankly I am not sure about it. And I would not do it. It also depends on what kind of venue you have and their facilities. If its a 5/4 star property, you can probably take up a room. But wont that be an extra charge to the whole deal? Its a personal opinion, I will just prefer to go to a salon. Also it depends on how many brides the salon has on your wedding day, so that attention doesnt get divided too much,
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Hi, im getting married in November, i know it is too late to book any place now but can you please suggest places for make-up in Gurgaon. There is Ambika and vidya tikari and my venue is in Gurgaon only and for engagement venue is near badarput border. Please advise on which places to explore.
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Hi Swati, I’ve heard Plum (GK2 branch) is quite good. So you can check out their Gurgaon branch and try getting a makeup trial to see if they are also good. If you don’t mind getting ready at the venue, Makeup By Simran (see her facebook page) is also really good – but she doesnt have a studio so will travel to your venue. Please send me an email if neither of these work out for u!
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I found out – plum Gurgaon is also a good place for makeup.
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Hi,M getting married in Jan,2014,can u suggest some good MUA’s in south delhi and gurgaon..apart from this would also like to know about Vidya tikari,ambika and meenakshi dutt…would prefer to to go for an elegant make up..loud make up is a big NO..please help
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Hi nidhi,
go to CHANDNI SINGH. you might want to send me a gift for this advice. 🙂
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Hahaha! I agree though 🙂 Anyone who introduces and convinces u to use Chandni deserves a gift from the bride 🙂
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Hi, i can’t say about meenaxi or ambika but i can now swear by chandni singh and her make up artists. I was accompanying my friend for her bridal makeup,(chandni was doing it) I was going to get just my hair done as i have acne issues and never thought make up could hide it. My fears were put to rest by the junior artist at chandni singh’s salon. the makeup was spot on and i have never looked better. The credit should go to chandni to a large extent as she was right there overseeing what her junior makeup artist was doing. iam just so happy and definitely going to chandni for my wedding. muaahhhh chandni you are the best.
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Guys can anyone recommend any jr artist from ambika pillai at either punjabi bagh salon or rajouri garden salon…. I am booking it for my bridal makeup in feb….most probably, it will be rajouri because of the distance from the venue… need to know URGENTLY PLEASE… any other tips will also be highly appreciated 🙂
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See this post, Simmi – http://thedelhibride.com/2013/08/16/vendor-review-mua-ambika-pillai-punjabi-bagh/
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Ya I know about this…That n some other reviews helped me to choose the salon in the first place….Btw I have booked rajouri garden salon today 🙂 …, I actually want to know if anyone can recommend a particular jr artist from there whom I can ask to do my bridal makeup.. if anyone has seen their work u know…. thanks 4 d link anyway 🙂
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HI Simmi,
I read your post and need some help, could you please tell me how was Ambika Pillai Rajouri Salon for Bridal make up and I am planning to book the same for my engagement and wedding..please share your experience and also if it was good which artist did your makeup ?
Thanks..
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Hey vaishali. The rajouri garden was good but I didn’t want their standard bridal makeup. So I went in there with my own reference pics and some helpful tips I learnt online. Therefore I chose a Jr. Artist because I knew she’d listen to me and follow my brief. The result was outstanding! I guess her name was Neha. Well they don’t let you choose your artist anyway. If you want I can share my pics with you. Just send me your email address. All the best 🙂
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Hi Simmi,
Thanks a lot for your reply..it brings me some confidence to go for Rajouri saloon….yeah , i will really appreciate if you can share some pics of urs done by them
My email address is vaishali_saggi2002@yahoo.co.in
Thanks for you help! 🙂
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hi, I am getting married in Feb and yet to book Mua for my my marriage. For engagement, I have booked Ambika Pillai Jr artist but for wedding, I am actually thinking about 3 options – Michelle Montez, Sussane at Plum GK-2, or b-blunt GK. Can you guys please help me decide which one to go for. I am looking for a very sublte, elegant make up and not shimmery shiny make up. My budget is ~ 15 K.
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I’ve heard a lot of good things about Sussane, and of course, I love b:blunt because they did my wedding makeup! Either should be a good option. I’ve written a detailed review of my wedding MUA from b:blunt on the blog. Go through it, should give you a good idea about her work.
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Pathetic service,exhorbitant price,not so skilled senior artists…in short “I do not recommend”.I went to South ex branch some 2 years back and shelled out 30k for 2 makeup & prebridal and trust me i repent on my decision even today.The south ex branch not even have basic products like lip shades,hair accessories,hair extensions etc.When you tell them your preference of a hair style,they will force you to opt something on their own saying it will not suit you .But the fact is they do not have enough products/accessories to give you even a basic hair-do.
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Oh no! Terrible to hear such feedback about them! Do you mind sharing some pictures with me offline? Would want to make sure other brides don’t have such a bad experience.
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Hi there, I’ve been reading through the comments and its been extremely interesting. I live in US and will be getting married in Delhi in January. Its been challenging so far 😦 I was wanting to go with Meenakshi Dutt for my bridal makeup, but cannot find how much it’ll cost. Would it be more cost effective to book my mom & I through her? Are there any other things I need to know before I make that call to them? Let me know please, I’ve been struggling with this whole process and any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 🙂
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Hey can anybody help me with abridal make up artist in Lucknow? I am tired of looking for options… the only decent one available looks like a typical lakme salon which I am wary about ! My marriage is on April 19, 2014.
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Hai I have checked both the ambika and affinity salon for bridal at chatratpur branches. PLesae suggest any good salon for make up in south delhi. I am very confused whom should I go or I should go to somebody else
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Hi guys, I am getting married in feb and was looking at – Anchal Kumar / Ashmeen Munjal / Marvelous studio.. Any suggestions please? As most of us already stated, I am also against loud makeup and want to keep it very subtle. Also, my venue is on GT karnal road so need to take care of the distance as well. Please advice!
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Hi Ladies,
I am getting married in January 2015 in Noida, Could you please suggest which Makeup artist to select for as of todays fashion and prices. I live overseas and will land in India around 20th Dec 2014, so I don’t think I will be able to go and check out salons.
It would be really great if you could suggest the best options.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
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Hi, this website is soooo helpful!
I’m getting married in March in Ghaziabad and am going nuts trying to finalise my MUA. I’ve spoken to the famous names, i.e, Aakriti, Tejaswini, Bobby etc but would like more options. My budget for bridal make-up is 15k (can stretch a little more) and the artist has to travel to the venue.
Help!
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Hi, I’am glad to visit this website!!
I;am getting married in April in New Delhi. Although here i found the lots of bridal make up option but still i’am confuse. Can anybody suggest me the bridal make up artist? my budget for bridal make up is maximum 20k. If somebody would suggest me pre bridal also that is very appreciated. Thanks a lot
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Hi, my marriage is in July and I have started feeling the jitters straightaway. Was freaking out thinking about the bridal make up, the cost, etc etc. My wedding would be taking place in Chattarpur so I obviously want to get my make up done in a salon nearby. I saw an Ambika Pillai branch near that area but have zero idea about their work. Can anyone throw some light on it?
Secondly, are there any other good salons that side?
My budget: 15k-20k
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Hi, I got married a year ago and I got my bridal makeup done by Meenakshi Dutt and engagement makeup done by Senior artists of Ambika Pillai. Both the makeups were good but Ambika Pillai’s make up was more subtle and perfect as per the occasion. Meenakshi Dutt ruined my day by being extremely rude and arrogant on my big wedding day and when I requested for few changes in the makeup then she made personal remarks.
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hi ,i m geeting married in month of nov..i am confused..in between meenakshi or ambika…one more thing….i am in sarojini nagar i want salon near by my place..can you suggest some thing…
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Hi,
I am getting married in this November,please suggest a good makeup artist near noida as i am living in greater noida.my budget is 25K for both bridal & engagement.
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Hi,
I have my engagement in May 2015 and im going crazy in search of a good parlour for makeup. I stay in east delhi. Please suggest some options around this area. Can spend upto 10-12 K for engagement makeup.
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Hi , My wedding date is October 18 and my wedding venue is Faridabad. So can u pls suggest me good salon there for bridal makeup or any makeup artist
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Hi – you can try blue heaven salon in sector 14 faridabad.
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Hi-
Thank you for such valuable blog. My wedding is planned in Feb,2016 but unfortunately it is in jaipur. As far as i am aware there are not good make artists there. I don’t want to spoil my most special day. Is there any good make up artist in delhi who will be ready to travel jaipur? My budget is max 20K.
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I have seen both the works ambika is much better there junior artist takes 8000 approx senior artist 12000 n ambika takes 25000 whereas meenakshi dutt junior artist takes 11000 ,senior artist takes 21000 n meenakshi maam takes 31000…… U can also go for chandni singh …amazing work by chandni singh n ambika maam junior artist
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thanks again, love this blog so much
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plz suggest me about bridal make up
between meenakshi dutt , Ambika pillai nd others
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please…would any one suggest the best bridal makeup artist…my friend lives in mumbai…she want makeup artist that travels to the venue…which would be the best??she wants meenakshi dutt or vidya tikari or ambika pillai…she wants them to reach mumbai..any one that will travel to mumbai…and also suggest best bridal makeup artist in mumbai…thanks in advance..i find thew people here very kind ,thoughtful and helpful…
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any makeup artist with these three or MUAs..and also tell about mumbai makeup artist..
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Does meenakshi dutt provide services in Mumbai. ..
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Hi, I need an urgent help on closing the makeup artist for sagan & bridal. Between vidya Tikari & Ambika Pillai which is better to go for the bridal makeup. I need a subtle & elegant look without having two much white look. I want to spend 30K for both day makeup. My wedding is in feb so need to finalise asap. Chandni Singh is too much out of the way. Hence need to keep it to south ex or lajpat nagar only as the venue for wedding is north campus.
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It’s like reading my own comment. I have the exact same doubt.. my wedding is in FEB too and same budget.Please help as I am going nuts checking out makeup artists and bridal pics.I need a simple elegant not too much white cake makeup and not too much RED. Someone please help me…
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Hello Dear….
M getting hitched april 17, 2016. I a bit confused on the bridal makeup. Looking for a subtle bridal makeup. Have checked in MADONNA (Green park)/LAKME ABSOLUTE(South Ex). Please suggest which one should i go for????
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My cousin getting married in Agra she want some who can do Bridal Make up as well as party make up for around 7-8 guest . Can some one suggest some good make up artist. Also there are 3 functions (Sangeet, morning marriage and evening reception ) and 1 overnight stay will be there for same. Please suggest which option can be look for.
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hey girls, kindly suggest for senior makeup artist at ambika pillai of south ex???
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Hi All, I have my wedding in December this year. I would like to know reviews about poojaandmisha MUA.
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My sister got ready from Krishna(junior artist) at Ambika Pillai, she’s awesome. On the wedding day, we both got ready from Arti(senior artist), and we both looked marvelous.
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My sister got ready from Krishna(junior artist) at Ambika Pillai, she’s awesome. On the wedding day, we both got ready from Arti(senior artist), and we both looked marvelous.
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