How To Get A ‘Wicked’ Red Carpet Hairstyle at Home

Everything is turning up Wicked theses days and with the LA Red Carpet Premiere of the film just happening over the weekend, the stars in attendance gave us something to strive for when it comes to our own glam from home.

Stop throwing your hair in a ponytail or worse, spending hours on your hair for it to only fall flat before you leave the house. The expert stylists at the premiere give us some valuable tips on how to mimic the looks of the actresses who portrayed the original Elphaba, the Green Witch and Glinda, the Good Witch.

Idina Menzel, who played Elphaba on Broadway for just over two years, went for a classic over-the-shoulder style as to compliment the dress she wore. The one-sleeved, floor length black gown stood out as Menzel’s brunette curled hair rested on her bare shoulder. Paul Norton, her hairstylist for the evening says he let the dress guide him in his styling, remarking, “I took the dress’s architectural shape and design as my direct inspiration. Given the open shoulder on one side and predominant volume of the sleeve on the other side, I knew the hair being down, voluminous and swept to one side would help balance it out visually.”

Norton explains that it’s important to start with properly prepped hair. Start with freshly washed hair, Norton used Wella products to protect from the heat of the blowdryer and curling iron. He curled her entire head of hair, and then afterwards worked on each curl to separate and turn it into a wave with the help of hairspray.

Kristin Chenoweth, who played Glinda on Broadway for nine months, appeared in a gold floral embroidered cocktail dress that hit right above her knee. The strapless dress took center stage so her stylist, Jonathan Hanousek chose a sleek, straight look for Chenoweth’s long blonde hair.

To help reduce frizz and damage, Hanousek used Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue. He used Wella hair balm from the middle of her hair down to the ends followed by a large round brush and blowdryer. Finally, he made sure to tuck her hair behind her ears, to keep with the simple style so her dress would get all of the attention.

On Michelle Yeoh, who plays the school Headmaster Madame Morrible, also appeared on the red carpet in a black gown, adorned with beads. But for Yeoh’s style, her stylist, Renato Campora chose a modern take on a flapper-style wavy bob. Yeoh’s short blonde hair was first tested with a heat protectant balm and then a Wella Professionals EIMI Body Crafter Flexible Volumizing Spray to her roots. He curled her hair, and immediately pinned each curl so it could cool in place. Of her final style, Campora says, “I parted the hair on the side for a more elegant and angular silhouette. This enhances the cheek bones and elongates the neck shape.”

The story of Wicked goes back to 1995 when author Gregory Maguire released his novel loosely based on The Wizard of Oz. His story starts before Dorothy and her friends appeared, turning the idea of the “wicked” witch around, introducing the witches of Oz as friends. It appeared on Broadway for the first time in 2003 and as of February of this year has had over 78 hundred performances. Wicked is the fourth-longest running musical on Broadway. Wicked stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The movie debuts on November 22 with the second installment coming in November 2025.