For most Indian brides, the hair tends to take a backseat as the resplendent outfits, heirloom jewellery and makeup take centre stage. The idea that the veil will partially or wholly cover the head does pose challenges for a wedding hairstylist, and it's tough to go the bespoke route. But like your wedding outfit, your bridal hairstyle must not be left to the last minute. A bad hair day can undo the effect of even the most beautiful ensemble. So draw up a mood board with your hairstylist in sync with the wedding theme, if any, and accessories like hair jewellery and fresh flowers that you intend to use. “Identify hairstyles that complement your makeup preferences and any special features that you want to accentuate. You could work with your stylist to identify which style works best for you—open hair, structured updos or soft romantic updos, bouncy curls, half tied hair or the sleek and chic look,” advises Vanessa Fernandes, BBlunt salon director and bridal hair expert.
For Indian weddings, the bridal attire and jewellery become the most crucial elements in deciding a hairstyle, besides the personality, hair type, texture and face structure. French hairstylist Michel Baltazar, creative director, Jean-Claude Biguine Spa and Salon is a much sought-after name on the bridal circuit as he marries French elegance with Indian traditions with unrivalled ease. “I wouldn't know the most popular Indian bridal hairstyles, as most brides who come to me are looking for modern alternatives. But I have observed that open styles with soft movement in the hair are becoming increasingly popular. Just as the style, the focus should also be on the ease of the bride. The hairstyle shouldn't be so elaborate or complicated that she feels disguised,” adds Baltazar. If your big day is coming up, read on as a few of the best hair experts in the country guide you on how to nail your bridal hairstyle.
Rajasthani, Marwari and Punjabi brides usually tend to have similar wedding drapes, with a heavily embellished lehenga and a dupatta over their head. For pheras, an updo works best. “We recommend it as it looks classic, neat, is off your face and neck, and doesn't get in the way of all the religious customs on the day,” states Fernandes. “Brides prefer it too. But there are variations to updos that you can try, from a tightly tucked bun to a chignon. Fresh flowers like orchids, roses or mogra are the popular favourites to accessorise this. To add a little height, we can backcomb the hair but you don't want to disguise the face shape. A moderate-to-heavy dupatta will cover the hairstyle for the most part of the ceremonies, but if you choose to take it out, a bun will still look neat with the help of floral accessories.” When it comes to most Hindu weddings, the most common style is to centre part the hair and pull the mane into an updo. Bollywood celebrity hairstylist Aasif Ahmed strongly recommends that the bride should wear a maang tikka. “Something not so heavy that gives you a headache, but an heirloom piece that keeps you rooted to traditions. A maang tikka can make you look stunning. How many occasions apart from a wedding give you a chance to adorn your head with a maang tikka, anyway?” he questions.
Besides their heavily embroidered bridal ensembles, for a Muslim bride, the ornamental pasa or jhoomar on the side, is a characteristic feature. Depending on the size of the pasa and how heavily embroidered the dupatta of your ensemble is, you can opt to go all out with exaggerated voluminous curls, flipped to one side, suggests Fernandes. Prep towel-dried hair with a great leave-in cream that readies your hair for styling. This will also tackle any possible damage from heat tools. Use a volumising spray at your roots and begin tonging to create those curls. This look will enhance your thick, long tresses. “If you prefer your hair tied up, consider a messy curled high bun, side-parted as desired. Leave a few loose curls to frame the face. Secure the dupatta on it using bobby pins or invisible U-pins. Again, the heaviness of the dupatta will determine the size of the bun. The pasa works well with a look like this, and can be placed on to the parting by securing it with bobby pins. Bear in mind that its edge rests on your hairline.”
The South Indian and Maharashtrian brides wear a rich silk sari on their wedding day, but covering the head is not a mandate. As a result, the hairstyle is more in focus. Modern braiding techniques or coiled buns with small floral accents look great with the traditional garb. To lend a more contemporary edge, small flowers, like baby's breath at the intersections of the braids, can have a lovely effect. For Maharashtrian brides, Fernandes uses fresh flowers like orchids and smaller roses to match the colour of their nauvari saris, or adds dense gajras to a plaited bun.
While makeup for a white wedding usually tends to be subtle with shades of light pink, silver or champagne, the hairstyle needs to complement it as well as your dress, says Fernandes. The most important accessory for Catholic brides is the veil and its placement. “You could go in for cascading loose, romantic curls, enhancing what you naturally have or adding more length and volume with extensions. Easy, breezy beach textured waves are still most sought after, and a great dry shampoo is enough to create this look. An elaborate beehive or fashionable top knots are the popular picks for the brides who want to make a statement. For the traditional brides who prefer the classic look, buns are still on trend as we saw with Meghan Markle. You can either choose to have it simply tied up in a neat chic bun with a sharp parting or no parting at all, or a curly, messy low bun with wisps of hair softly framing your face. Add more drama to tousled waves or a half-up-half-down look with a few twists or braids at the side.” For a romantic look, Baltazar advises gathering the soft, wavy tresses in a low bun. “Use small delicate flowers as the final touches. Remember I said small flowers, not camellias,” he sums up.
Check out the gallery below for bridal hairstyles for every kind of bride
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