Choosing a Style

• It's important to choose a style that complements your dress, the theme of the wedding, the time of year, your hair length and your features. If you have long hair, you have more choices; many traditional Indian wedding styles are meant for long hair. Indian brides with shorter hair who want traditional Indian styles often have extensions (usually braided) put in for their weddings. There also are variations on traditional styles that work with short hair.
  
  A traditional bun updo or a long center braid are the most typical hairstyles for Indian brides. In a traditional updo, long hair is fashioned into a large center bun and adorned with accessories or accents. For shorter hair or a fashionable twist on the traditional, you can pin up curled sections of hair into the shape of a bun or create a bun on one side instead of in the center.
  
  The long braided style is often parted in front, with the long hair braided to hang down the bride's back. Brides with long hair sometimes have extensions added to create an even thicker braid. The front of the hair is decorated with jeweled accents, and the braid is decorated with flowers. The end result is a style that looks beautiful and ornate but is often quite heavy.
  
  To represent a more bohemian or modern style, you can wear your hair long and loose, with large curls. Choose an adorned comb or jeweled clips to fasten the top and sides of your hair back, but leave the rest cascading over your shoulders. This style is most appropriate for winter weddings.
  
  

Traditional Hair Accessories

• An Indian bridal hairstyle is generally on the simple side, but enhanced with lavish accessories. Gold jewelry is strung along the center part so that it hangs down a bit over the forehead. Strings of jasmine flowers are wrapped around a long braid. Other popular flower choices are roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. As these same types of flowers typically are hung around the bridal tent, you might want to match the flowers in your hair to the flowers at the reception.
  
  An Indian bride may wear a dupatta (shawl often worn for prayer or as a sign of respect) over her hair and shoulders. A sheer dupatta will allow your hairstyle and jewels to be seen. If you will wear a dupatta, make sure your style looks bold enough to be seen through the dupatta but is still elegant enough to be worn alone.