Heavy bridal lengha and hair..what to do?

rsmehta

Hi ladies!  I was hoping to get some advice about how to wear my lengha and hair.  My ceremony lengha is super heavy, including the chuni.  I really do not want to wear my hair up for the ceremony because I don't think it looks flattering up.  I am not sure what to do about the chuni though.  I know traditionally the chuni should come on top of my head and they usually pin it to the bun on top.  I would be ok with wearing my hair half up/half down but I am concerned that the heavy chuni would pull at it and it wouldn't hold.  I bought it from Seasons in Bombay and asked them to make me a separate chuni piece but since it's ready-made, they couldn't do it.  The person who is doing my hair is different than the person getting me ready.  I have a hair trial next month but I'm not sure what to tell her I want (she's not Indian and not the one getting me ready so she won't know how to work with the chuni).  The person who is getting me ready said she only has books I can look at when I go to her house (which is 2000 miles away from me so not a possibility) and does not have any online resources.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to wear my hair partially down but still get a little of the chuni on the head effect so I still look like a bride?  Any pics are greatly appreciated!  Thank you!

temurlang

First, you should take the dupatta to your trial.  If the stylist does weddings, there's a very good chance she is familiar with Indian bridal outfits.  Even if not, as a hair stylist she should have some ideas for you when she understands your concerns.  If you think you don't have enough hair to hold it up, maybe ask her about extensions or putting a piece so you can have it half up with volume. 

some pics:







MIL really wanted me to get this one (but DH has strong opinions):





I wore my hair down (at DH's request) for the ceremony with the dupatta over my head.  It worked and was not especially uncomfortable.  They just used a lot more hairpins.  The main disadvantage of wearing the hair down is that the tikka, earring, and ear chains (I don't know the proper name for those) don't show that much.  I think hair half up would be totally fine with a dupatta.

neetuandsachin

I'm having a similar issue but figured out a solution. I have a very heavy chunni as well. I originally wanted to wear my hair half up/half down b/c I think it suits my face better. So in my first hair trial, I did just that and loved the way it look. My stylist was able to secure the dupatta a little bit further back then the crown of my head so that the weight of the dupatta really fell on my shoulders and not on my head.

Hubby-to-be thought originally I should wear my hair up to keep with tradition, so I did a second trial with my hair in a bun.  However, with this style, I felt not only the weight of my hair but the chunni weight all concentrated on my head - and more pins! I  felt like I was poked a hundred times.  I should mention that the first stylist was not Indian but had done several indian weddings, the second lady was indian.  With the bun style, I was ridiculously uncomfortable, so much so that I when the stylist was trying to take my picture I couldn't even fake a pleasant expression. 
I would recommend trying your hair down and try to maneuver the chunni such that the weight is on your shoulders instead.... good luck!!!

britishmi

Hi rsmehta,

Im flying in to Houston to do some trials for hair and make up in April, any suggestions?

kpwedkk

I didn't think my hair was flattering up, it's 360 degrees of curls, and they go boinging every where!

I got my stylist to straighten it with organic products, and a flat iron, and thne put curls in it, and make it pretty...




Here you can't even see any hair - I'm bald! Ahhhh... Just kidding...




And then for portraits, I took off the dupatta, and showed the hair...  If you do intend to wear the head portion of your jewelry, I tried a lot by trial to do the hair designs that are noted above, but I couldn't get to see all of the jewelry properly like in this shot...

rsmehta

Thank you for all the suggestions, ladies!  This actually really helped a lot.  I haven't lost all hope for wearing my hair down!

@Britishmi- I am actually getting married in Rhode Island so I don't know much about vendors in Houston.  I can ask friends of mine who have gotten married here though.  What in particular are you looking for?

britishmi

Hi rsmehta,

I need someone to do makeup ,hair, and help to get dressed.

Thanks