The festive season is here and whether you call it Navratri, Durga Pooja, Diwali, Dusshera or Golu, it is that wonderful time of the year when we celebrate with family and friends. Get into the festive spirit and treat yourself to a fun new hairstyle!
This time of merriment and feasting means there is no better time to ensure that your hair is in tip top shape for the celebrations. Hairstylist Asgar Saboo, who has styled some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, including Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, shares his favourite and easiest hairstyles that will complement your traditional attire with grace and beauty this festival season.
1) Bun with braided ponytail
This is the most common and traditional hairstyle that is paired with an Indian traditional attire. Perfect for long, thick hair, you can add embellishments or accessories to add some glitz for the festivities and can style the braid in many different ways which makes it perfect when you are attending more than one event.
GET THE LOOK: Brush your hair thoroughly and tie securely at the back of your head just above the nape of your neck. Separate a small section of hair and pin loosely to keep out of the way. Braid the remaining hair in whichever style you choose and secure with a hair band the same colour as your hair. Take the remaining loose section of hair and wrap securely around the top of the ponytail to hide the hair band and fasten securely with hair grips. Add as many embellishments as your dare and spray to hold.
2) Side swept waves
This look is simple to achieve yet undeniably glamorous. Best suited to hair that is beyond shoulder length, this timeless look promises to add class and lots of glamour to any traditional attire.
GET THE LOOK: Ensure hair is brushed thoroughly and is preferably straight as this will make styling a lot easier. Using a curling wand, separate individual 2 inch sections of hair and hold around the curling iron for 10-15 seconds. Leave the curls to hang loosely until all your hair has been curled. Once complete, gently shake out your hair to loosen but do not run your fingers through the curls as this will deconstruct them. Finally, sweep all your hair over your shoulder and spray to hold, then finish with a shine spray for extra sheen.
3) Fishtail braid
As a contemporary alternative to a traditional style, the fishtail braid is striking for a special event. Elegant and charming, this look beautifully compliments classic festive attire.
GET THE LOOK: Brush your hair to whichever way you want the braid to fall and separate into 2 even sections. From each section, take two individual strands and overlap one in front of the other over the rest of the hair. Continue interlocking two strands from each section of hair until the braid is finished. Secure with a plain hair band or add a flower or jewels for extra glam.
4) Bun with garland
Classic buns are perfect for traditional festive event and representing true Indian culture, this look can be elegantly accessorised and when finished looks neat, pretty and polished.
GET THE LOOK: Brush your hair back from your hairline and secure at the nape of the neck with a hair band. Begin to wrap your hair around the ponytail, twisting it as your go to ensure the layers remain hidden. Then secure the bun with bobby pins that are the same colour as your hair for a clean finish. Finally, wrap a flower garland around the bun to add some beautiful detail, choosing a contrasting colour to make a bold statement. Tip: To add extra volume, separate the front sections of your hair before tying so they can later be styled into a quiff or side fringe.
5) Half-up half-down
This is an easy but effective style for when you are short on time. The beauty of the look is you can simply pin up your hair whilst leaving it super straight or with its natural waves. You can even add extra detail by braiding the sections or intertwining them with flowers.
GET THE LOOK: Run your finger through your hair to soften but try and avoid brushing curly hair as this can lead to the look of frizz. Separate two small strands from either side of your hair and pull back and secure, braiding before to add an extra touch. For more volume, separate the top section of your hair and pull back to form a beehive before combing over to give a clean finish.
