Hairstyles For Sarees

Hairstyles are just as important as accessories to a saree wearer.

Both add charm and elegance to the person who wears it.

The chignon hairstyle, the long hairstyle, the braided hairstyle and the short hairstyle are some of the popular hairstyles found on women who dress in saree.

Chignon hairstyle

The chignon (pronounced chêg-non) is a fashionable hairstyle many women who wear the saree opt for because of its simplicity and comfortableness.

The hair is tied at the back of the head in a bun and held in place with decorative hair pins exposing the nape of the neck and shoulders.

Chignon is taken from the French word ‘chignon du cou’ meaning ‘nape of the neck’.

It was a popular hairstyle donned by both Athenian men and women in Ancient Greece and by married women in Ancient China.

The chignon hairstyle can be seen on women who wear the saree:

• at home
• to work
• to parties
• special functions and even with their bridal dress

Long hairstyle

Long hair has been a favorite of both men and women since ancient times.

Women who don the saree usually have lovely long tresses which are one of their beauty assets.

Some women prefer to tie their long hair in a bun such as in the chignon hairstyle while others may leave it as it is, long and flowing covering the shoulders and neck.

The long hairstyle is mostly worn to parties and weddings.

Braided hairstyles

Braided hairstyles are a common sight on many women and girls in countries like India and Sri Lanka.

The hairstyle is favored since it gives a neat appearance and is an ideal hairstyle for women with long hair living in hot and humid countries.

With the braided hairstyle women and girls with long hair find it easy to attend to their day to day chores since the hair strands won't fall out of place as they work.

Traditionally Indian women wearing a single braid were regarded as married whereas women who wore two braids were considered unmarried.

Women from South India usually choose the single braid hairstyle on their wedding day decorated with jasmine flowers and roses.

The two common types of braided hairstyles are the French braid and the Dutch braid which are also two popular hairstyles worn with a saree.

Short hairstyles

Although women who wear the saree usually have long hair it’s not uncommon to find women with short hair wearing it too. Such women will typically have one of the following hairstyles: the short haircut with bangs, the bob short haircut or the layered short haircut.

Some ladies may also choose to wear hair extensions to make their hair look longer and be easier to style in a chignon bun. Such a hairstyle is generally worn to special functions or weddings.

Tips when choosing the right hairstyle

• First determine the shape of your face, whether its round shaped, square shaped, oval shaped, long or heart shaped. Always choose a hairstyle which suits the shape of your face.
• The texture of your hair is an important factor when choosing the right hairstyle. If your hair is too fine choose a short hairstyle as this will give your hair more body and a fuller look. Cut long hair in layers to give it more body.
• To tame frizzy hair use a shampoo rich in moisturizer and condition every time you shampoo. Get a deep conditioning done every week. The drier the hair the more prone it is to frizziness. Avoid using the hair drier to dry hair as this can dehydrate the hair making it more susceptible to dryness.

© 2012 Suranee Perera