Tips for Preparing Your Hair Before the Wedding Day

By Scindhia Hallan

The wedding day is an important day and everything needs to be perfect for this great occasion. A lot of brides pay attention over the dress and make-up ignoring their crowning glory - the hair. Even the simplest of mistakes can make you feel bad on a day as big as your wedding day. The easiest way to take care of your hair problems are listed here.

Plan in advance

Unlike your dress, your hair needs a lot more time to cater to your needs. Plan at least four months in advance for this. If you have specific problems like dandruff, then treat them first before styling. Oils do wonder to your hair. They are available in a variety of fragrances too.

Here is the easiest route to a healthy hair if you prefer taking care of your hair at home. The results are great if you do it regularly.

Heat coconut oil in a pan.

Add four cloves of garlic and 1/2 tsp whole pepper

When it is mildly hot, remove it from flame.

Apply the concoction to your hair and massage gently for twenty minutes.

Leave it on for another half an hour.

Wash your hair using shampoo.

When this process is repeated regularly, the hair becomes glossy and gains more volume. The split ends at the end of the hair are also treated by this method. Apart from taking care of your hair, this kind of massage and the oil combination is proved to be effective to improve eyesight too. This is also a relief for constant headaches.

Study your face

A wedding is a big occasion and a special hairdo is a must. Thanks to the internet we have long grown out of a lot of traditional hairstyles. We do love them but we are nowhere limited by them. When it comes to the prefect hairdo, studying your facial features is very important. As we all know, the same hairstyle can look vastly different on two different people. How is your face? Is it oval or angular or round? What is your current hairstyle? Does it suit you well? Your hair can inversely highlight your best facial features sometimes.

Study your hair

The second step to any elegant hairstyle is to study your hair. A vast majority of us wish we had better hair in terms of length, volume or shine. It is very easy to exclude hair care and give excess attention to facials and other skin treatments. Regular exposure to the pollution that surrounds us may wreak havoc on the hair in the longer run. Smoke, heat, humidity are some of the common pollutants we encounter. Also common mistakes like washing your hair too often may rob the hair of its natural oils and leave is extremely dry and fizzy. There are a lot of keratin treatments available today. Whatever methods you choose, it is extremely important to prep your hair before actually indulging in a style.

Decide on your length

If you are planning on long hair for your wedding, do not cut your hair four months before the occasion. There are glamorous hairstyles available today for every length of hair. So do not fret if you have short hair. You can still make it look attractive.

Decide your style

If you want to go in for chemical straightening or coloring treatments involving a lot of chemicals, do it at least two months in advance. It will give you time to get adjusted to your new color. If you are interested in curls, decide on whether you want tight or loose curls as both look utterly different on the same face.

Decide on accessories

Whether your hair is long or short, accessories are a beautiful and elegant method to highlight your hair. There are a lot to choose from - hairbands, feathers, flowers and clips. If you have a short hair and are confused about what could be done, you can check brilliant hairstyles for short hairs here. Do not be afraid to experiment with accessories. What suits for one may not suit for the other.

Go for a trial

There is nothing more embarrassing than an awkward and uncomfortable hairstyle when a hundred pairs of eyes are looking at you. Go for a trial so that you look super confident and can pull off your new hairstyle with elegance on your D-day. It will also give you an idea of what to expect from your hair. Allow enough time to experiment with couple of styles and then choose the best suitable style.

Tips and tricks for short hair

When the hair is short, many think there is not much we can do with it. The secret lies in pairing the right accessories that will accentuate your hair style. Be it curls, spike or straight hair, accessories make a big difference to the whole style statement.

The easiest way to look attractive with a short hair is to curl it. You can experiment with tight curls, loose curls or the vintage look. Be careful when choosing the vintage curl as your make up has to greatly support your hairdo.

However you can do the same curls look a little more attractive with some extra jazz. If you love flowers to be a part of your wedding attire apart from the bouquet you carry around, you can think of arranging bright coloured flowers in your hair. This style looks great if you have asymmetric curls.

Tight curls are also a great choice. Pair the style with some subtle tattoos and you look absolutely stunning. Make sure you do not over do the tattoo thing as it will totally distract people from people actually noticing your hairstyle.

Simple bobs will always be in vogue as they are really pretty and easy to handle if you have a decent volume of short hair. Tiaras, hairbands and clips do wonders for these kinds of hairstyles. A wavy bob does not need accessories like a shiny band and straight bob which will look too plain without something to make it dazzling.

Also there is the pixie cut and spiked hair do for the daring which will look amazing with a little thought and design. 

So ladies, whether you are interested in waves, spikes or curls, pair it with different types of accessories to arrive at new trends. Don't hesitate to experiment with modern looks on your traditional day.

A wedding hairdo cannot be messed at the last minute. It should be tried and tested couple of times before the actual occasion so that you can decide on the appropriate accessories and feel comfortable wearing the same.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Have any tips related to this content. Tell us in the comments below.

Read More

Unknown

Share Tweet Pin It +1

1 Comments

History of the Engagement Ceremony

History of engagement - She Knows Her Mind

By Scindhia Hallan

Weddings are a grand celebration of give and take of love. With the passage of time, weddings have become more sophisticated and many of the traditions have lost their true meaning. But that doesn’t make weddings any less enjoyable. In the olden days be it the engagement or the wedding, they were simple ceremonies as opposed to the eloquent affair of today. As with every history lesson, the history of weddings is equally astonishing. Not much has changed in the wedding traditions that were carried through the middle ages to the contemporary period although slight modifications were inevitable. In the process many of the rituals even became out-dated. Even then the core portion of a tradition survived with peripheral changes taking place all the time. Such a survival of tradition puts forward the thought that against all the prejudices of a wedding, there are still millions of people who truly believe and follow the traditions without a second thought. I'm talking about not just one country but the world as a whole. I'm not a historian but a mere follower. But writing this article has made me wonder if I would ever be able to capture the whole history of our modern weddings. It is highly impossible but it is worth a try.

What is an engagement?

Engagement is the mutual promise of a man and a woman to marry each other. The period between the mutual consent and the wedding is technically the engagement or betrothal period. There is no strict time frame for this period. It is different in different cultures. In some cultures, it is merely days, while in some cultures it may be months. There are even cultures that decide the bride and the groom even when they are just kids. When they grow up, they are expected to marry each other. The word 'fiance' finds its roots from the Latin word, fidere which means 'to trust'.

In 860CE, it was Pope Nicholas I who made the engagement ceremony compulsory before a wedding.

The famous mention of a formal engagement ring occurs in the 15th century when Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented a diamond to Mary of Burgundy. It is believed that from here began the modern tradition of gifting a diamond engagement ring. Looks like this tradition is here to stay with all the Bollywood and Hollywood movies endorsing it with such vigor (Remember, the Oh my God! expression and tearful eyes)!

Dowry:

Negotiated matches or the modern arranged marriage were the first type of engagement ideas recorded. These included inputs from both the bride and the grooms' families. The engagement in short was nothing but a marriage contract with clearly laid terms and conditions. An integral part of this ceremony was the dowry. Though dowry finds no place in many of the western cultures, some parts of the east still continue to encourage this unnecessary practice. Dowry was recognized as price for the bride. The father of the bride paid the groom with cows, sheep, jewellery or land. In 1700BCE, Babylonians were said to have made a new decree about dowry. It was insisted that the dowry of a wife actually had to returned upon divorce or death of the wife without having any children.

Roman contributions:

In Roman Catholicism engagement or betrothal was considered equal to a marriage contract, which meant that they were legally husband and wife even before the actual wedding ceremony took place. Formal announcements were usually made in churches about the engagement. These were called banns.

The Romans were famous for their romantic engagement rings. One of the most well-known older rings was the Claddah ring which had the design of two hands holding a heart. Rings were a symbol of love and commitment for eternity. That's the reason they were round. The reason why they were worn on the fourth ring was that the Romans believed the fourth finger was made up of the 'vein of love' which connects to the heart.

The engagement party was usually hosted by the bride’s family. It was not recognized as an occasion for gifts. But modern day parties are more lavish.

When an engagement was broken, the woman had the right to keep the ring, but many women didn't do it as they thought it was not good manners. However if the ring that was gifted was part of a family heritage then the woman had to return it to the owner.

The Indian Perspective:

In a conservative culture like India, engagement is a big occasion. It is the first formal announcement about the wedding to the neighbors, friends and family. Normally the expenses of the ceremony are borne by the family of the bride. The relatives and friends of both the bride and groom are invited. The groom's family present some sort ofgold jewellery (mostly a gold chain) and a sari to the bride which the bride has to wear on the day of the engagement. Sisters of the groom if any play a big role during such occasions. They are the usual companions of the bride as she prepares herself to make a smooth transition to the groom's house from her own house. A grand lunch is organized formalizing the relationship.

In some cultures the groom is not included in the engagement ceremony. This is the first time that the bride meets the extended family of the groom and gets to know them and vice versa. Joint family system is still prevalent in many parts of India and all the elders of the family are treated with the same respect no matter the hierarchy in the family. Exchanging of the thamboolam (sacred offering) of both sides is also common. It consists of clothing, jewellery, flowers, money and other auspicious offerings depending on the cultural background. The length of the engagement ceremony also varies depending on the strength of the family and traditions involved. Whatever maybe the differences in culture, an engagement is seen as the first step towards the marital arrangements on both sides. 

Image Credit : Pixabay

Read More

Unknown

Share Tweet Pin It +1

0 Comments

The Significance of Traditional Indian Wedding Jewellery

Meaning of wedding ornamnets - She Knows Her Mind

By Scindhia Hallan

Ornaments are an integral part of an Indian wedding. It is such a big deal in India, that purchasing bridal jewellery is actually an occasion of sorts with all the brides relatives being invited by the bride’s parents for selecting the jewellery that the bride would wear on the wedding day. In a country as diverse as India, with so many bridal customs and bridal wear, the jewellery too varies with different states.Some of these pieces are worn regularly after wedding. Though these are common ornaments most of us have never really understood the importance of it. My focus is mainly on jewels used by Tamil women after marriage but the same jewel can have a modified version in some other part of India. After all India is a country full of cultural richness. We are similar yet different in so many ways.

The ornaments given here not only make the bride beautiful but also bring her good health, safety and luck according to ancient Hindu beliefs. Unlike today, almost all jewels in ancient India were custom made for the bride. There are different jewels designed for different parts of the body. Some are outdated and are not seen regularly while some are common even today.

In Tamil culture, the Tamil goddess is said to be adorned with five ornaments – Seevagasinthamani (for the head), Manimeghalai(for the waist), Valayapathi(for the hands), Kundalakesi(for the ears) and Silapadhikaram (for the legs).

Nethichutti ( Forehead)

Chutti is the ornament which is worn on top the forehead. The place where it falls loosely on the forehead is believed to have the intellectual chakra. The pressure of the ornament stimulates the brain and thinking. Traditional chuttis are round and they are made of stones or pearls and are heavier than what is available in the market today. The modern woman prefers various models in the design instead of the traditional circular one.

Mookuthi (Nose)

Mookuthi is otherwise called as nose ring. In some cultures it is used to symbolize the virginity of the bride and is worn only before marriage. But in the culture of the south, mookuthi is the symbol of a wedded woman. It is said to remind the wife that she must learn to master her anger since her anger can destroy the whole family. Tamilians associate nose with the virtue of anger. Today, mostly mookuthi is worn on only one side of the nose unlike the ancient times where it was worn on both sides.

Kammal (Ear)

Kammal or earring is an auspicious ornament of the bride. It is a symbol to ward off evil spirits. The location is also a pressure point and serves as an acupuncture point. Traditional women wore Jimkis (round umbrella shaped earrings). Today earrings are easily the largest diversified ornaments with thousands of new designs releasing every year.

Thali (Neck)

Thali is the holy thread that pronounces a man and woman as husband and wife. It is also called Mangal sutra in the northern part of India. Mangal means holy, sutra means thread. It is an ornament that is tied close to the heart to remind that the heart belongs to only her husband. It is synonymous with wedding rings in the west. There are a lot of designs of mangal sutra depending on the caste of the person. Even in Tamil Nadu each sub caste has a different design of mangal sutra. This is the most important piece of wedding jewellery. The tying of the mangal sutra is a staunch declaration of the couple being formally pronounced as man and wife.

Valayal (Hands)

Valayal or bangles is another jewel which is closely associated with the well being of the husband. It symbolizes that the husband and wife belong to each other and their love is divine. Just like the bangle is one circle with no divisions, the couple too must be of one heart and soul. In the south, green colored bangles are believed to bring prosperity to the bride. In certain other culture glass bangles and ivory bangles are preferred.

Modhiram (Fingers)

This is the Tamil version of the wedding/engagement rings.It is worn on the ring finger and is usually a thin band of gold. It is believed that wearing a metal on the ring finger stimulates the connectivity of the brain. In some customs, multiple rings are worn in the fingers and a joined by a palm ornament. This can be seen especially in north Indian weddings. In certain cultures silver rings are worn along with golden rings during the wedding day.

Ottiyanam (Hip)

Ottiyanam is an ornament worn around the hip. It is a symbol of authority in the household as women hang their wardrobe and house keys in this ornament. During the ancient period, all married women wore this. But this is not a common ornament today. It can be seen only during weddings as part of the ceremony. Some girls even wear it on family occasions other than weddings too. In reality, it is no longer associated with a wedded woman.

Kolusu (Ankle)

Kolusu or anklet is worn around the ankle as a loose chain of silver. It used to be a single silver thread. But today it is made out of silver and mixed gold and is also used as a casual ornament. In the olden days, the husband knew when the wife was approaching him from the sound of the bells from the kolusu. It is even available in two tier and three tier designs. It can be made as a hefty or light ornament according to preference. Wearing it in pure gold is not allowed in many of the cultures.

Metti (Toes)

Metti or the toe ring is a symbol of a married woman next to the mangal sutra. It is presented by the husband to the wife during the marriage ceremony. It is usually worn in twos in silver metal. The toe next to the big toe is said to have a nerve passing through uterus. Wearing a metti keeps that particular nerve safe. Nowadays this toe ring is worn as a fashion statement and is available in a variety of metals.

Image credit: Pixabay

Liked this article? What are your thoughts on this topic? 

Read More

Unknown

Share Tweet Pin It +1

0 Comments