Bun, Braid, Or Wearing Your Hair Down: What Will It Be For You, Brides?

It’s the most important decision you’ll make as a bride, if you ask us!

Jun 5, 2026
Alia Bhatt wearing her hair down, Anushka Sharma wearing her hair in an updo, and Sobhita Dhulipala wearing it in a braidL-R: Instagram/Alia Bhatt, Instagram/Anushka Sharma, Instagram/Sobhita Dhulipala

If you are a bride-to-be who has picked her wedding outfit and finalised her jewellery, know that even more important decisions lie ahead: finalising your hair and makeup looks. Your hairstyle in particular, can make or break your look, and you must choose wisely. That look has to be aligned with your outfit and the aesthetic that you are leaning into. For example, if you are wearing a delicate, romantic, pastel lace lehenga, you should be wearing your hair down, while an heirloom Benarasi sari will look great with an updo or a braid. Here’s a little bit about the top hairstyles that you can choose from, so you can weigh your options.


Updos 


This one is a classic. Brides have been wearing their hair in buns for ages now. And this hairstyle has stood the test of time, given that it continues to be so popular, even today. All kinds of hair jewellery - mathapattis and sheeshpattis to mantikkas and passas - work great with this look and not to forget, the world is your oyster, when it comes to buns. Opt for a sleek, middle-parted bun for a clean yet elevated look, or go for a low bun for some old-world charm. Adorn hair with flowers has a clear advantage here - while it’s hard for flowers to stay put when you’re wearing your hair down, they work great with updos. 


Bollywood Brides who wore their hair in an updo who you can take inspiration from: Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Katrina Kaif, Radhika Merchant, Yami Gautam, Rakul Preet Singh, Kiara Advani, Neha Dhupia. 


Anushka Sharma wearing her hair in an updo at her weddingInstagram/Sabyasachi
Deepika Padukone wearing her hair in an updo at her weddingInstagram/Deepika Padukone
Kiara Advani wearing her hair in an updo at her weddingInstagram/Kiara Advani
Katrina Kaif wearing her hair in an updo at her weddingInstagram/Katrina Kaif



Wearing your hair down


Wearing your hair down as a bride is a trend that has only emerged in the past few years. The hairstyle really grabbed the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore her hair down for her wedding to Ranbir Kapoor. This hairstyle is great for you if you like to keep things minimal and effortless, and want something fuss-free. However, this trend comes with its own set of cons. Wearing flowers and certain jewellery pieces with open hair isn’t as convenient as wearing them with a bun, since the former provides better grip with an updo. Also, Indian weddings typically last for 8-10 hours, so unless you’re going for poker straight hair, your hair will start losing volume by the end of it. However, if you’re a bridechilla who just can’t be bothered by OTT hair, this is your best bet.



Bollywood Brides who wore their hair down who you can take inspiration from : Alia Bhatt, Rashmika Mandanna, Parineeti Chopra, Rhea Kapoor, Aaliyah Kashyap, Alanna Panday.

Alia Bhatt wearing her hair down at her weddingInstagram/Alia Bhatt
Rhea Kapoor wearing her hair down at her weddingInstagram/Rhea Kapoor
Rashmika Mandanna wearing her hair down at her weddingInstagram/Rashmika Mandanna

Braid


Wearing your hair in a braid as a bride is a great hairstyle if you gravitate towards traditional, earthy aesthetics and want something simple yet opulent. You can wear your braid with traditional hair jewellery like maang tikkas or maathapattis, and you can even choose to adorn them with flowers. You can also take inspiration from South Indian brides and wear a jada patti, or traditional South Indian jewellery for braids. 


Bollywood Brides who wore braids who you can take inspiration from: Sobhita Dhulipala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Mouni Roy.


Sobhita Dhulipala wearing her hair in a braid at her weddingInstagram/Sobhita Dhulipala
Aditi Rao Hydari wearing her hair in a braid at her weddingInstagram/Aditi Rao Hydari
Mouni Roy wearing her hair in a braid at her weddingInstagram/Smriti Irani



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