Do a Chignon for a Bride
A chignon is a classic style for bridal hair and if you're good at styling your own hair, you can even do it yourself if need be, although it's best to get help from your bridesmaids to ensure it's absolutely perfect. The chignon is an elegant style that will smooth out your hair and keep it intact throughout your wedding event.
Note that for a chignon to work properly, you will need very, very, long and straight hair. If your hair is not long enough, you will find that the resulting chignon looks messy, which may not be ideal for your wedding look.
Contents
Steps
Classic chignon
- Wash and dry your hair. Use styling products that will ensure total smoothness of your hair. Comb your hair before commencing.
- Leaving most of your hair loose, take a piece of hair from the left side and right side of your head, in order to make a small ponytail over the top of the rest of your hair. Pull these two pieces together at the middle and tie with a clear elastic to form the miniature ponytail. Don't pull too tightly; there should be plenty of space in the side pieces.
- Tease the ponytail part only. This is the only part of the hair that will stay messy because it serves as the filling inside the chignon, to help keep the chignon rounded.
- Make another ponytail using the remaining hair that is still loose. This should be a few inches or centimeters from the base of your hair.
- Take the long, bottom ponytail and bring it up and over the top ponytail. Pull it through the top ponytail carefully and neatly.
- Tuck the end of the long ponytail inside the loop of hair that this action has created. Ensure that the teased part of the top ponytail is also neatly tucked under and is helping to hold out the chignon. Secure the chignon in place using bobby pins or clips.
- Spray with hairspray. This look needs to be kept strong with spray, so be generous.
- Add hair ornaments after your chignon is completed. If adding flowers or other decorative effects to your hair, do so after the chignon has been made. It is recommended that the chignon be the starring feature though, so don't overdo any decorations.
Draped chignon
This style is a variation on the small tucked under chignon, in that you will leave the length of your hair braided and hanging down. It's a gorgeous look.
- Wash and dry your hair. Use styling products that will ensure the total smoothness of your hair. Comb your hair before commencing.
- Part your hair down the middle. Leave the combed side hair loose and pull the back hair into a low ponytail, using a clear elastic.
- Braid the ponytail loosely and tie with a clear elastic.
- Tuck the end of the braid under and around in a loop. Secure using hair grips or bobby pins.
- Take the loose hair from the left side. Comb it in a curved shape back toward the braided loop of hair.
- Drape this piece of hair over and under the braided loop at its top. Secure with hair grips or bobby pins.
- Repeat the draping using the right side of loose hair and secure in place.
- Spray hairspray over the chignon to keep it intact. As you're spraying, comb through your hair to ensure complete smoothness. See the advice above concerning addition of decorative elements to your hair.
Tips
- Choose bobby pins that match your hair color, again so that they don't show up.
- Use clear elastics so that they don't show up.
Things You'll Need
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Styling products for smoothing hair
- Comb
- Clear elastics
- Any decoration addition (although the simpler, the better)
Related Articles
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- Dress As a Bride
- Choose Flowers for the Bride's Hair
- Choose a Bride's Hairpins
- Choose Flowers for the Bride's Bouquet
