Brides

makeup & Hair

How to Properly Put on Your Wedding Veil, Based on Your Bridal Hairstyle

 

We tapped two hairstylists to break down everything you need to know.

Once you've found your wedding dress, you should start to set your sights on searching for a veil (if you plan to wear one, of course). Whether you pick one from your bridal salon or Etsy, or choose to wear a hand-me-down from a friend or family member, selecting the right veil will help shape your overall ensemble. But that's not all: Your veil will also help enhance the look of your bridal hairstyle, especially if it's correctly placed to complement your 'do.

“Your wedding is the only time in life you can justify wearing a veil. So why not? There are so many different cuts and styles of veils, and finding the right one to fit your hairstyle and personality is a lot easier than one would think," shares hairstylist Leigh Hardges of Maxine Salon. That being said, figuring out how to style your coif with your veil can be a bit overwhelming, particularly since you've likely never worn this accessory before. Don't worry, though: We're here to help ease your mind.

Here, we break down how to properly put on your wedding veil, based on your bridal hairstyle. Keep reading for more.

MEET THE EXPERT

Leigh Hardges is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Lucy Gedjeyan is a celebrity and wedding hairstylist.

 

Where to Place Your Wedding Veil, Based on Your Hairstyle

Whether you choose to wear your hair fully down or in a French braid, we asked the experts to break down the recommended veil placements for the top bridal hairstyles.

Half-Up, Half-Down

Plan on wearing your wedding hair half-up with a veil? According to celebrity and wedding hairstylist Lucy Gedjeyan, the crown of your head is the most ideal placement for this 'do. “The crown has the most support and will typically have the most concentrated product there, so it will really help anchor the comb of the veil," she explains.

Hardges does note, however, that a bride should also consider placing their veil at the apex of their head depending on the style of accessory they plan to sport. “If the bride is blushing (meaning wearing a veil over her face to be unveiled by her spouse-to-be), the best location to place the veil is at the apex (the highest point on the head),” she says. “If the veil is meant to stay behind the bride, I would place it about two inches to the rear of the bride’s apex. Ideally, the stylist would want to anchor the veil into the half-up portion of the hairstyle.”

Fully Down

Gedjeyan and Hardges both suggest placing your veil above the crown of your head if you plan to wear your hair fully down. “With the hair down, there is no structure or support like an updo or half updo would typically have, so the veil would be most secure laying as horizontal as possible at the top of the head,” says Gedjeyan. “If preferred to place the veil slightly lower than the crown, ensure the veil's comb is fastened with a little extra support from a few bobby pins to avoid it sliding downward. It helps to also slightly tease this area of hair to create a more securely fastened veil.” What's more, Hardges notes that brides should consider wearing "a fascinator or headband style veils, for easier placement," when rocking a fully down coif.

Low Bun or Ponytail

We adore a low bun or ponytail for many reasons—chief among them being that this style is the easiest hairdo for veil placements. “The best place for a low chignon or ponytail would be about one to two inches above the ponytail," shares Hardges. " Gedjeyan goes on to add, "This helps with the longevity of the look and placement, as this area has the most concentrated product which provides extra grit—and the bun or ponytail can provide the most structural support below it."

If you're set on wearing your veil below your coif, however, you would only be able to achieve this placement if sporting a bun. “With certain low bun hairstyles, the veil can also be placed below it and closer to the nape of the neck to avoid covering up the styled bun and/or any hair accessory above it," Gedjeyan adds.

High Bun or Ponytail

Love the idea of wearing your hair in a high bun or ponytail for your wedding? Gedjeyan loves this style, noting, “With high buns or a high ponytail hairstyle, you can absolutely wear the veil closest to the occipital region—below the bun." She continues sharing, "Placing it in this area will help in avoiding unwanted additional height at the top of the bun. When it comes to placement with a high ponytail, it would be most flattering to place the veil at the crown.” Hardges continues with this mindset, stating, “For a high bun or ponytail, I would suggest placing the veil behind the bun or ponytail, with the comb or clip of the veil placed at the base of the style to ensure a well-anchored veil.”

French Braid

When placing a veil in a French braid, all you need to do is position the accessory at the start of the braid. “Right between the styling around the face and where the braid begins, there is usually a little pocket that is formed from interlocking the hair that is the perfect place to secure the veil.” Gedjeyan explains, “Bridal braids typically start in the crown region, which is the perfect placement area for a veil.”

How to Maintain Your Veil Placement Throughout Your Wedding

Maintaining your veil placement throughout your wedding ceremony boils down to your stylist using the right products to keep your accessory intact. “My advice to maintain any look with a veil is to provide a great foundation for veil placement through teasing and the use of hair products—and in certain placements definitely the use of extra bobby pins,” shares Gedjeyan. “This provides the perfect amount of security for the veil, keeping it stable, but can also allow the veil to easily be removed after the ceremony without ruining your hairstyle.” Hardges echos that sentiment and also shares, “Lots of hair spray and well-placed pins are the way to win with wedding day hair. So with that said, hire a professional.”

Want to keep your veil on throughout your reception, too? "On the rare occasion a bride plans on dancing the whole evening away with a veil intact, I would go the extra mile and sew it into your hairstyle with clear thread or fishing wire; it definitely won’t be going anywhere,” Gedjeyan advises. If that doesn’t sound like a good option, though, you can always add in more pins or go with a longer comb that provides more stability.