As a Mallu, Onam season is my favourite time of the year. The gorgeous pookalam blossoming with flowers of different shapes, sizes, and hues, the mouthwatering sadhya with over 25 dishes all prepared by the elders of the house with a whole lot of love that satiates us from within. From performing the thiruvathira around the nilavilakku to playing vadamvali with my cousins, I await this season every year with exhilaration and enthusiasm in my heart and belly.
But what I look really forward to the most is adorning my grandmother’s gorgeous kasavu threads, whether it is a settu saree or a settu mundu . It makes me feel like a part of the rich cultural tradition that binds my ancestors and me. It is a sign that no matter how distinguishable we are from each other, during Onam, we set aside our differences and embraced the harvest festival with gusto and the spirit of abundance and celebration.
What’s in draping the white and gold of the Kerala saree, if you don’t add the finishing touches of a classic Onam hairstyle? Everyone almost has the same outfit because of the kasavu material, traditional prints, and colours, but one way you can stand out from the crowd is by styling your hair differently.
Check out these hairstyles that are classic yet different from the run-of-the-mill Onam hairstyles women often opt for.
5 Classic Onam Hairstyles To Try In 2024
Regency Core
If Onam hairstyles and the Bridgerton aesthetic had a baby, this would be it. It’s inspired by the traditional women of the royal Kerala families, who adorn their hair with copious amounts of jasmine flowers to showcase their wealth and the spirit of the harvest festival.
How To Achieve The Look:
Start by parting your hair in the middle with a fine-toothed comb, taking two thick strands from the front, and tying a Dutch braid that ends in the back. Pin the two braids into a seamless knot and let the rest of your hair fall like cascading water. Lastly, take 4–5 6-inch-long garlands made of fresh jasmine flowers and place them under the braids. The braids and flowers have to be in the same direction to make it look like a band.
Doughnut-Coded
If you want all your hair out of the way and away from your face, then opt for this doughnut-coded hairstyle. It will make sure your hair doesn't fall into your sadhya while also looking adorable from the back.
How To Achieve The Look:
Take a paddle brush brush your hair out, and tie half of your hair into a bun. If you want a tighter bun that won’t untie or irritate you, then use a doughnut maker clip and put your hair in a neat bun. Wrap your hair bun with a generous amount of jasmine flowers for that quintessential Onam look.
Rosette Shell
This might be the most experimental Onam hairstyle, it takes inspiration from the French bun and rosette shells. With this hairstyle, you can also skip the usual jasmine flowers and adorn your hair with white roses instead.
How To Achieve The Look:
Instead of a comb, pull the top half of your hair with your fingers for that messy look. Take small strands from the ponytail and wrap it around creating a spiral shape, hold the strands with U-pins. Take some flowers and place them in a C-shape Since this look doesn’t have a rubber band or clip holding it down, finish the look with some setting spray to maintain the controlled chaos look.
Braided Baddie
As kids, we all dreaded the school-imposed braids, but now it makes sense for people on the go. On Onam day, we have about a hundred things to look after. Is the flower-rangoli shaping right, did all the members get all the 25 dishes, how to sneak in more payasam, and finally, doing all this in a saree? Hence, you need your hair to slap and stay in place and this is where the braids enter the chat.
How To Achieve The Look:
Part your hair on one side, we recommend choosing your favourite side profile and part the other way. Pull your hair back and secure it with pins. Loosely braid your hair and tie a band in the end. Take long garlands of jasmine flowers and wrap it around the length of the braids.
Low Pony
A hair look commonly styled with Western outfits, this low pony is a chic look you can carry with Onam fits as well. Not only is this hairstyle cute, but it is also the easiest to commandeer. It looks good on medium to long hair, whether you have straight, wavy, or curly hair.
How To Achieve The Look:
Simply tie a low pony with all your hair and fasten it with a rubber band. Wrap the jasmine flower garland with hair pins and brush out the rest of your hair. If you have bangs or small strands of hair in the front, leave it open for a complete look. Curl the side bangs or strands for an elegant look.
FAQs
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How to style hair for Onam?
Opt for simple hairstyles that won’t take long but also look fabulous, some of the hairstyles you can try are low pony, half-up half-down, half bun, full bun, and braids.
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How to look more shapely in an Onam saree?
Opt for deeper-coloured blouses and borders that reflect as little light as possible because the rest of the saree will primarily be white and gold.
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What makeup looks should I try for Onam?
Try bold makeup looks like a smokey eye, a deeper red lip, and some colour on the brows. Since the kasavu is primarily white and gold, your makeup can have a pop of colour, we recommend matching it with the colour of your blouse. I personally recommend a maroon red lip, some lash extensions, a big maroon bindi, and a shimmery eye.
