Festivals
Styles for Diwali, Onam, Eid, Christmas and carnival. 22 hairstyles on EveryHairstyle so far.
Festivals are a time for special hair. Women in Kerala wear jasmine in the hair with white and gold saris at Onam; across India flowers, buns and braids are dressed for Diwali, Pongal and Durga Puja. Eid brings new clothes and fresh haircuts, carnivals bring elaborate braids and headdresses, and folk festivals in Europe bring out traditional braids and crowns.
Festivals in South Asia
At Onam in Kerala, women in kasavu saris wear jasmine strands around a bun or along a plait. In Tamil Nadu, Pongal and temple festivals bring out jasmine and jewelled braids. In Punjab, women wear colourful parandas in their plaits for Lohri and Teeyan and the folk dance giddha. Before Eid, barbershops across South Asia and the Muslim world stay open late for fresh cuts, and Diwali brings new clothes and dressed hair across India.
Carnival and folk festivals
At carnival in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, Afro-Brazilian blocos celebrate afros, braids and headwraps. Yoruba festivals and ceremonies call for named braids such as koroba and shuku. In Russia, Ukraine and Central Europe, folk ensembles and festival dancers wear long braids and flower crowns. Fula women dress their braids with amber and silver for celebrations. Festival hair often joins dress, jewellery and dance.
Famous festivals hairstyles
Further reading
🇺🇦 UkraineUkrainian wreath
Traditional floral headdress for Ukrainian girls and unmarried womenWrapped · Any hair
🇻🇳 VietnamKhăn vấn
A traditional Vietnamese head wrap coiled tightly around the hair.Wrapped · Any hair · 1744
🇮🇳 IndiaPunjabi paranda
A multicoloured silk braid extension from Punjab.Adorned · Any hair
🇪🇸 SpainPeineta
Large decorative comb worn under a lace veilAdorned · Any hair · 1800
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreGajra
Flower garland worn in the hair or on the wristAdorned · Any hair
🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreNatural hair movement
A social and cultural campaign for wearing textured hair without chemical straightening.Natural · Coily and kinky hair · 1960
🇯🇵 JapanHime cut
A Japanese style with straight cheek-length sidelocks and long back hair.Cut · Straight hair · 1970
🇯🇵 JapanNihongami
Traditional Japanese hairstyles characterized by elaborate updos, side wings, and wax styling.Updo · Straight hair
🇬🇧 United KingdomVictory rolls
A 1940s women's hairstyle featuring voluminous side rolls shaped like the letter V.Styled · Straight hair · 1940
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 4 moreFulani braids
West African braided style with beads and side strandsBraid · Coily and kinky hair
🇳🇬 NigeriaShuku
A Yoruba braided updo where hair is gathered into a hump on top of the head.Braid · Any hair
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreSurfer hair
Tousled, sun-bleached locks from the sea.Styled · Wavy hair · 1950
🇷🇺 RussiaRussian braid
A traditional long plait from Russia with historic marital meanings.Braid · Any hair
🇮🇳 IndiaPoola Jada
A floral and jewelled adornment for South Indian bridal braids.Adorned · Any hair
🇮🇳 IndiaAmbada
Decorated Maharashtrian bridal hair bunUpdo · Any hair
🇪🇹 EthiopiaShuruba
Traditional Ethiopian cornrows and braids worn by women and men.Braid · Any hair
🇮🇩 IndonesiaKonde Cepol
A traditional Betawi bun representing cultural identity and elegance.Updo · Any hair
🇺🇸 United StatesHopi squash blossom whorls
Traditional Hopi hairstyle for unmarried maidensStyled · Straight hair
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 1 moreBengali khopa
Traditional centre-parted bun worn by Bengali brides.Updo · Any hair
🇮🇳 IndiaParanda
A colourful woven tassel braided into Punjabi hairAdorned · Any hair
🇯🇵 JapanNihongami
Traditional Japanese hairstyles characterized by upswept buns and side wings.Updo · Straight hair · 1603
🇲🇱 Mali and 1 moreGoffa
Traditional braided style with metal adornments for married women in Mali and Niger.Braid · Any hair
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Hime cut: kxz Chen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ukrainian wreath: Samuil Dudin (1863-1929), Public domain, source
- Khăn vấn: André Salles, Public domain, source
- Nihongami: 都新聞社 Miyako Shinbun, Public domain, source
- Head tie: Dili Osuhor ( Teemages ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Afro: Jason Melcher, CC BY 2.0, source
- Peineta: Hiart, CC0, source
- Fulani braids: François-Edmond Fortier (1862-1928), Public domain, source
- Russian braid: Philip Budkin, Public domain, source
- Surfer hair: Rachel Amarette, CC BY 2.0, source
- Natural hair movement: livepict.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Punjabi paranda: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, source