How to Wear a Veil With a Chignon

A chignon is a classic, romantic and feminine hairstyle which can be worn in different ways--from casual to elegant. A chignon is a bun that is pinned to the back of the head, near the nape of the neck. It can be pinned to the side and also directly to the back. Chignons are very popular for brides and bridesmaids, as they pull the hair up off of the face.

Instructions:

1. Decide on Types of Chignons and Veils
Decide where you would like your chignon placed: to the side, or directly in the back. Decide what type of chignon you would like. Chignons can be formed with braids, curls, and the basic twisted ponytail. The type of chignon you decide on should match the overall aesthetic of your clothing. For a more romantic and fancier look, a curled chignon creates a softer and more feminine appearance. A braided chignon makes it easy to attach hair accessories such as jewelery and flowers, as well as giving a more medieval appearance. The basic twisted chignon can be made to be loosely pinned for a more casual appearance, or tightly twisted for a sleeker one.

2. Make your chignon. For a braided chignon, braid your hair low on the nape of your neck, and twist it into a bun. For a basic chignon make a low ponytail on the nape of your neck, twist it into a bun and pin it. For a curled chignon, curl your hair with a curling iron if necessary, and then loosely twist your hair into a bun at the nape of your neck. Secure the bun and the curls with pins.

3. Choose the type of veil you would like. The type of veil you can wear with your chignon will depend on the type of chignon you choose. Having a very long veil will necessitate either a larger headpiece for the veil, or a more tightly pinned chignon, so that it can carry the weight of the veil. A shorter half-veil will be lighter and is very well suited to looser chignons, such as curled or loosely twisted chignons.

4. Pin the headpiece of the veil to the top of your head. You need to pin the top part of the veil--which is usually banded--so that the crest of the veil--the border between the veil cloth and the band--is slightly perched, 1½-inches above the hairline of your forehead. It is important to properly place the veil above the hairline so that the veil is not too low or too high. A too high veil will create an odd bump on the top of your head where the veil and the band meet, and a too low veil will make it difficult to keep the veil in place. The band should be close to the center of the top of your head.

5. Lift the veil so that the cloth portion is draped over the back of your head, and no longer covering your face.