How To Modernize Traditional Indian Wedding Makeup

As India celebrates Holi, the “festival of colors” that marks the start of spring and also the wedding season, Indian brides can now create a modernized makeup look to usher in new beginnings.
A traditional Indian wedding is an affair not be missed, lasting from three days to a week, and consists of several different ceremonies. The event marks not only the union of two individuals but also the merging of two families, according to scholars Sravani Gullapalli and Aparna Raju Sag. Gullapalli and Raju note that Indian weddings are a colorful affair, and as such, the bride’s makeup reflects that aesthetic. “The colors generally considered auspicious for the occasion are, red, yellow, green or white. Red is most common and it symbolizes prosperity, fertility and saubhagya (marital bliss),” says Gullapalli and Raju. “The bride also dons elaborate and beautiful ornaments primarily made of gold and precious stones. Her hair is plaited and decorated with flowers and jewelry. In northern India, the bride also wears a ghunghat (veil), draped modestly over her hair as a sign of respect to the deities worshipped and the elders present.” Indeed, Indian fashion comes from a maximalist tradition, where more is more.

However, according to Gullapalli and Raju “although arranged marriages are still the norm, love marriages are becoming a common occurrence these days, predominantly in urban areas.” This marks a departure in tradition, and modernization of culture.

To stay in step with the modernization of Indian wedding ceremonies, the following looks – created by Indian makeup artists and YouTube stars Deepica Mutyala and Sona Gasparian – update traditional bridal makeup. What do you need to create an updated Indian bridal look? Find the must-have products after the video.

Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette, $32

Bobbi Brown Eye Blender Brush, $37

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, $24

Urban Decay Waterline Eye Pencil, $20

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick, $17

Beauty Blender, $20

Korres Greek Yoghurt Smoothie Primer, $42

Too Faced Chocolate Bronzer, $30

BECCA Mineral Blush, $32

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, $21

Dose of Colors Lip Gloss, $15

Urban Decay Razor Sharp Water-Resistant Longwear Liquid Liner, $22

About the author

Jill Di Donato

Fashion Editor

Jill is a New York native who holds a BA in Literature from Barnard College, and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. She is the author of the novel Beautiful Garbage (She Writes Press, 2013) about the downtown Manhattan art and fashion scene in the 1980s. A former staff writer for The Huffington Post and Bustle, Jill comes to Culture Trip after working with Refinery 29, Vice, Salon, Paste Style, Los Angeles Times, Nylon, Shopify, Autre, and producing content for emerging fashion labels. She teaches classes about fashion and culture at Barnard College and The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her prized possessions are her Gucci fanny pack, vintage rocker t-shirts, and her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry. She's always on the lookout for a gem-encrusted turban.