Fashion World Industry: Your guide to hair accessories, featuring Sonam Kapoor, Alia Bhatt & more

With the business end of the party season staring us in the face, if you’ve relegated your hair looks to a quickie blowout on the go, allow us to play fairy godmother. Hair accessories have taken the global runways (and the beauty kits of the most fashionable names on the celeb block) by siege, and now is the time for you to get with the memo. Itsy-bitsy pins, schoolgirl barrettes and sparkly Blair Waldorf-approved tiaras—prepare to be spoilt for choice, much like Bollywood’s top A-listers, who are pulling out all stops when it comes to churning out non-boring hair looks.

Karisma Kapoor debuted a festive-appropriate braid embellished with geometric pin work, while Alia Bhatt opted for a linear smattering of pins across her crown. Not a fan of glitter? Look to Deepika Padukone’s recent stint on the runway for Gauri and Nainika, her messy updo perfectly complemented by floral hair accessories. These nifty embellishments have even received a thumbs-up from Sonam Kapoor, who took to the Ralph & Russo after-party with an embellished net gracing her old-school bun and a floral gold headband recently.

The most on-trend hair accessories

One of the most accessible trends to hit the beauty charts in a long time, the hottest hair accessories approved by A-listers are actually very accessible. Think metallic bobby pins that can be creatively arranged across your mane, old school barrettes to cinch your sleek blowout and vintage hair pins to jazz up a low-key night out. Looking to dial up the drama? Allow bejewelled hairbands to serve as your crowning glory.

How to wear your hair accessories right

We roped in celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist Kritika Gill, who holds credit for Karisma Kapoor and Diana Penty’s edgy beauty looks, for answers. A believer in the less-is-more philosophy, Gill prescribes a minimalist vibe for the party season. “I personally believe that the subtler the bling, the chicer the end result looks. With the sheer variety of hair accessories available, have fun experimenting and mixing up multiple small pieces to create an interesting look,” she recommends. She does advise a word of caution while securing these in place as you don’t want the underside to stick out. “Also, you need to keep in mind that if your hair is silky, there is a good chance that your accessory of choice will slip out halfway through the night. To avoid constant touch-ups, I believe in spritzing the piece with hair spray after securing it in your hair to ensure better grip,” says Gill.

How to keep your hair accessories interesting

With a packed calendar of social events for the festive season, you don’t want to run out of steam and fall back to basics after the third day. Plan your looks in advance, and keep mixing things up when you feel you’re getting caught in a beauty rut. Glamorous cocktail night on the cards? Gill recommends scattering bejewelled pins on a sleek chignon. Elaborate family dinner? Play gracious host with artistically arranged gold bobby pins that you can tuck in after you’re done with your hairstyle of choice. These versatile hair accessories work well with everything from fishtail braids to sleek updos, so keep these as the finishing touch on your to-do list before you head out the door. Festive brunch the morning after? Keep things understated with a minimal headband and soft waves.

Have a look at our gallery of celebrity inspiration on wearing hair accessories and a couple of those that we love.