Hijab Bridal Makeup: How to Plan Your Look Around Your Hijab

A hijab frames the face, so the face becomes the whole picture. Without hair around it, the base, the brows and the shape of the face carry more of the look, and the colour of the hijab sits right next to your skin in every photograph.

That's why the hijab should never be an afterthought. When makeup is planned without it, a colour that looked right in the mirror can look different once the fabric is pinned around the face. If you're planning a Nikah and a Walima, read my Muslim bridal makeup guide too.

Yes, decide the hijab style and colour first. The style decides how much of the face, neck and ears is visible, and that decides where the makeup and jewellery need to work hardest.

• Settle the hijab colour and fabric when you finalise the outfit
• Decide whether you want a wrapped style, a draped style or a dupatta over the hijab
• Save one or two photos of hijab styles you like to show me at the consultation

Keep the coverage where you need it and set every edge the fabric touches. Most transfer comes from a heavy build-up of product along the jawline, so that's the first thing I avoid.

This is how I do it for hijabi brides:

1. I keep the coverage in the centre of the face and sheer it out towards the jaw, so there's no thick layer where the fabric sits.
2. I let the base settle for about five minutes, then press translucent powder along the jaw, under the chin, on the neck and at the hairline.
3. Setting spray goes on last, to lock the base before any fabric comes near it.
4. No cream blush or cream contour near the fabric line. Anything at the temples or the edge of the jaw is powder, fully blended and set.
5. The base is matched to your neck, because the neck shows in close-up photos and it's what the hijab frames.

Then we check it at the trial with your actual hijab and underscarf on. That's the only real test of where the fabric rubs.

Snug, not tight. A tight underscarf presses on the forehead and temples, lifts the brows, shows in photos and gives you a headache by the evening.

• Tie your hair in a low, loose bun, not a high or tight one.
• Match the underscarf to the hijab, or to your skin or hair, so no band of colour shows at the forehead.
• Use hijab pins or magnets, not safety pins, which snag bridal fabric.
• The makeup goes on first, and the underscarf goes on only once the base is set.

You don't have to manage any of this yourself on the day. A hijab specialist on my team sets the hijab, so the makeup and the hijab are finished together.

The hijab colour sits closest to your face, so it changes how warm or cool your skin looks. Pale and pastel hijabs can wash out a very light base, while deep colours like maroon or emerald can carry a richer lip and stronger eyes.

This is exactly what the consultation is for. With bridal makeup from Makeover By Alfina, I plan the look around your outfit, your jewellery and how you'll wear your hijab, so the colours work together instead of competing.

Plan the jewellery around how the hijab will be pinned. A matha patti, tikka or jhoomar can sit over the hijab, and statement earrings only make sense if the style leaves the ears showing.

• Bring the actual jewellery, not just photos, if you can
• Check that heavy pieces can be pinned securely for a long day
• If the ears are covered, let a necklace or a headpiece be the statement instead

Bring the hijab you'll wear on the day, with your underscarf and pins, plus your jewellery and photos of your outfit. A trial is only useful if it shows the real combination. It takes about two hours and is booked separately; book it once your outfit is final.

• Your bridal hijab and the underscarf you'll wear with it
• The pins or magnets and any accessories you plan to use
• Jewellery worn near the face
• Outfit photos, ideally in daylight
• A top you can photograph the look in

It should, if it's prepped and set for a long day. Pune's heat and a full day of functions move makeup, which is why skin prep comes first and every edge is set before the fabric goes on.

I stay for around 30 minutes after the look is finished, and I always stay when there's a change of look, such as between a Nikah and a Walima on the same day. Tell me at the consultation if your skin is sensitive.