gajra, juda pin or veni

Three words get used as though they mean the same thing, and they do not. Picking the wrong one is the reason a ₹2,000 hair piece ends up in a handbag halfway through the reception. A handmade floral juda pin for weddings is not a gajra and does not do a gajra’s job. Here is what each one actually is.

Gajra — the garland

A string of flowers wrapped around a bun or plaited into a braid. It holds by being tied, not by gripping, so it works on almost any hair type and it is the traditional choice for a bride. The failure mode is length: too short and it will not go round twice, too long and it swings.

Juda pin — the single anchor

One decorative pin pushed through the bun. It holds by tension against the hair, which means it works beautifully on thick hair and slips out of fine hair within the hour. It is the right choice when the hairstyle is the point and the flower is punctuation.

Veni — the side arrangement

A cluster worn to one side, usually pinned at the base of the bun rather than wrapped. It photographs from an angle better than a gajra does, which is why it turns up in so many mehendi photos.

Which one for which hair

• Thick hair, big bun — juda pin or stick. It has something to grip.
• Fine or layered hair — gajra, tied. A pin will not hold and no amount of grip solves it.
• Braid — gajra, woven in as it is plaited, not added afterwards.
• Short hair — a clip at the side. Say so when ordering and the back is made differently.

The practical case for handmade

Fresh flowers are bought the morning of and are past their best by evening. A handmade piece can be made three weeks early, travels in a suitcase, survives haldi oil and turmeric, and goes into the memory box afterwards instead of the bin.

₹399 for a single clip, made to order in 2–3 days. Sets of ten or more need about a week. Flat ₹49 shipping anywhere in India.