Headpieces complete a bridal look and are often bought separately by guests and for festivals. For wholesalers, they are compact, easy to stock and useful for lifting average bill size.
Types of headpieces
| Piece | Description | Where it is worn |
|---|---|---|
| Maang tikka | A pendant on a chain along the hair parting, resting on the forehead | Across India, especially North and West |
| Matha patti | Chains across the forehead as well as the central tikka | North Indian and Muslim bridal |
| Passa (jhoomar) | A fan-shaped ornament worn on one side of the head | Punjabi and Muslim bridal |
| Borla / rakhdi | A round, dome-like forehead piece | Rajasthani |
| Nethi chutti | Central forehead ornament with side chains, often temple-style with kemp | South Indian bridal and dance |
| Surya and chandra | Sun and moon hair ornaments | South Indian dance and bridal |
Stock the pieces your region's brides actually wear. A Punjabi bridal counter without a passa, or a Tamil counter without a nethi chutti, is missing a sale.
Styles
Kundan and polki-look tikkas lead in North India; temple nethi chuttis in the South; AD tikkas for receptions; borla and rakhdi for Rajasthani buyers; pearl-heavy designs for Maharashtrian and lighter looks.
Quality, fitting and comfort
| Check | Look for |
|---|---|
| Hook and chain | Strong and smooth; long enough to reach from the parting to the back of the head; side chains adjustable |
| Weight | Light enough to stay in place through long ceremonies |
| Balance | A heavy tikka on a thin chain pulls off-centre |
| Pendant hang | Sits flat on the forehead |
| Stones and pearls | Secure and matched |
| Finish | Matches the necklace set |
Stocking tips
- Offer maang tikkas both in sets and separately, in the same design family as your necklace sets, so a customer who already owns a set can add the matching tikka.
- Keep a range of sizes: larger for brides, and smaller, lighter tikkas in several finishes for guests and festival buyers - they sell steadily through the wedding season and Navratri.
- Stock matha pattis for bridal-focused stores, and passa for stores serving Muslim and Punjabi weddings.
Seasons
Wedding seasons, Karva Chauth, Teej, Eid and festive periods. Headpieces also sell for dance performances and photoshoots.
We make headpieces in every regional style at 200 pcs per design (400 for earrings and pendants). See bridal jewellery manufacturer.
Why headpieces help your whole range
Headpieces are small, but they change how customers see a set. A necklace and earrings is an outfit; add a matching tikka and it becomes a bridal look. Retailers who display sets with tikkas often sell the full set rather than the necklace alone. For distributors, offering tikkas that coordinate with your best-selling necklace designs raises the average order from each retailer.
Briefing a headpiece
Specify chain length, pendant size, weight limit and whether the hook should be a comb, a hook or a clip. Headpieces must stay in place through long ceremonies, so light weight and a secure hook matter more than size.
Packing headpieces
Tikkas and matha pattis have long chains that tangle. Pack each piece on a card with the chains laid straight, in its own bag. Retailers can then display them without spending time untangling, and customers see the piece as it will be worn.
Selling headpieces online
Headpieces are light and easy to ship, which suits online sellers. Clear photos of the piece worn, showing where it sits on the forehead and how the chain runs along the parting, help buyers choose the right size and style. Offer matching earrings on the same page for an easy add-on.