We’ve reached our final destination, and one of the most exciting ones yet! You’ve done a great job of surviving the UK and showing your true patronage in the USA; now it’s time to travel overseas (yet again) to experience a place with different music, vibe, and culture altogether. What better way to explore such a wonderfully niche place like Asia?
The beauty of it is that you can literally hop from one place to the next in this segment. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, but hopefully you’ve enjoyed every step of the way, travelling through lush grass fields, wild forests, sandy deserts and clear blue seas. Get ready to indulge in more beautiful landscapes one last time. Without further ado, lets jump into the final instalment of the Festival Hair Series.
The beautiful thing about Asia is the colourful, varied landscapes. There are areas of thriving and dense rainforests and jungles, extraordinary beaches, islands, soaring mountains, huge lakes, and volcanic areas. Every piece of land has a fun appeal to it. Whether you’re exploring the markets and historic temples in Osaka, Japan, or taking in the dazzling lights in Shanghai, China, you’re bound to have an amazing time in this continent, as it has everything to offer, and then some! For a place with such rich culture, there’s bound to be plenty festivals in its wake. We’re about to explore three of the biggest music festivals in Asia, so buckle up and get ready.
Rainforest World Music Festival: Playsuits, Green Hair and Flower Braids
Welcome to Malaysia, home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts and iconic skyscrapers. Of course, we’re here for more than sightseeing. Founded in 1997, Rainforest World Music Fest is one of Asia’s longest-running festivals, bringing an eclectic line-up of indigenous musicians and bands from around the globe to the forests of Malaysian Borneo. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Other than the cultural music to indulge in, there are also informative workshops, arts and crafts areas, food and drink stalls, and festival memorabilia, all followed by evening performances on the main stage. This all contributes to a fun filled, wholesome festival experience in a wonderful atmosphere full of lush greenery. This thrilling naturalistic festival takes place in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, July 14th – 16th, 2017.
This festival permits you to be one with nature, which means it’s okay to be as casual and free as you like! Let’s be honest, when you’re too busy appreciating all that nature has to offer, there’s no time to get all dolled up. You want your hair to blend into the foliage of the forest, so any green hair accessories, floral headbands and/or green hair dye is a top aesthetic. Pick out your favourite loose band tee, some high-waisted ripped shorts, and your comfiest pair of of pumps (since you’ll be on your feet all day) and you’ll fit right in. As the weather is sure to be amazing for this one, you could also opt for a cooler outfit: a vibrant bandeau with matching shorts and a hip denim playsuit. They’re super cute and perfect for the summer weather.
What are the best hairstyles for this? Well, here at BriaHair we love the Flower Braid, which is a simple style to achieve no matter what type of hair you have. Start by getting two small sections at either side of the head and tying it back with a small band. Now you should have a pony tail over draped hair. Next, braid the ponytail to the ends and secure it with another small band. Pull at the braid to loosen it and make it thicker. Begin twisting it around itself and tucking it underneath the first band, then voila! You’ve got the perfect knot akin to a delicate flower. This style suits the theme of the festival perfectly, and is sure to turn some heads!
Any other hairstyle would work just as well to fit the essence of this festival, but adding some colour in would really make your style pop. Think of a simple high ponytail. This alone is a great hairstyle (very chic depending on how you style it), and would keep your hair out of your face. Now, imagine this hairstyle with green highlights or dip dye? Straight away you’ve gone from conventional to stunning! Using hair chalk or good old hair dye of your favourite shade of green (we love apple green) makes for a wonderful change, and you don’t have to stop at one shade, either. We also love the green bob, which matches the playful look with a playsuit, while blending in with the Malaysian rainforest.
Full Moon Party: Side Braid, Iridescence and Kimono’s
Once you’ve stripped all that green from your hair, you’re ready for your next adventure, and it’s only down the road! Known for it’s tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins an ornate temples, Thailand is everyone’s number one destination, but this time, people are travelling far and wide to one of the most popular open-air nightclubs in the world. Koh Phangan Full Moon Party has become a world-famous institution with a lively festival-like atmosphere full of great music, incredible vibes and huge quantities of alcohol. This is the a one-of-a-kind event that is listed as an essential experience of Thailand, and the only festival in this series that is hosted once a month throughout the entire year. Over 30,000 people gather on the famous strip of Haad Rin Beach to party right through the night and into the dawn. You’ll never feel like sleeping with the 12 powerful sound systems that will continuously pump your favourite tunes. This bright event takes place at Koh Phangan, Thailand, August 7th, September 5th, October 6th, November 3rd and December 3rd, 2017. Take it all in!
As the name suggests, this is a party to celebrate the full moon, which takes place in Thailand on the prior dates. Just like the moon you’ll be admiring, you need to shine! This is your chance to stand out as much as you possibly can, which means bright neon colours, lots and lots of facepaint and you might as well dash some iridescence in there, too! BriaHair are a fan of sticking out for all the right reasons. Since we’re still in the festival season, feel free to go crazy with shimmery, shiny, sequins so that the moon can glint and gleam in step with your every move. Think of your best bikini and throw a kimono on top, then you’re set! Really, it’s that simple. This is another casual, yet fun, event to go wild to. A stunning patterned kimono is a staple for such sandy weather, and when it falls off your shoulders it adds simple class to a skin-tastic outfit!
Our favourite picks to match such a cool look starts off with a side braid, bohemian style. Similar to the style for The Burning Man Festival, although more simplistic. For any gal who wants to feel like royalty, this braid is twisted and fishtailed to any chosen side of the head, which will go well with a flowing kimono. This would also help to keep your hair in one place and prevent minimal sand from getting in your hair, while at the same time slaying a fancy look. The beauty of this is that you can change your style according to how thick your braid is. Princess mode, activate. If you want to jazz things up a little, throw some iridescence in there too! This could be anything from hair clips to headbands to your hair itself. We’ve added in iridescent waves for your viewing pleasure even though we know how hard this colour could be to pull off. If you manage to perfect this look, all the better. You’ll certainly shine as brightly as the moon.
Road To Ultra Festival: Double Bun, Quad Braid, and Flowers
Here we have it: the last destination of the series, and frankly an intriguing one. Welcome to an Asian nation made up of thousands of volcanic islands, beaches and jungles housing elephants, orang-utans and tigers. Before we start riding animals, we need to indulge in our last crazy festival of the season. Ultra Music Fest seems to have one goal in mind: global domination. Already making a name for itself in Miami, Croatia, Korea, Japan and South Africa, it seems like the beautiful Indonesian landscape is next on the list, and it’s about to rock the heart of Bali. This island is famed for it’s incredible nightlife, so if you find yourself here, it’s only worth attending this fabulous festival. Everyone will touch down on the shores of Potato Head Beach, Bali, Indonesia, September 14th – 15th, 2017.
As this is another beach festival, only the coolest clothes will suffice. It’s up to you what kind of style you want to rock for this one. Do you want to look classically cute, boho, young, chic and sexy? Whatever you decide, it has to be practical for you. Although a chiffon maxi dress is often a perfect choice for such nice weather, it may not work out so well in an environment full of thousands of rowdy party-goers. You’re bound to get someone stepping on your dress throughout the day. To prevent any closet mishaps, we recommend a light floaty top and a nice pair of colourful matching shorts, followed by comfy sandals or flip flops. A flowery, flowy kaftan will be a cute addition if you want to implement a little bit of boho. For some extra style, go for some colourful jewellery, and depending on what hairstyle you have, a dazzling pair of earrings to adhere to the summery vibe of the festival.
We have two hairstyles for you to choose from, and they both come with their own accessories to spruce up your look. A low double bun will do perfectly well to keep your locks out of your face (which is all we want when we’re partying at a beach) especially when you’re on the sandy shores of Seminyak, you’ll want to protect your hair at all costs! Whether your hair is long or short, two bunches resting at the back of the head is cute, stylish and fun. A little bit of flowers won’t go amiss, either. Flower hair clips are a lovely addition to accentuate that summer look. You could even pluck up some real flowers, either way, heads will turn. If two buns just aren’t enough for you, go for a quad braid style; this is great for adding volume to shorter hair. Simply section your hair into four braids and then gather them together into one large pony. Slide some flowers in, too; we guarantee you’ll be the only one rocking this style, you may even start a trend!
That’s not all! If you’re interested in more exciting festivals in South-East Asia, look no further. Once again, we have some more honourable mentions:
Neverland Manila – Manila, Philippines (Early October 2017)
Quest Music Festival – Ba Vi National Park, Vietnam (10-12 November 2017)
It’s The Ship – Langkawi, Singapore (17-20 November 2017)
Wonderfruit Festival – Siam Country Club, Thailand (14-17 December 2017)
So you’ve travelled the globe, taken in the sights, enjoyed several cultures and partied hard. We do hope you’ve taken plenty pictures of your travels, because this has surely been a trip to remember. As you lug your suitcase through your front door, you feel a longing to head right back out and do it all over again, but the jet-lag and constant hours of raving have left you heavily fatigued. Not only that, but now your hair is a mess. You’ve you been through so much, and so has your scalp. The constant dying, trimming, tugging, styling and braiding has really done a number on your locks. You collapse on your bed, rest your feet up and close your eyes, envisioning the grassy plains of Somerset, the sandy shores of Nevada, and the dazzling lights of Thailand. A smile tugs at your lips, and then you realise that your hair could do with a thorough wash. Time to get the shampoo and conditioner out. You spring back up and make a beeline to the bathroom. Hair can be a dangerous business, but BriaHair will always have your back. Ciao for now, ladies!
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Written by: Deborah Lewis