Though it’s been around for centuries, the bindi is hotter than ever right now! We’ve spotted these decorative forehead adornments on everyone from Kerli to Katy Perry, and they even played a major role in the makeup at the Jeremy Scott fall/winter 2012 show. Safe to say—the upcoming season is the perfect time to start decorating your forehead, but the bindi is nothing we haven’t seen before.
Bindis have roots in Asia as a symbolic decoration, as well as an aid in spiritual guidance. In India, a woman may wear a red bindi to show that she is married, while in China, the red bindi is a symbol of good fortune. Practicing Hindus and Buddhists use a bindi on the forehead to draw energy to and from the the 6th chakra (aka the brain). To break it down, wearing a bindi between your brows is said to help center concentration by drawing focus to that area. Talk about a powerful beauty mark!
Traditional bindis hold an amazing cultural history, but believe it or not, the bindi “trend” has been around longer than you think. Chinese women were adopting the bindi for vanity purposes as early as the Tang dynasty—that’s over 1200 years before those old photos of Gwen Stefani surfaced onto your Tumblr feed! We remember seeing stick-on bindis on Boy George in the 1980s, as well as on spiritually minded stars like Madonna and Nina Hagen. India too has jumped on board with the bindi trend. Bollywood stars and fans can be seen sporting elaborate decorations—sticking them not only onto their foreheads but all around the face, and sometimes the fingers and navel!
The spiritual meaning behind the bindi makes it a powerful beauty statement. Blogger and fellow bindi lover Audrey Kitching wears a bindi as both a fashion option and an homage to the fascinating culture behind it–—“It’s like a bedazzled reminder to stay within your third eye. To always be conscious,” explains Audrey. The ‘90s may be back, but it’s refreshing to know the original intentions behind the bindi are still alive.
So far this year we’ve seen everything from painted on dots, to glued on crystal decorations, from imported adhesive felt bindis, to handmade westernized options. Bindis are now worn with everything—including mall goth blacks, new rave neons and summer bohemian florals. Statement piece maybe, but today’s trendsetters are proving the bindi is as loud as it is versatile. For now, the bindi trend is here to stay, and that’s enough to give anybody peace of mind.
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Sep 15, 2012
Grace F.
I'm really fucking glad people called this trend out, Its ridiculous.
Sep 11, 2012
Sobaika M.
Bindis have deep significance and Hindu roots. This is cultural appropriation and offensive. South Asian women have continued to do it for centuries and now that a few white Western 'fashion statements' have been made, it's all of a sudden trendy.
If I see a non-South Asian woman wearing a Bindi I consider it permission to point, laugh, and ask her how she feels it's okay to appropriate my culture.
Aug 31, 2012
Shannon H.
Bindis are not a trend. This is cultural appropriation, and it's offensive.
Aug 30, 2012
Becky S.
Just FYI, everyone, the Bindi actually holds cultural significance to Southeast Asian women. It's not just some accessory.
Aug 24, 2012
Mandy C.
Love that this trend is coming back, but I would have to agree with Payel. India has been doing this since before it became a trend. I do love this look, and this article is great, but in India it's more than just a trend. For weddings, and special ceremonies, they get more elaborate, but nonetheless it's not much of a trend over there, more of a tradition for girls.
Aug 25, 2012
Payel G.
Aug 24, 2012
Mandy E.
I think the article approached the topic very well, sharing information regarding the bindi's place in history, multiple cultures, the spiritual connection attached with it, and also recognizing it as a fashion statement both then AND now. Whether or not you feel comfortable sporting a bindi yourself, I personally don't believe there is anything wrong with recognizing the beauty behind the bindi as well as appreciating its place not only in the past centuries, but also in the lives of modern women in this day and age. I think it's a bit sophomoric for some to claim cultural appropriation in this instance.
Aug 25, 2012
Payel G.
Aug 22, 2012
Payel G.
"India too has jumped on board with the bindi trend. Bollywood stars and fans can be seen sporting elaborate decorations—sticking them not only onto their foreheads but all around the face, and sometimes the fingers and navel!"
I would like to add my comment to this statement: Believe me, being from India myself I can safely say that wearing "bindi" is not a trend here. It's a part of every modern woman's life & it has been a fashion statement for many of us forever actually. In India bindi never goes out of fashion. So Bollywwod stars have been wearing bindis as fashion statements forever too. Do a little research on Indian old movies & you would know. Bindi is not a new trend in India.
Aug 24, 2012
Mandy E.
Aug 25, 2012
Payel G.
Sep 11, 2012
Sobaika M.
Aug 22, 2012
Ximena G.
Bindis have amazing cultural history but also a great beauty/fashion history, so before yelling "cultural appropriation" do a little research and the results might be surprising.. most Hindus don't find it offensive. (at least the ones I have encountered) My first bindi was given to me by my Bollywood dance teacher as well as my first bangles, my first henna work was done and payed by my Bangladeshi host family as well as my photo session with my in a traditional hand made saree. Since then I have a collection of all 3 and have gotten complements from Westerners and east Indians. I LOVE bindis and i will continue to wear them as well as my sarees and bangles..
After all, learning about other people's culture is an eye opener and is amazing to see how many things we have in common and important not to dwell on the things that set us apart.
Aug 22, 2012
Celestine L.
Love it im going to do it from the hunger games
Aug 20, 2012
Heather C.
Actually, even within its own culture, it's worn as a fashion statement, a piece of jewlery. A little research will show you that the majority of Hindus find no offense in non hindus wearing this. And the comments I have seen by a few here against white people is inappropriate. I have seen many different races of people wear this. Intolerance does not breed tolerance.
Aug 22, 2012
Ximena G.
Aug 22, 2012
Payel G.
Aug 24, 2012
Mandy E.