With an updo, the veil has something to hold on to. With the hair down, the comb finds nothing firm, which is why so many brides fear it will slip in the middle of the ceremony.
Why a comb will not hold in loose hair on its own
A veil comb holds by being pushed into the hair. In an updo the hair is tight and tidy, and the teeth of the comb are caught in it. In loose hair the strands slide, and with the weight of the fabric the comb ends up slipping.
The hidden structure that holds the veil
So inside the hairstyle, exactly where the veil will sit, I create a small structure that cannot be seen: a hidden braid, some backcombing or something similar, depending on the hair. The rest of the hair falls over it, so the style still looks loose.
The comb goes into that structure and stays there. The veil moves with the hair and the breeze, but it does not fall.
If your veil has no comb, or you want to know how it is secured with an updo, see how a wedding veil is kept in place.
