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How to Pin a Headscarf - How To Tie A Head Scarf

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Head Scarves - the Good, Bad and Ugly,

Lets be up front here: I don't regularly wear head scarves and I do not have a religious or other preference for modest dress. Head scarves fascinate me though: I have travelled through many countries where the head scarves are common wear for both men and women and on occasion I have worn them. too: either to try and blend in, as much as a blonde can which is not much outside of Sweden, or to protect myself from the dust and/or heat rather than anything else.

I also have an abiding memory of my mother from the 1960's and 1970's wearing a headscarf to keep her ears warm and hair in place in the "Coronation Street mode" of head scarf design. If you don't know what I mean check out the young ladies from Iran - though they do it rather more elegantly than many English women did it then.

Tehran bazaar, Iran Photo: kamshots via flickr
Tehran bazaar, Iran Photo: kamshots via flickr

Head Scarves Rule!

Scarfs wrapped around the head for practical reasons are far from exclusive to the Muslim world and in fact the simple large scarf tied back on the Turkmenistan women is similar to what a lot of the hippies and flower power girls wore in the 1960's it keeps long hair out of the way and means you don't have to wash it very often: its the only style I can manage with any reasonable chance of its staying on. No pins required but its much easier to get a fine wool scarf stay rather than a silk or polyester one.

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Girl, Tajikistan Photo: babasteve, via flickr

Head Scarves: How to Pin One

I'm assuming that the request is for a guide to how to pin a variation of hijab or Islamic headscarf. The problem is of course there is no one way to do this; and in fact a huge fashion industry built around head coverings: latest face it even the finest silk scarf is going to cost a whole lot less than the average amount the rest of us spend on hair dressers and products!

The big trick with pinning a head scarf is similar to wearing a sari - its all in the undergarment! Yes the scarf is the top level :in fact often a close fitting cap is worn over the actual hair to stop it showing and then the scarf is simply pinned: from a hijab point of view to hide the neck and possibly upper body - or for fashion for many Muslim women today. Without a the hidden covering you will never get the classic hijab head covering look of the Malaysian school girls here.

How to Tie a Head Scarf

Comments

Eileen Hughes 3 years ago

Well written article, not something that I would probably wear at the moment but can see the necessity of knowing how to wear it properly when visiting different countries and under various circumstances.

Thanks again for sharin lissie.

Lissie 3 years ago

When I've had to work outside in the Australian desert I have certainly covered my head and face - nothing worse than eating dust and brushing it out of your hair! Thanks for commenting Eileen

Maren Morgan M-T 3 years ago

Thank you, Lissie, so much for clearing up some of the mystery. I have tried to put on a scarf in Muslim ways and it just slid all around. So, what do these foundation caps look like and where does one get them????

Lissie 3 years ago

Hi Maren - I've added another eBay module which features the hijab cap: they also double for head coverings for chemo sufferers which is a use I hadn't thought off. Basically tradtionally they appear just to have been a cotton cap- a bit like the Amish wear; held on with strings - the spandex version would be easier to wear in a cool climate but horrible in a hot one. Remember the traditional islamic dress evolved in the Sahara desert and othe Middle East hot places

pgrundy 3 years ago

I was watching a documentary last night on Marabhata Mai (I may have spelled that wrong), the woman who was sentenced to gang rape in Pakistan due to alleged sexual misconduct on the part of her brother. Watching the program I was reminded of how lovely these scarves are and how I wish I had the nerve to wear one. I've always been fascinated by Middle Eastern women and their culture. I have a great collection of scarves I love and never wear because I always feel silly and affected if I try, but I still buy them. So beautiful. Thank you for this hub, it's lovely.

Sophie Esperana 3 years ago

Thanks for sharing, Lissie. You know, other than the usefulness of the material when visiting certain countries, headscarves always reminded me of Jackie O, and they can be ultra-fashionable when you wear it right! Well written article :)

DeannaAmsler 3 years ago

Thanks Lissie.

A very unique idea that I have not considered. I've tried scarves in the past but could never get them to stay on. Thanks for the thoughts. Who knows, I might get motivitated to try it again.

Paul Edmondson 3 years ago

I think scarves are beautiful on some women, but also practical. I recently tried to tie a head scarf to protect my dauther from the sun. Are there different sizes for kids?

Lissie 3 years ago

Thanks for commenting everyone: yes I remember Jackie O looking amazing too: can't quite manage the look myself really :-) Yes you can certaining get kid sized scarves and bandanas Paul- but for sun protenction she really should have a wide brimmed hat on.

Sally's Trove 3 years ago

Your hub brought back fond memories of my grandmother and her friends who were born in Poland. These wonderful ladies seldom went anywhere without their *babushkas* securely tied under their chins...light-weight wool or cotton for casual wear, silk for dressy. Thanks, Lissie!

dutch84 3 years ago

When I saw the title of the article, I expected the writer to be Arab, Middle Eastern or Indian.

Very creative hub!

Lissie 3 years ago

Sally your babushka's sounds like my Kiwi mum feeling the cold in the UK!

dutch84 - thanks - I am very aware of the large number of talented Indian writers here so I was a little nervous writing this one - now does anyone have any advice for a white women who has grown her hair to should length (just) for the first time in her adult life had has to have it up in a bun for a dance competition tomorrow. Its heavy fine and very, very straight and very very determined not to stay up !

pjdscott 3 years ago

Very interesting article - ironically, it is something which women from eastern and western societies have in common although, as you so elegantly observe, wear them in different ways.

If you'll excuse me saying so, do check the opening paragraph, especially the word before "head scarves"!

Karen Ellis 3 years ago

Interesting subject. You think of the darndest things, but then I always read them to the end.

Lissie 3 years ago

Thansk pjd - I am useless at proof reading! Karen: requests section is a great place for inspiration sometimes but I pick who's request I respondeto!

Maddie Ruud 3 years ago

Ha!  Lissie!  I had a sneaking suspicion this subject might attract some traffic (and clicks), but I just didn't have time to write it myself.  I wore a headscarf/hijab for just about a year, and did lots of shopping online for head coverings.

Great job!

Lissie 3 years ago

LOL Maddie: the request section has been my quiet keyword selection tool for ages: that and flagship hubs too -took google a little while to notice this one though! Also I always found it genuinely fascinating how women wear them so elegantly!

Shannon Said 3 years ago

I love reading this. Very nice I like it a lot.

ripplemaker 3 years ago

This is interesting. I have several unused scarves on my cabinet, now I know how to use them. :) Thanks Lissie.

jonixk 3 years ago

I strongly believe you've made a great work in this hub, lissie. Congratulations.

2patricias 3 years ago

Good hub, on an unusual subject. I seldom wear a scarf - usually only when its raining or I want to hide my hair (less of that as I get older - lol).

Lissie 3 years ago

I have a current fascination on headwear: I have grown my hair longer than its been since I was 13 -and am fighting to figure out what to do with it!

Everyday Miracles 3 years ago

It's such a classy look, Lis! I absolutely love it! I want to learn to tie like the Jewish women wear their headscarves though, since DH isn't a fan of hijab. I have an Amish kapp, but it makes me look so... Amish lol

Lissie 3 years ago

There's are more like a turban yes? I like the Tarjik style in the photo - well its easy to do anyway and keeps your ears warm! I also love what Indian women do with long scarfs - but I suspect that is a skill learnt over a life-time - mine just falls off unless firmly attached!

tariq 2 years ago

i love muslim woman Hijob i like life patner long life

Ash 7 months ago

I kinda had to laugh at the pic of the Iranian girls. There are some women who wear head scarves like that...mostly orthodox jewish women. The Iranian women wear it like that because they really don't want to waer it at all. They are forced! As for me, I do wear hijab and I wear it properly and proudly. (if there even is a proper way to wear it lol)

amina 6 months ago

hijab does not mean headscarf, infact Islam does not impose a standard dress for modest wear. It can be anything. This covering the head is an arab traditional mainly which has in recent 10-15 years spread to other areas. However it is not hijab. Hijab being an arab word in the Qur'an mention a handful of time, but ironically never in relation to womens wear or covering of the body. So there is not a "proper" way to wear the hijab which means seperation but there are many ways to wear modest clothing.

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