How to Wear an Ethnic Head Wrap
Throughout the centuries and around the world, head wraps have been worn for their useful features and to protect against the elements. They have also been used to convey style, wealth or affiliation with a certain religious or ethnic group, primarily in African and Middle Eastern countries. These days ethnic head wraps are still widely worn, even by those who do not associate with a particular ethnic group.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Wearing an African Head Wrap
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1
Fold the fabric in half vertically twice, or until you have a width of around 6 inches.
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2
Drape the head scarf over the back of your head, with both sides hanging down at equal lengths.
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3
Take one side and pull it around and across the front of your head, skimming the top of your forehead.
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4
Pull the opposite side of the scarf up and around the top of the head, crossing over the other end.
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5
Wind one side of the scarf around the back of the head and over to the other side, then repeat with the other end of the scarf.
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6
Take both ends of the scarf and fold them over toward the forehead, twisting if you desire. Secure this fold with hair pins.
Wearing a Middle Eastern (Hijab) Head Scarf
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1
Start with the headband under-scarf, slipping it on over the head and fitting it on the top of the forehead to keep hair off of the face.
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2
Unfold the headscarf and place it over the head, aligning both sides and then holding them together under the chin with the thumb and forefinger of one hand.
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3
Keep holding the two sides of the hijab scarf together with one hand while using the other hand to pull one side underneath and across in the opposite direction. The two ends of the scarf should now be crossed one over the other.
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4
Pull the side of the scarf that is crossing over the other and wrap it around the top of the head, holding it where the fabric runs out, just above the ear.
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5
Pull the loose end that's still hanging down up and around the crown of the head in the opposite direction, overlapping the other side.
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6
Hold the headscarf in place with one or two bobby pins by pinning the overlapping sides together on the crown of the head with the open end of the hairpin facing down.
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7
Look in the mirror to check that the scarf is draped under the neck in the front and back.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For a variation on the hijab style in the instructions, try crossing both sides of the scarf over the opposite shoulder and securing at the crown of the head with bobby pins. Maintain the shape of an ethnic head wrap made of cotton material by spraying it regularly with a starch before each wear
Always check for a scarf label to know how the garment should be washed. If there is no label, ask the head wrap vendor for suggestions.
