Religious Head Coverings (2024)

The practice of people wearing head covers and veils for religious purposes is an integral part of all three monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam), as well as other faiths and cultures. The first records of women wearing head coverings dates back to13th century BC Assyria. Women of nobility began wearing head coverings in order to set themselves apart from women of lower social status. In Christianity, women were guided by the bible to cover their heads to signify spiritual submission to God and their husbands. Here is a guide to head coverings, listed by religion.

The wearing of chapel veils was part of the early Christian tradition. It signified humility and modesty. This tradition continued into the early Catholic church. Though not as common today, veils are still worn by some Catholic women. The tradition is not to be seen as a woman displaying inferior status to men. Rather, the veil (or mantilla) covers what is sacred and cherished. The veil is a viewed as a symbol of reverence to God's will. The clergy in the Catholic church still wear several types of head coverings.

Muslim women cover their heads and part of their face in accordance with the Islamic principle of dressing modestly. Some of the garments cover the hair, ears, and throat, although the face is exposed.

Islamic women often wear an Abaya with their head covering. An Abaya is a black, loose fitting garment that conceals the body.

The tagelmust is a cotton scarf up to 15 meters long worn by Tuareg Berber Muslim men throughout western Africa. The tagelmust covers the head and is pulled up over the mouth and nose to protect against windblown sand. When the cloth is dyed indigo blue, it often rubs off on the skin, which explains the nickname for the Tuareg, “blue men of the desert.”

It is the accepted practice in Ashkenazi Jewish communities for men and boys to wear yarmulkes all the time, except when swimming, showering, and sleeping. In Hasidic communities, males typically wear yarmulkes even when sleeping. Many observant Jews of Sephardic descent only wear a yarmulke when eating and davening (reciting liturgical prayers).

This monotheistic religion was founded in India's northern Punjab region in the 15th century. Sikh men and women view the dastar (a type of turban) as an article of faith representing honor, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. Wearing a dastar is also practical because it keeps long, uncut and unruly hair covered.

Biblical scriptures (in particular Corinthians) explain the tradition among Amish women of covering their heads with a simple white or black organdy head bonnet. Amish women pin their long hair up underneath these prayer head coverings, removing them in the evening. The style, shape, and color of the cap varies by community. Amish men always wear a distinctive type of straw hat when they are out of the house; a distinguishing feature common to the various sects of Amish people.

Religious head coverings are an intensely personal choice, so you’ll want to be thoughtful when deciding upon fabric. At Headcovers, we use only the best materials to deliver head coverings that feel amazing and last for years. Here’s what you need to know:

The correct method to care for your religious head covering depends on the material it’s made of. Check the package and attached label to see if care instructions were included.

In general, cotton and bamboo can be machine-washed on a delicate cycle with gentle detergent. To dry, we recommend tumble drying low or hanging to avoid shrinkage. Silk should usually be hand-washed to help avoid tears and to preserve the sheen of the fibers. Avoid harsh detergents when washing religious head coverings. Tide PODS, for example, are a no-no. Instead, opt for a gentle soap such as Woolite.

Pro tip for silk head coverings: After washing your silk scarf with soap, dip it into a bowl of water mixed with a generous splash of vinegar before rinsing in cold water. The vinegar helps restore luster and shine to the scarf.

Read our guide, ,for step-by-step instructions on how to wash your religious head covering.

How do I tie a religious headscarf?

It likely depends on your practice of faith. While some religions encourage full coverage of the head and neck, others merely suggest partial hair coverage.

After deciding what sort of coverage you feel comfortable with based on your personal faith, take a look at our How to Tie a Headscarf guide, which has beautiful illustrations and videos demonstrating our favorite methods.

Set aside some time to practice tying your religious headscarf, as it may take a few tries to perfect the technique.

My religious headscarf keeps sliding off. How can I make it more secure?

We’re happy you asked! Whether you’re wearing a head covering for religious purposes or not, the pesky “sliding” feeling can be controlled with:

AScarf Gripper. This lightweight, skin colored headband grips the scarf’s fabric to hold it in place.

A Bamboo Viscose Comfort Headband.Breathable and 3 ½” thick, this headband comes in ten colors and is made of antibacterial bamboo.

ABamboo Scarf Pad. Not only does this scarf pad add a flattering fullness, it’s super silky smooth against the skin and can be easily washed.

Are there rules about what color my religious head scarf should be?

There are guidelines in some religions regarding the color of religious head coverings; for example, Amish women tend to wear black or white. However, in the Islamic faith, the color of a hijab is usually more of a personal choice.

If you’re wondering what the color of your religious head covering should be, consult with a trusted spiritual leader or role model. He or she may be able to point you towards a guiding principle or religious text that indicates if your religious head covering should be a specific color.

Can any scarf be used as a hijab?

A hijab is defined by the ideology and personal faith of the wearer, not by anything “special” about the scarf itself. In that sense, any scarf deemed acceptable by the individual wearing it can be used as a hijab.

However, most hijabs are at least 36” by 36” in dimension so that they can be easily tied. Our Oversized 100% Cotton Woodblocked Hand Stamped Head Scarves and ourLarge Cotton Square Head Scarvesare all 36” by 36” – and come in beautiful colors and elegant prints.