Whether you’ve been wearing a hijab for years and want to perfect your wrapping technique or have never worn one and are not even sure what it is, this guide is for you.

So, what is a hijab?  In Arabic, the hijab, originating from the word “hajaba”, means barrier or partition for both males and females. However, in the West,t its meaning has been limited to the covering of the head of a Muslim woman. It symbolises modesty and privacy. A woman who wears a hijab can be described as a Muhaajaba. 

So, how do you wear one?

1. Put the flat scarf so that one end is longer than the other. Fold over one side of a wide scarf to make it somewhat narrower if that’s how you started. Pick up the scarf along the folded edge using your hands about arm’s length apart. Reduce the length of one side such that around 1 to 1.5 feet are left dangling. Keep the remaining fabric on the longer side.
2. Lay the scarf’s edge across your forehead. Centre your face between where your hands are grasping the scarf, and align the folded or front edge of the scarf at your forehead. Bring the loose ends below your chin and begin smoothing the edge across the sides of your forehead. At this stage, the longer end will hang loose, and the shorter end will extend around 1 foot (0.30 m) below your chin.
3. Fold the ends beneath your chin and smooth the fabric around your face. You should adjust the scarf so that it covers your entire face. It should be smooth and comfortable against your temples and forehead and cover your ears and hair.
4. Secure the ends beneath your chin with a safety pin. Hold the scarf tightly so it won’t budge or slip back on your head. Pinch the ends of the scarf together and insert a small safety pin.
5. If you’re using a jersey scarf or you prefer not to use a pin, pinch the ends together while you start wrapping the long end around your head. If done correctly, the short end should stay in place.
6. Raise the scarf’s long end and wrap it from front to back. As you move the scarf towards the other shoulder, pass the long end over the shorter end.
7. The long end should be pinned at the base of your chin. After positioning the scarf’s long end over your head, spread the remaining fabric around the side of your face. Please return it to the underside of your chin, and to secure the loose end, carefully insert a safety pin through the layers of fabric.

Remember, you can always wear the hijab however you like; its styling is a personal preference. We should always respect people’s choices to wear a hijab- at the end of the day, it looks great!

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