5 Proper Care Tips For Your Hijab-Head

So, let's start with the famous question. Does wearing hijab cause baldness? The answer is NO. It does not. Permenantly at least. What it can cause is hair breakage because of the friction the hair follicle has with certain type of scarves made of fibers that are not that smooth such as wool. Scarves made out of silk or satin have smoother fibers. Now, before you hit the Rogaine(hairlosss treatment) section, rule out the below:

1. Medications with side effects of hairloss.

2. Just giving birth

3.Taking birth control pills

4.Illnesses

5. The way you style your hijab and hair. Heat, very tight ponytails/hairbuns and tight hijab styles, braids or hair accessories can cause breakage.

6. Over processed hair: Dying and bleaching can fry your head bald.

7. Hormonal issues. 

8. Eating disorder. Not having the proper vitamins and minerals in our body will show rapidly on our hair and skin.

The good news is that it all can grow back with time and with proper care you can avoid temporarily baldness. Here are some simple tips I have learned along the way that you can apply to your everyday life.

TIP #1: When washing your hair start with lukewarm water and do a rinse first. Apply shampoo at the scalp and NEVER EVER use your nails because you will give yourself a haircut. Seriously, nails cut the hair and damage the hair. Our point here is to avoid more hair loss. Here is a money-saving tip I have learned on doing a deep cleansing when tight on a budget. Use baking soda. You can do a deep cleansing every 6 months, if you don't use styling products. Styling products and shampoo can cause build-up over time. This is also a good time to give yourself a scalp massage it creates blood circulation in the hair glands. Oh yeah! and it feels good.

image credit: afroblush

TIP #2: When applying conditioner, apply from mid hair to the tips because this is where the hair is more thirsty and harder for the natural oils to reach. Leave it for a few minutes. Depending how often you style your hair or you hair color it. You should do a deep conditioning treatment the least once a month. The most natural and money-saving way is using olive-oil. Apply it 1-2 hours before the shower. Other natural ways is using Mayonnaise. Now, if you have the money, do a Kérastase or other protein treatments. Why? Simply, because your hair is protein and that is what it eats to repair itself. After wears and tears, we have to replenish it. But, protein also has its when-to's. First determine you hair repair needs. Do you need just for it to look nice and healthy or do you need strength. 

image credit: theskindetective

TIP #3: For the final rinse use the coldest water you can stand to keep it shiny. NOT! This is a myth and not proven. But, what you can do to boost some shine is do a natural rinse that contains apple cider. Some people do replace a conditioner with this rinse. But, listen to your hair and do what works best for you. 

TIP #4: Draining water out of your hair should NOT be done by twisting and pulling. You have to remember that your hair is at its most vulnerable point when wet. The proper way is to squeeze the water out starting from the top and pat it dry.


TIP #5: The after care of washing is very important. Don't brush and style your hair wet. Again, you hair is at its most weak point. A good thing to do for your hair is apply a type of oil. Now, not every oil is the same. There are oils that you apply and work best before the use of heat styling products. But, if you don't I recommend this one. They also make one to use before the use heat products. Detangle you hair if it is a must with a wide comb after you apply the hair oil.

Other things to remember is to not wear your headscarf too tight specially if you wear it outside everyday for a long number of hours. Keep it loose and wear silk or satin undercaps. Last one, don't ever tie your hair in a tight bun while wet and then put on a hijab. You definitely don't want to do that! Really you don't! Ok, Hijab-head, I hope this has shed some light or refreshen your knowledge.

Develop The Hijabi Style, How?

First let me ask you a question. How do you like your eggs? If you seen the movie Runaway Bride, then you are familiar with the question.

Well, you see much of, well actually everything style has to do with is knowing what you want and know more about yourself then what others do. Some of us are born knowing exactly what we want to do when we grow up and some of us well, let's just say we go through 20 career choices before declaring our major in College. 

Style is influenced by a series of things. Clothing style or manner differ from country to country, culture to culture and religion to religion, but inner style is shaped by a combination of the outside world and what is within you. It is the way you conduct yourself, knowing what you like and what you believe.

So, how do you do all this?

By being open-minded and exploring yourself, by making choices and see how they make you feel. This will lead you to know what you want. It is almost like trial-and-error thing. Embracing the things you can't change, making the best out of it and never stop working towards the better. That is how change happens.

via SixteenR

As muslimahs, we have to be extremely careful upon following the actions of others. So be careful not to walk around being the double-dummie of someone else. Yes, there are people who we just love how they dress and carry themselves, but use that as an inspiration and add your touch to it and correct somethings that they are doing wrong. Always refer back to Allah SWT's guidelines. 

Style is a journey and knowing who you are and what you like and don't at different periods of time. One day you might like your eggs scrambled and later you might not even like eggs. The things we like change as fashion, but our core rarely does and that is the description of your style. So, once you own yourself, when you eye things, you will know you got it! There will be no questioning if you should buy it or not(ok, maybe a little bit) nor you will ask so much of others opinions because you know what you are aiming for. You will stop trying to look like someone else when inside you you are a complete different person. You will handle yourself with confidence around others because you are sure of yourself of what you want and what you belief. And all others can do is take inspiration from you. Know what makes you happy, be content with your belief, because all of this will reflect on what you wear and how you carry yourself.

Now, before leaving let me just add something for our convert sisters. As we start learning our new religion, we start changing or adjusting our style of clothing and behavior. And, sometimes we go through a hot mess phase. Primarily because hijab is a journey and we lack the knowledge. Our options and limits narrow down. It doesn't have to be like that.You can still keep your style, but use Allah SWT guidelines. Once you get these guidelines down explore with your style for options. And remember that your core charectaristics are meant sometimes not to change. Allah SWT created the Sahaba all differently in personality to show us that we are meant to be different. All these choices are worth it because pleasing our creator is more important for our Akhira(afterlife). And, that is why we took Islam after all, Right?

The clothing style options are increasing pretty quickly by the introduction of styles in abayas, tunics and other clothing that are being developed from our own inspirations of style still keeping us apart by our modesty and able to integrate with our corresponding environment. So please do look for options.

The clothes you put on every morning should say something truthful of who you are and what you represent inwardly and outwardly. 

Photos Credit: Hijabi's LookBook

So, respect and know your guidelines, know what you like, and use your creativity!

Fashions fade, but style is eternal. - Yves Saint-Laurent