Hair Care Essentials for Hijabis
Hair care has been always pushed to the back-burner especially those of us who have worn the hijab for as long as we can remember. We can’t deny, spending most of our days with our hair covered, we often don’t think of caring for our hair until it comes time to take our hijab off, and we are suffering from flat, itchy, dull “hijab hair.” Could this be caused by the fact that we’ve spent so much time thinking of how to keep our hair neatly covered, that we’ve not prioritized wanting our hair to look healthy and nice when it’s uncovered???
So, let’s talk about some tips for caring for your hair as a hijab-wearing woman as well as talking about why this is such an important part of wearing hijab. Talking about that, note that our body is our soul’s vessel in this world, and we have been entrusted by Allah SWT to take good care of it until we meet our Creator. Did you notice that our hair is part of our body and well-being, and as Muslims it is important for us to take care of what has been given to us in order to show gratitude towards the One who blessed us with this amanah? We will be asked on the Day of Judgement about how we took care of our bodies! Finding time to do so is important, just like finding a simple hair care routine that you can implement into your day :)
Ya ya ya... as cliche as this may sound, this phrase is essential to understanding how and why we should take care of our hair (and bodies in general). What we feed our bodies has a direct impact on how our bodies will function and grow. Let’s take a step back and make sure that our diet is a nutritious one and that we are including foods that will help our hair grow from the inside out.
Do you know that many of us is experiencing damage to our hair as a result of years of wearing our hijab too tight, or pulling our hair into a tight bun for several hours throughout the day? Tip #1 : braid your hair before going to bed! Yes! Braids help with hair breakage and are a great way to keep your hair tidy. Braids are also a great alternative to tying your hair back under your hijab. They will provide less tension on your scalp and prevent a receding hairline the way a tight bun or high ponytail will. Tips #2 : Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. This is a great way to keep frizz at bay and retain your hair’s moisture from products and it’s natural oils. It also helps reduce the friction that can cause hair breakage and tangles.
A good rule of thumb is to give your hair a trim at least twice a year. Is your hair oily and needs to be cleaned regularly? Or is it dry and needs minimal washing to maintain as much moisture as possible? Talk to your hairstylist or a friend who knows her hair stuff to get some more insight on how often you should be washing.
Taking care of your hair doesn't stop once you put your hijab on for the day. The fabric you choose to wear, the hair ties, the way in which you tie your hair are all contributing factors to your hair health. Making sure your hijabs are of the highest quality from a brand you trust and love is important (you know, like Sugarscarf, HEHE).
Let your hair down when your hijab is off to give it a break from that hair tie. Trust us, your hair will thank you! Thanks for reading :)