Muslim Women, Please Educate Me On Your Hair...

[Shadiyah]

I grew up with a lot of muslims. My muslim friends in NY would wear the coverings but when we got outside they would take it off and wear what ever clothes they wanted. We were teenagers i guess they wanted to fit in.
As an adult I had a very close muslim friend I met in ATL. I moved here right after 9/11. She was raised in N.Y but was somolian. We were so cool. She had 5 children and I loved them all. Although I am christian and she is muslim we were sisters & told people that. We would hang out all the time. In the beginning I never saw her hair or even most of her face. I was hair obssessed at the time as well. LOL So I would ask her all the time. Finally as time went on she showed me her hair. IT WAS SO PRETTY. She kept it short but she has 3 type hair and it was naturally copper brown. She taught me a lot but moved a lot because her husband and famlily were harrassed by police and neighbors. It was a few mnths to a year after 9/11 and we are in ATL. I use to go to bat for them literally! People looked at me like I was crazy but we stood side by side saying we were SISTERS! I miss her so much. she had to move because of this and got the same treatment where ever she went. We lost touch. I miss my sister we were so close and she trusted me with her family and I did too. I wish I can find her. I am of Trini decent and her younger sisters went there for boarding school of some sort. I lost touch with them all. ;-(

ETA: has nothing to do with the questions asked but I was compelled to speak of my long lost sister.

If she didn't move out of state they tend to stay close to each other an there is a large community of Somalians in Stone Mountain. I belong to a masjid there with all Somalian when I am in ATL and there are about 3 more in the area that I know of.

 

[hannan]

I just want to say that that's cold, cold, cold I don't see not one site for where you all buy hijabs.....I'll let it go since I know most of us are fasting and beating that stove to get your food right.

There is no way I will buy hijabs online with all those sketchy websites out there. I just go to the scarf/accessory area whenever I go clothes shopping. It's convenient if you know you don't have a hijab to match exactly with the top you just bought, so then you can just walk yourself over to wear the scarves are and they usually have something and you can actually feel the material. I tried going to the Islamic/Arab owned shops but they are too overpriced for my taste. Only on Eid!

 

[Aspire]

OK. I am on post 101 of this thread, and I just had to post myself. This is THE MOST INTERESTING THREAD I have EVER read on this forum. As a Christian, I truly respect and admire the responses from the ladies responding to this thread. I have learned so much, and am also feeling some conviction. I hope you will continue to post and I hope you start a section of the board as well (although you may have already). I am really interested in learning more.

 

[MysteryMe]

Ladies,

I've been curious about this for a while and since I don't know many Muslim women in real life I figured I'd ask here. (This thread shouldn't be controversial like my last one )

I see that some women cover their hair and others don't. And, of the ones who cover, they do so to varying degrees. For instance, a friend of a friend wears a hat of some sort every day - usually a small beret, where much of her head is still exposed and her hair in a bun. She's wealthy and highly fashionable so her hats, hair, makeup, jewelry, etc are always on point. I used to know another Muslim woman (she's Nation of Islam, if that makes a difference) who only covers occasionally but she never wears her hair out...always plaited.

So, I'd like to know:
- How covered are you? Fully with only my eyes showing.
- How is your hair styled underneath? In a bun when relaxed and in corn rows when natural.
- Do your coverings dry your hair out or do they help retain moisture? It doesn't help or harm my harm. I wear a satin underscarf directly on my hair also.
- How much of the day are you uncovered? A large percentage of the day.
- Who is allowed to see your hair? As for men, the short answer is my male relatives that are forbidden for me to marry (father, sons, uncles, nephews, some of my DH's male relatives, any males that I breastfed, etc but not male cousins that have reached puberty. As for women, the short answer is any woman. However there is a difference of opinion on this and some Muslim women do not uncover in front of non-Muslim women. Can you show us? I have posted hair pics in the past on here, but later deleted them.
- Do you have different hats/scarves for various outfits, accessories? When going outside, I wear all black (abaya, hijab and niqab, etc). However Muslim women are not restricted to wearing all black. Black is just viewed as the most basic and less appealing color. We are suppose to avoid clothing that draws attention no matter what color it is. I'm mindful of my appearance when inside of the house. So I wear various outfits and accessories just like other women.

Sorry for so many questions. I'm just really interested. Please feel free to share beyond the questions asked. Thanks in advance for sharing!

Sweating: My hair sweats in the hot temps just like anyone elses. I can't really say that it sweats more or less.

Fashion: As for the abaya, there are different styles, trends and fashion for just like any other article of clothing. It probably looks like we all just have on the same basic black robe. But if you look closer you can see that styles differ (embroidery, material, design, etc). There are different trends as well. For example, in the Middle East it is common to see Gucci, Christian Dior, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana and other named brand or high end desigher abayaat. The niqab also varies in style and design. In the Middle East it's also common for women to express their individuality or style via the type of purse, jewelry or shoes they wear.

Off Topic-I was planning to create a thread about the different abayaat and niqab styles some time ago, but I forgot. I did create a thread a year or two ago called the Life Of A Muslim Woman or something like that. And someone else created a thread called the Muslimah Support Thread (??) a while back also. Good Thread OP!

 

[Beany]

I'm a Christian and this thread has compelled me to cover in church (1 Corinthians 11:1-16). Thanks to all the ladies who have shared.

 

[goldielocs]

I'm a Christian and this thread has compelled me to cover in church (1 Corinthians 11:1-16). Thanks to all the ladies who have shared.

You and me both. I read this thread 3 weeks ago and started covering my hair daily. My DH likes it but my students are all complaining.

"Ms. J! What's up with the headwraps! I want to see your dreads!" SMH.

I'm really enjoying keeping it covered. My locs are much more moisturized too. Thanks ladies!

 

[Shadiyah]

I have a question that I hope isn't inappropriate for this thread.

I had considered converting to Islam for a few years (while I was in college and highschool), and while doing my research, I found out that there is a lot a debate about the necessity of the Hijab, more importantly how the word has been translated/interpretated. Some people said that it wasn't necessary based on their understanding and translations of the words while others said it was. Ladies who choose to wear it is the reasoning found in the Q'uran or the Hadiths or both? I must admit that I'm a bit confused about how the Hadiths relate to the teachings found in the Q'uran. The used to be a Muslimah thread in OT. I wonder what happened to it

I don't know if you got your answers to your questions but they can debate all they want to but it is mandated that we cover in Quran it tells us first to draw our veil over our bossom and in another part later on we were mandated to cover everything. if you have a quran the best one to read for a beginner is the noble quran because it will talk in plain english and spill it out our not talking in old touge where you have to figure out what they are talking about. but if you email me [email protected] I can insha Allah answer your questions.

 

[silenttullip]

Great thread!!!!

I know a lady who was muslim and omg she was always on point fully covered but beautiful BEAUTIFUL colors from head to toe. I'm not muslim but I wish I could do that without people looking at me... It would make me so happy to walk out all covered. I don't know why but it's always been a desire of mine. I'd cover with a silk scarf underneath.

 

[Creative Genius]

Great thread OP! We have an aunt that covers everything but her face and hands... I have only seen her hair twice in my 30+ years. The last time I saw her hair it was in a waist length braid and a beautiful salt and pepper gray. STUNNING. That was almost 12 years ago... so I can only imagine what it is like now. I recently had a friend (he is Muslim) ask if I would ever consider wearing a hajib; my response was that I felt it would be disrespectful for me to wear one as I am not Muslim. But now a friend is getting married and I have been invited. I am pretty sure I would have to cover up to attend yes? If so wear do I look? Does anyone sew their own?


Thanks in advance

 

[Striving4perfection86]

It really depends on how the nikah (wedding ceremony) is going to be performed, sometimes its ladies only and sometimes its mixed men and woman. You can wear a hijab a sign of respect if you want to ask your friend.....its really beautiful and understanding of you that you'd do that for them at their ceremony, i'm sure they'll be really touched. I personally don't know any1 who makes their own hijabs, u can buy them ready made or a long piece of material that u wrap round..... i'm so rubbish at explainin things....asks hijabiflygirl shes a member here she can probably explain to u how to wrap it or where to buy them....im assummin ur in da us?

also u can look on utube jus type.....how to wear hijab or hijab styles....

hth