For Muslim women, the hijab is our crown. It is a symbol of modesty and of our beautiful faith. It is a sign of our obedience to our merciful creator. Covering our hair and dressing modestly is all part of pleasing our creator. However, just because others cannot see our hair, does not mean that we should stop taking care of it. We have been given these bodies as an Amanah to take care of. In this post, I will be sharing my top 7 hair care tips for Hijabis to avoid hair loss, thinning or damage and how to maintain luscious and healthy hair.
As mentioned in the post ‘7 Ways to Lose Weight through Islam and Sunnah,’ it is part of Islam to take care of ourselves. Our bodies are an Amanah, a trust from Allah (swt). It is a gift and therefore, we should show our gratitude by taking care of it – and our tresses are definitely included in that! Keep reading to find out my 7 hair care tips for Hijabis to get you started!
My Hijab Story
I have been wearing the hijab for 20 years now (wow, definitely feels like a lifetime!). Not a single day has gone by where I haven’t left the house without wearing one. It is a part of me; just as regular clothing covers and protects our bodies, this piece of clothing covers and protects my imaan (faith) and modesty.
Like many Muslim women, I must have experimented with every single Hijab style during the years. From the two-piece instant hijabs that our mothers popped on our heads, to the silky square shape hijabs which would be folded in a triangle, trying to achieve that perfect round shape to frame our face. I remember during my teenage years, I was obsessed with these net-style hijabs where you would need to wear a bonnet/inner-scarf underneath. I remember the inner-scarf being so tight and pulling on my hair. It seemed fashionable at the time but the entire forehead and perhaps half the eyebrows would be covered by this style!
It makes me laugh looking back now but I can remember myself practicing the various styles in front of my mirror. When the stylish Dubai Shaylas became popular, every girl was wearing them despite the chiffon-type material being so difficult to work with! We would be ordering the latest hijabs from family members abroad or purchasing them from local Muslim conventions (online shopping, especially for hijabs, was not so easy back in the days!).
Over the years, our hijab styles have evolved and as we have grown, we have settled into our own personal preferences. Mine shifted from fashionable and glamorous to more practical since entering the professional world. With time, I also deeply understood the meaning of my hijab. Inspired by the courage of Lady Zainab bint Ali (as) and how she fought for her veil, I wanted my hijab to truly represent what it stands for.
Hair Loss or Dry and Damaged Hair?
Wearing the hijab, sometimes for over 12 hours in a day, can take a toll on our hair. I had noticed changes in my own hair and was wondering why my hairbrushes would be full of hair after brushing or why my baby hairs had disappeared.
After realizing that this may be happening due to the way I was wearing my hijab or how I was treating my hair, I started implementing various changes into my routine. These hair care tips helped me IMMENSELY and I really saw a huge difference to my hair.
So if you are noticing changes to your hair such as hair loss, dry or brittle hair, balding, a reclining hairline etc. then check out my top 7 Hair Care tips for Hijabis below. Change up your current routine to include some of these and inshaAllah, you will start to see results, just like I did!
Top 7 Hair Care Tips for Hijabis:
1. Ditch the Volume!
Not only is the exaggerated ‘Camel hump’ volume away from the correct interpretation of Hijab, those large flower clips or high buns can really damage the hair. Having the hair up in a tight bun or with a tight-gripping clip should be avoided. The tension creates unnecessary stress. This results in damages to the hairline and can cause hair breakage. Instead, opt for a looser bun and tie it using a no-snag hair tie.
I have been using these Spiral Hair Ties for YEARS and have noticed a huge difference since shifting from the regular hair elastics. If you aren’t already using them, I highly recommend you to get these and throw out your old elastics.
2. Always DRY your hair!
Make sure that your hair is FULLY dry before putting on your hijab. The worst thing you can do for your hair is to tie it up whilst wet then wear a hijab over it. This can really weaken the hair strands and make the environment damp and unbreathable, which can lead to dandruff. So take out the extra time to completely dry your hair.
3. Choose Good Materials
Wear Hijabs that are made of breathable fabrics such as cotton, rayon and chiffon. Your hair needs oxygen, it needs to breathe! Packing it away tightly under layers of material can cause dirt and oils to build up which can result in dandruff as the scalp gets dry. Find the one that works for you rather than what your favorite Instagrammer is wearing. Not everything that you see in pictures may necessarily work for you, so start with a soft breathable fabric and see if it makes any difference.
These are my go-to daily hijabs, perfect for work! I love how soft, versatile and breathable the fabric is despite requiring any maintenance (no ironing needed!). And, they are 100% cotton – Perfect!
4. Oil those Locks!
As mentioned, keeping our hair 90% of the time wrapped up under fabric, can seriously dehydrate our scalp. The lack of oxygen causes the scalp to become dry, creating dandruff or itchiness. To counter this, simply give your head and locks a warm oil massage once a week. Add it to your weekly physical ‘self-care’ routine .
How to apply hair oil:
- Add about 2 tbsp. of your favorite hair oil to a microwave safe bowl
- Warm it up for 15 seconds in the microwave (or as required to get it quite warm but not hot)
- Take some of that oil in your palm and turn your head upside down
- Massage the oil for a few minutes into the scalp using your fingertips
- With the remaining oil, comb through your hair and press it into the strands
- You can wash it off after a few hours or, leave it in overnight for best results.
I used to use Amla Oil many years ago, which was a staple in every desi household. I have to admit, that stuff definitely works and is probably one of the reasons why it’s every mom’s favorite. However, for some reason, I cannot bear the smell of it and so I switched to MoroccanOil. It is on the pricier side but lasts for AGES! This stuff smells divine, which is why I don’t mind leaving it in for a couple of days before my next wash. I have been using it for a while and have seen great results!
5. Forget the Under-Scarf
If like me, you were addicted to wearing the tight under scarf / inner hijab caps, then unfortunately, it is time for those to go! I used to wear ones made from some sort of a Lycra or jersey fabric. They would be like a tube that would cling to my hair. Years and years of that really damaged my hair and so, it was time for them to go! I changed my hijab style and hijab fabrics (as mentioned in tip #3) to ones that would not require any inner scarf. From this change alone, I saw a massive difference! Now if I ever wear those caps, they give me intense headaches. They do however, make great reusable home cleaning cloths! So a win-win for the Eco-Friendly Muslimah!
6. Hair Treatment
Giving yourself a monthly hair treatment may improve the texture and quality of your hair. We already discussed oiling once a weekly, so this would be a treatment that you would do once a month.
I love to use hair masks and my absolute favorite is the Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Mask. After testing countless amount of hair masks, this one beats them all! It consists of many natural ingredients such as papaya and coconut oil, is paraben free and vegan. You only need to leave it on for a minute (I leave it a little longer) rinse off and voila! Instantly stronger and shinier hair. Try it out, you won’t regret it. Plus, the price is unbeatable!
If you have the time, you could whip up your own hair mask. They may not smell as pleasant as the store-bought ones, but they have a similar effect. If I have some time on my hands, my favorite hair concoction is an avocado mask.
For this, you will need:
- 1 avocado
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. honey
- Few drops of lemon juice
Blend all these ingredients together until smooth. Spread the mask evenly through your hair (preferably damp hair) tie it in a bun and pop on a shower cap. Keep it on for a good hour or two then rinse off and wash your hair as usual.
7. Vitamin D!!!
I cannot stress this one enough. It has been found in many studies that Vitamin D is lower in the hijab-wearers
As Muslim women, rarely do we sit with our heads uncovered under the sun. If you are fortunate to have a sunroom or a private garden, then catching some sunlight is extremely important, as the best-known benefit of sunlight is the ability to boost the body’s vitamin D supply. Take some time out to let down your hair under the sun and absorb its energy. The Vitamin D is crucial and has many benefits such as improving the immune system.
If you live in a country which does not see much sunlight, then taking a Vitamin D Supplement really helps. It boosts energy and restores the Vitamin D that your body may be lacking which can be seen through weakened hair etc. I take these ones by Webber Naturals as they are super affordable and you get 260 days worth for a great price.
I hope you found these 7 Hair Care tips for Hijabis useful. They have made a massive difference to my own hair and so I sincerely hope that they will do the same for you too.
Do you have any tips of your own that you can share? Comment below or head over to our Instagram page to join in on the discussion.
This post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission for the upkeep of the blog – at no extra cost for you!
