Turbans have been worn for thousands of years, particularly in the desert. They provide insulation against the heat of the sun, as well as protecting the scalp and hair from dust and UV radiation.
Turbans For Health and Religious Reasons
Turbans are standard apparel for followers of several different religions, including Sikhs, some Muslims, and some members of the Rastafari. To some, the Sikhs in particular, a turban is sacred, and a sign of prestige. Turbans are also worn in many desert countries, particularly in North and West Africa.
Turbans are often worn by those undergoing treatment for cancer, or other conditions that cause hair loss. While some turbans are elaborate and sewed permanently onto a base, most people tie the turban anew from a long strip of cloth each time they wear it.
How To Tie a Turban
There are many different ways to tie a turban. This article will cover two basic traditional methods, of the Sikh (the “fortune teller's” turban) and the Tuareg (North/West African nomads).
Tying a turban is not difficult, but may take a couple of attempts to get right. Depending on the length of cloth, it can be useful to have someone else helping to keep it straight, particularly the first time.
Tie a Sikh Style Turban
Use a thin, cotton cloth (or a similar material) approximately 16ft or 5 metres long. It should be around a metre, or 3ft wide. A cap can be worn underneath, but this isn't necessary.
- Take one end of the length of the turban cloth and fold it across the width. So now, the 3ft wide cloth should be 1.5ft wide.
- Fold the cloth again across the width and keep folding it this way until it is around 4-5 inches wide. Don't worry too much about keeping the loose end neatly folded just yet.
- When the cloth is 4-5 inches wide, fold about an inch across the width, as though creating a hem. This keeps the edges of the turban neat.
- Lay the turban cloth over the head, while keeping it neatly folded between the thumb and fingers. The folded end should be held about halfway down the left side of the back of the neck, while the cloth goes diagonally over the skull from left to right and is held out at a slight angle to the face.
- While holding the end in place, wrap the folded cloth around the left side of the head so that it frames the face and just covers the ear. Wrap it back over the cloth end that is being held in place on the neck and around so it is now sticking out from the right side of the neck. Keep up the tension on the cloth and the end at the back of the neck should now stay in place.
- Refold the cloth if necessary to keep it at a uniform width. Wrap the cloth again around the top of the head. Wrap the cloth at a slightly shallower angle this time, closer to the right ear.
- Wrap the cloth around a third time, this time at a very shallow angle, almost parallel with the forehead.
- Now, pass the cloth around the back of the neck, angle it up toward the left side of the face and wrap it at a shallow angle (mirroring the last fold on the other side).
- Repeat, increasing the angle until the two sides match.
- For the final fold, if there is extra cloth, double the end of it to hide the length. Then, wrap at an angle from right to left, mirroring the first fold from left to right. Instead of wrapping the cloth around the head, tuck the end of it behind the ridge of cloth at the top of the head.
- Pull out the end that was originally held onto the neck out the hole in the top of the turban, unfold it and use it to cover the top of the skull, tucking it into the surrounding cloth.
Tie a Tuareg Style Turban
- Take a length of cloth, around 3ft wide and 10-12ft long. Gather it into a loose rope and tie a very loose knot about 3ft along it.
- Hold the knot at the back of the head, with the shorter end falling down the back. Flare out the longer end so it covers the head evenly.
- Gather the longer end of the cloth at the forehead until it is about three inches across, then, twist slightly and wind it firmly around the head. Repeat this until the cloth is used up, then tuck the end into the wound cloth.
- Undo the knot at the back of the head. This spare end of cloth is draped around the front of the face, covering the nose and mouth to keep out sand and dust. The end is tucked into the turban at the back of the skull.
Although reading instructions for wrapping turbans can make them seem difficult, once people get the hang of it, turban wrapping is quick and easy.
Rachel Sawaya - Rachel Sawaya is a freelance writer from New Zealand (who also has US citizenship), and currently lives in Auckland, the big smoke of New ...
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