3 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss Under Your Hijab
Sometimes we pay so much attention to our hijabs that we start to neglect the appearance and health of our hair. I guess it’s a classic case of out of sight, out of mind! But Islam teaches us that our bodies have a right over us, and our hair is what’s actually a part of our physical being. Self-care is a priority not because it’s trendy, because we are supposed to honor ourselves as Muslims . Oftentimes, hijabis are dealing with hijab-related breakage, balding, scalp inflammation, and more because of the lack of special care for our hair. It can be hard to find the right styles and products to keep our hair healthy and protected under the hijab. So here are 3 tips you can use to nurture your hair under your hijab and help prevent hair loss.
1). Use Cream Moisturizers and Nourishing Oils
To keep your hair from thinning and keep your edges intact, a good moisturizer is key. Cream moisturizers and nourishing oils lock moisture in place and prevents the dryness that leads to breakage. I love the brand You are Your Home (YYH), an organic hair care care line catered to hijabis. Their Superseed Oil is an all-natural hair growth oil that combats hair loss and thinning as a result of long hours of fabric tension, lack of sunlight, oxygen, and scalp revitalization. I loved their hair oil so much that each of my students for my Hijab Styling 101 course got a bottle in their curated box of course materials. I wanted to send the message that hijab styling really starts with haircare - it’s not an afterthought!
Other oils that are great for stimulating hair growth include castor oil, black jamaican castor oil, or jojoba oil. Be sure to massage these oils into your scalp to increase blood flow and oxygenation to your scalp.
What about wudu and ghusl? Don’t these tend to constantly wash all these moisturizers and oils out of the hair? Wudu and ghusl are washing rituals that are necessary to an Islamic lifestyle, but they can be quite drying. Add moisture back to your hair after every wudu, and remember that you can practice mas’h and wipe over your hijab. Frequent ghusl can make it hard to keep moisture in the hair, but take advantage of the fact that water itself is a great foundation for a hair moisture routine. Re-moisturize with your favorite creams and apply more oil after a ghusl. Remember that you can’t do too much caring for your hair, especially if your hair type demands it. Use protective styling to keep brushes and combs out of your hair as much as possible, and remember that you don’t have to take out these styles to perform a proper ghusl. Read more about haircare and ghusl/wudu via this post from @4c_hijabi.
2). Use a Satin-Lined Undercap
Satin-lined undercaps are designed to keep the moisture you’ve nourished your hair with in your hair and off your hijab. The satin is low friction so the hijab tends not to directly tug on your hair, which can cause hair loss over time. Luckily, several hijab fashion brands have come out with satin-lined products to increase accessibility to their hijabi audience. Nuuro showcased their new satin-lined hijab under caps in this TikTok, and I personally have been rocking the Haute Hijab Silk blend undercap for a while. I fell in love with these satin-lined instant hijab from Sarrabi, as well as Modest Behaviour’s satin-lined ninja undercaps. If you have long hair, a satin-lined loc soc is also a great option for a hijab undercap. Loc socs are longer in the back to give extra room for more hair. I got my satin-lined loc soc from Amazon and they come in different sizes and styles. Check out this reel I made on how to style it under your hijab!
3). Loose hairstyles, Braids, & Twists
Instead of wearing tight buns every day which require a lot of brushing and combing that can damage your hair, try protective styling instead. Tight hairstyles can rip fine baby hairs out, and even cause breakage within your bun. Styling your hair under your hijab with a loose hairstyle relieves tension and puts less strain on hair. Keeping braids and twists in for days or even weeks on end can save the hair from breakage due to excessive manipulation. Try braiding or twisting especially at the front of your hair as well as the nape your neck to save hair that is most vulnerable. Also, use satin-covered scrunchies instead of elastic bands to hold the hair in place. Check out this reel where I go more in-depth on ways to prevent hair loss with hijab! Furthermore, @4c_hijabi has tons of content on hairstyles and hijab, especially for women with textured hair.
I hope you find these products and styling tips helpful! And remember, your hijab should never be a compromise to your health and well-being! Feel free to experiment with hairstyles and products until you find something that works for you!
Love,
Hakeemah
