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I dont really like seeing woman in head scarfs, but if they want to wear 'em, thats ok ninja

I do obey the comandment for "kisui rosh." It means head covering, not hair covering, which would be "kisui se'ar," even though in practical terms, it often results in a woman covering all of her hair. I use snoods, scarves, or hats/caps (mostly from http://www.modestworld.com and http://www.tznius.com), and I do cover my hair completely.

I didn't cover immediately when I got married; I only started doing it when I had a really bad haircut and wanted to hide it until it grew out. Now that it's been three years, the bad haircut has grown out, but I have found that I don't want to uncover anymore.

It used to take me an hour to dry my hair, then another hour with the styling wand and a bunch of mousse or gel before I liked the way it looked, and then it would be frizzy again if I went outside into the humidity. Now I can wash, brush, cover, and be out the door with just ten minutes of post-shower grooming.

I used to spend a lot of money on mousse, gel, hair coloring (my hair's been going white since I was about 14), barrettes, clips, combs, ribbons, headbands... Now that I've bought all the snoods I need, I really only have to buy shampoo, conditioner, and the very occasional hot oil treatment.

Before covering, I'd spend a lot of time re-brushing and re-fixing my hair once I got to school, work, or social occasions. Now, I just check whenever I go to the bathroom, make sure the hair's all hidden away, and that's it. No extra trips to the room with the mirrors, just for the sake of vanity.

I used to feel bad about myself all day when my hair didn't look the way I wanted it to look. Now, I'm confident and pleased with my appearance as long as I'm clean and neat.

People used to know me as "the redhead," and call me Red. Their immediate thought was often "I'd like to sleep with her" or "I wouldn't sleep with her." Now they think, "I wonder what she thinks or believes, that makes her wear that." Automatically, I've robbed them of the ability to judge me by my looks, and gently forced them instead to deal with my thoughts and values. It's a subtle but powerful form of feminism.

Just so you know, NatureFaerie, it's only for boys and men to cover their heads by the age of three onward, and some Jews don't do that unless they're at prayer (and of course, some not at all). For women, it's only required after marriage (and again, this is followed to varying degrees at different times), but it is permitted for a woman to cover her hair or her head any time she wants. Before marriage, it's fashion. After marriage, it's required to have some kind of covering, but it can be as small and unobtrusive as a thick headband, a tiny cap, or even just braiding the hair so that the sections of hair take turns covering one another!

Awesome, kingpinsqeezels! You'll have to post the one you bought (on a styrofoam or plastic head, or photoshop your face out of a photograph so as to protect your privacy).

What was it that convinced you to wear a scarf?

You can cover your head/hair with anything you like, though I'd caution against three things.

One, if you're in an Orthodox setting, a kippah is probably something you'll want to avoid in order to blend in better. That is, unless you don't mind sticking out like a sore thumb, and having one or two peoplee assume you're not Jewish or that you don't know any better. Chances are, you do know what you're doing, and you'll want to let people know that by using the non-verbal signal of head/hair coverage that says you do know how to fit in in an Orthodox setting.

Two, I'd avoid tying your scarf in a way that most people associate with Muslimas (female Muslims). It's a really beautiful look, but out of respect for Muslimas and for Islam, you don't want people to think you're just turning their style of coverage into a costume. That means that unless it's cold and you're wearing a wool shawl or pashmina wrap in order to stay warm, you don't want to wear it in such a way as to cover your hair, ears, and neck/throat, like this: http://www.thehijabshop.com/information/how_to_wear.php

Finally, if you're going to wear a scarf to a Shabbat service or any other religious service, wear a nice one. Save the paisley bandana or the tie-dye for school, and go to a fancier occasion with a fancier scarf.

I've posted a picture of myself in a headscarf before, but I can't find it now. ^^; Here's a quick webcam shot so you can get kind of a vague idea:



Here's the snood I have, which bits of my hair shows around the sides of, because the elastic is very tight and it hurts to put it over the sides of my glasses. whee



Some of the women here let their scarves cover their ears partially, in order to make sure the hair on the sides of their heads, around the ears, stays covered. In the pre-tied scarves that have elastic in them, that can kind of hurt, though. sweatdrop I don't know, in other communities, leaving your ears uncovered might be the norm.

I'm single, so I don't cover regularly, but I do cover my head for davening, lighting Shabbos candles, taking challah, and other similar things. I picked the practice up from my old roommate, who was Sephardi, and it was a family minhag of hers. I found it very moving, personally.

Thanks so much guys! I appreciate it. I plan on going to Dillard's or something this weekend to buy a large square scarf, because all I have are oblong. I might also get a knitted beret, which is similar to a snood.

I do appreciate all of the info, I'm pumped!

Yeah, it actually is Harry. So blaugh !