The turban is a type of headdress formed from a long, roll-up piece of fabric. It is traditionally worn by men, especially in South Asia, Southeast Asia and North Africa. Several religious communities carry it with respect for their faith. However, in the West it is also normally worn by women. Whatever your reason for wearing a turban, it is important that you are familiar with the method of wrapping it so that it is comfortable and safe on the head. If you want to know how to tie a turban, keep reading the article from the first step and, that way, you can start wearing it today.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Wrap a Pagh Turban (Men)
Step 1. Fold the fabric
Fold the pagh four times lengthwise, making sure all ends are aligned. Ideally, the fabric should be about 5.5m long, so that you have enough space to wrap it all around your head. The fabric you start with should be cotton and as thin as possible. After you've folded it four times, it should be about 5cm wide.
- The easiest solution to fold the fabric correctly is to ask someone for help, who will have to hold the fabric across the room and both of you should fold it in the same direction at the same time.
- The fabric that you will use around the head is the patka, which will go under the actual pagh. We will see how to wrap the pagh later.
Step 2. Prepare your hair
If you have long hair, pull it up in a high bun, getting as close to your forehead as possible. Tie your hair with a rubber band. To make the bun, you just need to bend your head forward, with your face facing down, grab the hair like a ponytail and then bring it up to the center of the head, so as to start twisting them and ending by wrapping them in concentric turns: you will have to start from the inside of the spiral and continue in this way towards the outside, until you have collected all the hair in a bun at the top of the head.
- You can also use a few clips to secure your hair if it's particularly long.
- If they are shorter, then you won't have to do anything special to prepare them.
- It is important that the bun is wrapped well and that it stays in place, but not so tight that it gives you a headache. Once the turban is tied, it will be difficult to go back and change the underlying hairstyle.
Step 3. Tie the patka around the head
The patka is the part of the fabric that is used under the pagh as a base. Wrap it around your head like a bandana, tucking in any hair that eventually sticks out. Tie the patka on the front of the head, at the chignon. Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be perfect, as long as it keeps your hair in place; in fact, it will not be visible externally. Here's how you should tie it around your head:
- Hold the fabric in front of you. Keep it so it doesn't crease. It should be about 30cm wide.
- Put it on your head, so that the bottom is just below the hairline, while the top goes to cover the head, moving back to the nape of the neck.
- Cross the opposite ends of the patka at the nape of the neck. Take the right corner with your right hand and cross it over the left one, held by the left hand. On the right side there should be only a few centimeters left, while the left one should be longer and hang backwards, towards the right side.
- Bring the long side out in front of you, so that it falls over your right shoulder. Fold it in half and then wrap it over the right ear and over the forehead, past the left ear, until it drops back to the left side.
- Repeat this 3-4 times, until you have wrapped the patka around your head and there is only a small piece of cloth left. Just wrap the second layer just above the first and so on, so that the fabric gradually covers the entire head to the top, but taking care to leave the ears out.
- Thread the last few inches of the patka into the back of the turban, from top to bottom, until the only loose part is the right side end.
Step 4. Wrap the pagh around your head
The fabric must be wound diagonally. Start by placing the fabric lower on one side and higher on the other and continue wrapping it around your head about 6 times, adjusting the position slightly with each turn so that the final one reaches higher on the opposite side. The process is similar to wrapping the patka, although this time you will also cover the ears as you wrap the head. Here's how to proceed:
- Hold the end of the fabric in front of you. Fold only about 2.5 cm at the top of the head, then wrap it all around, like you did with the patka.
- Cross the ends of the fabric where the hair shows up at the nape of the neck, just like you did before.
- Wrap the pagh around your head, moving from one side of your head to the other. At the top you should make at least three folds from the hairline to the center of the head, continuing to create a layer of even thickness around the nape of the neck, which is the back segment that runs between the ears.
Step 5. Once you have created at least three layers on the front of the head, make more around the top
Wrap the pagh around the top of the head, at least three times, moving as you go with the fabric up, to create a thicker layer near the center of the head. When you run out of fabric to wrap, bring the leftover material to the back of your head.
Step 6. Alternatively, instead of creating several layers on the top of the head, simply spread the fabric over the head and tuck it into the lower area of the turban
Instead of making layers on the top, you can make them around the front and back of the head, leaving the top exposed. Then, when you are almost done, simply cover the garment by stretching the fabric from top to bottom, pulling the first fold from under the fabric and then bringing it back over the uncovered part at the top of the head.
Step 7. Thread the remaining end
Whether you've wrapped the pagh around your head or spread the fabric to cover the top of your head, this should be the last step. Hide the free end on the back of the pagh, after which the turban should have the desired shape. Carefully slide your hands to make sure the headgear is round and smooth.
Part 2 of 2: Tie a Turban with a Scarf or Shawl (Women)
Step 1. Fold the fabric in half and place it on the back of the head, keeping the ends in front of the ears
First of all, fold the fabric to create a scarf that is 15 cm wide. Then, put it against the back of the head and bring the ends forward so that they are in front of the ears. You should have at least 4.5-5.5m of fabric.
It will be easier if you fold your head down to make the fabric adhere to the back of your head
Step 2. Tie a knot in the center of the forehead
A normal knot is enough - or even two, if you want to be more secure. Keep in mind that it better not be too bulky, otherwise it will stick out when you're done.
Step 3. Roll the ends of the shawl around your head until you have no more fabric
Start at the base where you tied the knot and continue rolling until you have wrapped both ends around your head. Wrap one layer at a time, starting with the one protruding from the knot to cover the back of the head. The layers in front of the forehead should gradually rise higher, although you can simply wrap just one several times in the back area that runs between the ears. Roll up the fabric and continue wrapping it to the end.
Step 4. Pull the fabric towards the back of the head
Secure it at the back, under the shawl, and adjust the position if necessary. In this version for women it is necessary to cover all the hair. If you prefer them to snack lightly on the front, then you can leave some space as you wrap the fabric around your head.
It is recommended that you use bobby pins to help keep the turban in place
Advice
- There is no single way to tie a pagh or a scarf. Experiment with different folding styles and techniques.
- If you're using a scarf, opt for a thin, soft fabric that's easier to place. Experiment with different designs if you want to create a particular look.
