How to Wear Hijab in Saudi Style – The Best Methods

Although hijab’s rules are the same all over the Islamic world, each country has its own dressing style, which means we get to see different hijab styles all the time.

For example, Africans prefer stylish turbans, while Turkish women always go for squared satin scarves. As for Saudi women, they likely go for an all-black hijab that covers the face as well, and it’s called a niqab. To bring out their hidden beauty, they opt for sharp black eyeliner that completes the look.

If you want to learn how to wear hijab in Saudi style, today is your lucky day! Read on to find out everything you need to know.

How to Wear Hijab in Saudi Style

The Saudi-style hijab involves covering your entire face and only leaving your eyes visible. Of course, that means that you should make sure to choose a hijab made of breathable fabric, so you can breathe comfortably through it. 

Chiffon and softer materials are ideal for a niqab. After you choose the right scarf, check these two methods of wrapping a Saudi-style hijab:

The Easiest Way

1. Wear your underscarf or cap. It’s not always necessary to wear it, but in this case, it’s essential because you’ll pin the scarf to it.
   
2. Position your hijab on your head so that it’s centered with both sides at equal lengths. Then, fold a small piece of it inside, particularly where it meets your forehead.
   
3. Grab the hijab’s edge that’s draping down your back from the right side and pin it to your hijab cap. So that way, both edges should be next to each other draping down your face.
   
4. Hold the same edge that you just pinned to your hijab cap and pass it to the other side, covering your face in the process, starting from your nose down.
   
5. Pin the scarf where it meets your hijab cap, then grab the hijab’s untouched left side and wrap it around your head in a draping motion.
   
6. Pin it to the top of your head at the other side, depending on where its length reaches. If it’s a long scarf, you can wrap it til it returns to its original side and pin it.

This method isn’t only simple and easy to wrap for anyone who hasn’t wrapped a niqab before, but it’s also pretty convenient if you’re going to eat outside. You’ll only have to unpin the piece covering your face, then put it back in its place when you’re done.

That way, you won’t get any food bits on your hijab or have to wrap it again.

Recommended: here’s how to wear a bandana with hijab

The Alternative

If you don’t like how the first wrap looks on your facial structure, you can try this one instead. It won’t bulk up on top of your head, so it’ll look good on any outfit you decide to wear:

1. Grab your scarf and position it in front of your face so that its width (shorter edge) is covering your face and the corners are aligned with your eyes.
   
2. Hold one corner to your hijab cap and pin it securely. Most girls would choose to pin the left side, but you’re free to choose whichever side you want to pin
   
3. Grab the other side and wrap it around your face so that it covers it from the nose down. Then, pin it where it meets your hijab cap. You’ll leave the corner draping down in this case because if you pin it to the cap like the other side, the scarf will fall between the two corners without covering your face.
   
4. If you want, you can pin the corner to the cap as well after you secure the part covering your face. Then, grab the hijab’s longer edge on the same side and wrap it around your head til it reaches the other side, making sure it’s covering your entire head.
   
5. Pin the hijab’s side to the hijab cap; you can pin it at the same place that you pinned the corner earlier if you don’t want too many pins around your head.
   
6. If you want, you can drape the remaining edges on your shoulders or leave them at the front for coverage.

Different Hijab Styles From Different Countries

Like the Saudi women have a distinctive hijab style that they wear, other women from different countries have their own styles too. Here’s a rundown of the most popular hijab styles around the world:

Khimar

The khimar is a very long scarf that drapes down your entire front, covering your chest and torso. It’s popular in the Middle East, especially among women in the working class. The reason it’s popular is that it offers full coverage yet it’s very easy to wrap. 

Turban

A turban is a hijab style that only covers the hair, leaving the neck and chest without coverage. Some women also style them to show their ears with dangling earrings.

Turbans are more popular in African countries because the weather is too hot there, so women wear turbans for breathability.

Amira

Amira is a hijab style that’s popular in Syria and surrounding countries. It’s a hijab that doesn’t need any wrapping or pins to stay on your head. You just put it on, and it stays in place. It kind of looks like a ninja hijab cap. 

It’s popular because it’s highly convenient and easy to wear. However, it’s short, so it doesn’t cover the chest.

Chador

Chador is a hijab style that’s mainly popular in Indonesia and some Arabic countries, like Iraq. It’s not technically a hijab, but rather a full-body outfit. It’s basically an abaya that has a hijab attached to it, and the women put it on without wearing additional articles of clothing.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to wear hijab in Saudi style, why don’t you give it a try and show us? The Saudi niqab looks elegant, and it’ll look even better if you pair it with sharp black eyeliner. Contrary to common belief, it’s actually quite easy to wrap as illustrated in the steps above.