01 Mar Wearing Durags

What is a Durag?

A durag is a versatile fabric that is worn around the head. Most durags have a long string and is meant to be worn around the top portion of the head, covering all of the hair. The fabric is worn by Americans with long, thick, or coarse hair. This group of Americans usually includes African Americans but can include other ethnicities. It is sometimes used to prevent the hair from drying out by acting as a barrier to seal the hair’s moisture. Other times it is used as a styling headgear to create a style known as waves, which as the names imply, creates a wave pattern in the hair. Durags date back to the 19th century. They were originally made of women’s stocking to hold down hair that was chemically processed. Over time, they became a method for preserving the hair from the elements. Today, they are worn among many young Americans for both fashion and hair styling purposes. Many musical artists such as rappers are known for wearing durags. Due to their major influence in the music industry, durags have gained popularity in other countries. Some of these countries include Mexico, Columbia, China, and Japan.

How to Use a Durag

A silk durag is most effective on thick, coarse hair, which is found most commonly in people of African descent. This is due to the nature of the hair. Thicker hair will conform to a shape more easily and hold its shape longer. A durag can be worn any time of the day, but wearing them overnight is often preferred. Before wearing a durag, the hair should moisturized with water or a water-based produced. Then the moisture should be sealed with an oil, or styled with a styling cream, such as pomade. The hair is more likely to stay in place if it moisturized and softened. After moisturizing, the hair should be brushed evenly in all directions with a wave brush for about two minutes in the direction of hair growth. This will train the hair to grow in the wave pattern. After brushing, the durag is wrapped around the head, and tied in the back to secure it in place. Usually, the durag should be worn for at least several hours to let the hair set. Afterwards, the durag is removed and the process is repeated until the hair pattern begins to change, forming waves. A good amount of care must be taken to ensure that the style is properly achieved and maintained. This includes modifying hair washing techniques because recklessly scrubbing the scalp could alter the hair pattern. Instead, a gentle scrub is advised. Washing shouldn’t be too frequent because this can also disrupt the pattern. It is important to protect the hair from harsh conditions such as wind, or rain to maintain the style.