Shemagh, pronounced "schmog", is a Middle Eastern shawl or cloth that is usually used to protect the head and face from harsh weather. This cloth was also popular with British and American soldiers, especially those assigned to the Middle East, and was also worn by people who liked to spend their time outside and those who prepared themselves for the worst conditions. Shemaghs are also worn for style and there are several ways to wear them. Here are some ways to wrap shemagh that you can try if you're new to this type of fabric.
Step
Method 1 of 5: A Common Headband and Face Cover Combination
Step 1. Fold the shemagh into a triangle
With the shemagh open, connect one corner of the fabric with another corner on the diagonal, so that the fabric folds in half and forms a triangle.
This type of coiling is a good option if you want to use the shemagh to protect your head and face from the cold wind or the hot sun
Step 2. Drape the cloth over the top of your head, just above your forehead
Pull the folded end of the shemagh over your hair, and let the ends hang halfway between your hairline and your eyebrows.
- The rest should hang over the top of your head to your back, and not cover your face.
- If you've ever learned to wind a bandana, a good way to think about what you should do from this position is to imagine you're going to make a very large bandana.
- For this type of twist, the two hanging ends of the shemagh should be parallel, so trim the ends until the center is on the top of your head.
Step 3. Wrap the right end of the shemagh under your chin
Pull the right end of the shemagh to the left so that your chin rests on it, then pull it over your shoulders toward the back of your head.
Hold in place with your left hand. At the same time, tug at the left end of the fabric to prevent the held end from loosening. This type of fabric must be held firmly in order to work effectively
Step 4. Wrap the left end of the shemagh to cover your face
Grasp the left end of the folded fabric with your right hand and pull it across your face toward your right. However, unlike the right end, this one should cover your nose and mouth, not under your chin.
Like the right end, pull the left end over the right shoulder and toward the back of the head
Step 5. Tie the two ends that are already behind your head
Make a dead knot or tie it twice to hold the fabric in place. This tie should be at the back of your head, roughly in the middle, and should be tight enough to keep the cloth over your face.
Don't tie it so tightly that it's hard for you to breathe or move your head, but make sure the fabric that covers all parts of your neck, face and head isn't loose
Step 6. Adjust the shemagh as needed
Arrange the fabric just enough to cover the top of your head and the bottom of your face without covering your eyes. After this step, the winding is complete.
One of the important advantages of this type of winding is that it is quite flexible. You can pull the bottom up to make a simple headgear, and you can also pull the two loops down so they sit around your neck
Method 2 of 5: Tactical Headband and Face Cover Combination
Step 1. Fold the shemagh into a triangle
When open, attach one end to the other diagonally opposite, so that the fabric folds into a triangle.
This way of tying the shemagh is a great way if you want to use it to protect your head and face from the cold wind and the hot sun, especially so that you don't breathe dirty, gritty or dusty air
Step 2. Place the folded cloth on your head, just above your forehead
Pull the two ends of the fabric that become the 'legs' of the triangle towards both sides of the face and drape it in the middle of your hairline and eyebrows.
- The rest of the cloth should cover the back of your head, from top to back, rather than covering your face.
- Give an imaginary point to divide the length of the overhead section of the fabric into 3 to 1 and position the two ends according to that point. Especially for this type of winding, the right end must be longer than the left end.
- If you've ever learned how to wind a bandana, here's some helpful advice: hold the cloth over your head and pretend like you're about to tie a very large bandana.
Step 3. Pull the shorter end under the chin
Wrap the left end around your head, under your chin and toward the back of your head.
Hold the end with your right hand. Don't just tuck it under the cloth that covers the back of your head, but position it in front of the right end
Step 4. Wrap the longer end around the face
Pull the right end with your left hand across your face so that it covers your nose and mouth.
Step 5. Pull the right end of the fabric towards the top of the head
Continue to wrap around the longer end by pulling it over your head. This end should be above your head and the other end on the right side of your face.
While doing this, your right hand should still hold the left end in place
Step 6. Tie the two ends that meet above the head
Tie the die twice to hold the fabric in place.
Don't tie it so tightly that you can't breathe or move your head, but make sure that the fabric doesn't loosen and stays in place on your neck, face, and head
Step 7. Adjust the windings if needed
Adjust the width of the cloth used as needed so that it wraps around the head and lower part of the face without covering the eyes. After this the winding is complete.
The main drawback of this type of coil is the way it is wrapped, which makes the fabric difficult to pull down and become a neck scarf. However, this type of coil is strong and provides better protection for your head than the traditional or casual type of coil mentioned here
Method 3 of 5: As a Loose Neck Scarf
Step 1. Fold the shemagh into a triangle
In the open state, connect one end to the other in a diagonal position. This way the fabric will be folded and form a triangle.
This way of coiling may not be very practical and not that which is commonly used by users, but it is still a simple and trendy way to wear the shemagh
Step 2. Place the cloth in front of the lower part of the face
One end of the folded cloth should cover the nose and mouth. After doing this, the other two ends should be on either side of your face, and the first end will hang in front of your face, covering your neck and the top of your chest.
Step 3. Bring both ends around the neck and tie them together
Pull the ends on the left and right of your face toward the back of your neck over your shoulders. Tie in place.
- As you pull the two ends of the fabric behind your neck, keep them close to your face so that the fabric covering your face doesn't come loose.
- Tie the two ends that are now behind your neck just once. The tie should be strong enough to hold the fabric in place, but not so strong that you can't breathe or have trouble moving your head.
Step 4. Let the rest of the knot hang in front of your chest
Bring the two ends of the knot back over your shoulders and drape it over your chest. You don't have to tuck or hide it.
Step 5. Adjust the fabric as needed
Gently pull the top of the fabric covering your nose and mouth down to the bottom of your chin and around your neck.
This step indicates the winding is complete
Method 4 of 5: As a Neat Scarf
Step 1. Fold the shemagh into a triangle
In the open, match one corner of the fabric with the other diagonally, so that the fabric is folded in half to form a triangle.
Like the previous method, this method is also not very practical, and is not common for users of shemagh, but it is still a simple and trendy method that can be used
Step 2. Cover the lower part of your face with the folded shemagh
Both ends should cover your nose and mouth. From here, two corners of the fabric should appear on either side of the face and the other corner hanging down in front of the face, touching the neck and slightly above the chest.
Step 3. Pull both ends behind your head around your neck without tying it
Bring the ends that are on either side of the face toward the back of the neck over the shoulders. Once the two are behind the neck, cross them and then bring them back to the front.
- When wrapping the fabric around your neck, hold the ends together so that the fabric covering your face stays taut and doesn't come loose.
- Especially for this model, you don't have to tie the fabric behind your neck. You only need to make the two ends cross once. While keeping both ends firmly pulled, bring the ends over the different sides of the shoulder from the side where they came toward your chest. Don't remove both ends.
Step 4. Tie both ends at the front
In a tense state, tie the two ends that are on your chest. Hide the small end of the knot behind the part of the fabric that covers your face and neck or any remaining part.
- When tying, position both ends approximately in the middle of the neck and tie only once.
- The knot should be tight enough to hold the fabric in place, but not so tight that you can hardly breathe or move your head.
Step 5. Tuck the ends of the shemagh into your jacket
If you are wearing a jacket, blazer, or other outerwear, unbutton the top or lower the zipper from the top end and tuck the ends of the fabric inside. Pull the zipper or button back to cover it and create a neater appearance.
Of course, this step is optional. If you like, you can let the ends hang over the jacket. By doing this, you will appear more relaxed
Step 6. Adjust the length of the fabric as needed
Gently pull the top edge of the fabric down so that the part that covers your nose and mouth is under your chin and around your neck.
With this step, the winding is complete
Method 5 of 5: As a Scarf for a "Banda"
Step 1. Fold the shemagh in half to form a triangle
Step 2. Place it right in front of your face (like a bandana) and hold the edges together
Step 3. Pull the two ends of the fabric behind your neck until the triangular part covers half of your face, then pull the ends back to the front (untied)
Step 4. Pull back again and tie tightly
Adjust the tightness of the bond as needed, as long as it doesn't choke the neck.
