Salaam VELA fam! Today we will be discussing a commonly asked question regarding “How Does One Style Your Hijab When Playing Sports?” We have seen famous hijabis such as Ibtihaj Muhammad-American sabre fencer, and Tina Rahimi- Australian boxer, and many people, hijabis included, wonder how to wear the right hijab when engaging in competitive sports. Finding the right material and styling tips are important, as well as maintaining scalp and hair health for athletic hijabis.

Mistakes that Hijabis Make When Playing Sports

Material

It’s important to wear the right material especially when you are sweating and engaging in a vigorous workout. The most common mistake is not wearing the right material, and I have also found myself to be a victim of playing a sport while wearing the wrong material. First and foremost, one should be wearing a light jersey or a modal hijab. These fabrics are light and airy and can also absorb sweat. It’s important to wash your hijabs after you workout or play a game so that your odor doesn’t stick to the scarf. In addition, you want to make sure you wear a cotton undercap or a mesh undercap so that your hair can breathe while you exercise.

Modest Gym Apparel

In the winter, our goal is to bundle up and wear more layers and for hijabis it is easier to find modest fashion finds- cardigans, cats, jackets, sweaters, etc. However, when you are working out you don’t want to wear too many layers because this will hinder you from being flexible and agile on the field or on the court. Modesty is a vital component of fashion for hijabis and so it is a better idea to wear a full sleeve tee and loose yoga pants when playing sports, instead of wearing a full sleeve tee under a t-shirt because you will begin to feel hot much quicker and won’t be able to perform as well.

Sport Tips for Hijabis

Let’s talk about some tips for hijabis in athletics!

Invest in arm sleeves

If you want to wear a t-shirt or even a short-sleeved jersey and are worried about covering your arms, you should definitely purchase sleeves instead of having to wear a full sleeve top underneath. 

Breathable Undercaps

My favorite undercap is VELA’s Feather Undercap. This undercap has a cotton headpiece attached with a mesh cap at the back which is perfect to allow your hair to breathe while burning calories!

VELA’s Ruching Lite Hijab

This hijab is perfect for any workout and yoga session. Not only is it an instant hijab, meaning it takes only a few seconds to wear, it is made of a lightweight jersey fabric and is available in many shades including brown, grey, and pink! This hijab also has strings attached on both sides, giving it a “ruched” appearance and this is what you can adjust to make the hijab tighter or looser around you. Another benefit about this hijab is that it is a perfect fit and you don’t have to worry about wearing an undercap!