Friday, September 6, 2013

How To Wrap A Turban Classic Style

By Kate McMahon


In several Middle Eastern and Asian cultures, the people often wear distinctive head coverings that show social standing or a religious belief or simply because they like the way it looks. One such item is formed by creatively twisting a long length of cloth around the skull several times to make a particular style. This is how to wrap a turban in a simple standard manner.

To begin one need to get a snug fitting cotton fabric cap to place over the head. They are generally white, brimless and should be free of any time of decoration including jewels, lace or embroidery. This item is necessary to keep one's hair from getting tangled up while the cloth is being twisted around, and to keep the layers from slipping so that the final look is neat and orderly.

The cloth that will be wrapped into formation should be between six and nine feet long and a yard wide. It may be made from cotton, silk, linen or any other fabric of personal choice depending if one is going for function or aesthetics. Prepare it by folding it lengthwise in half four times so that it ends up being just 4 inches wide.

Holding one of the four inch ends against the lower portion of one's neck on the right hand side, the fabric will be pulled up over the head towards the left. This first pass should be high above the ear and then across the forehead. As one continues around, they should come in close to the right ear and follow the hairline on the neck.

On the second round the upward wrap should be right behind one's ear, swinging up across the front of the face. The intersection of the passes should form an "X" in the center of the forehead right at the hairline's base. Keep in mind that until one has had a bit of time to practice, this first part may seem a little awkward but it will quickly become much easier.

Repeat the wrapping action but with each new pass, leave about one inch of under layer showing beneath the top one. With each rounding the covering will start to take shape, becoming higher and wider. This is how the classic look of many turban styles is achieved.

After the last bit of cloth has been placed, take the edges and tuck them up under those beneath them. A section of the under cap will still be visible right in the center part of the head, so there is no need to worry that something was done incorrectly. Locate the very first layer of fabric and carefully work to release it, feeling the pull a the nape as it pulls up and becomes free.

Open this loose section up and flatten it out, smoothing it over the exposed area of under cap. Take all the loose edges and tuck them firmly underneath the circle of cloth surrounding the center. These instructions on how to wrap a turban will help even a beginner to create an authentic looking head piece in the classic style.




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