To the onlooker all head gear seems to look the same, in particular when you begin to generalize and stereotype all women wearing hijabs as one of a kind. However the truth cannot be farther than that. As with any other form of dressing patterns, the Hijabs have many variations and styles that are based on many factors. These include geographical region, religious sect and social status of the wearer.
The most common type of hijabs is the square ones, which are folded into a triangle and placed over the head. It is secured under the chin with the help of a pin and the ends are left to hang over the shoulders and back. The other type that is ordinarily used is known as the long hijabs. It consists of a large rectangular piece of cloth secured around the face. It is similar to the scarves worn in the western world. Both these styles are versatile and used all around the world regardless of the origin of the wearer. These are easily available in an assortment of colours, prints and fabrics which allows the user to select the one which suits their needs the best.
The most ideal style of hijabs for working women is often referred to as a one piece. It is a tube like piece of cloth, which fits over the head on one end and the other end is wrapped over the tube around the head and face. It is popular because of its ease of use and because it stays in place even for a long period of time.
Another popular style of hijabs is the Egyptian one, which consists of two pieces. The inner piece is similar to the long Hijab and is worn around the face. The outer portion is twisted around the placed at the top of the head, but both these pieces are joined together at the forehead. Similar to the Egyptian ones are the Kuwaiti style hijabs. They also consist of two pieces but the second piece is placed between the neck and chin area. It is then further wrapped around the first portion to create a neat and polished look.
These are just a few types that can be seen worn by women all around the world. Regionally there are certain differences in the headscarves worn by Lebanese, Moroccan, Jordanian and Turkish women which set them apart from each other in a crowd.