Headscarf

Headscarves or head scarves are scarves covering most or all of the top of a woman's hair and her head, leaving the face uncovered. A headscarf is formed of a triangular or square cloth folded into a triangle piece of fabric, with which the head is covered. Apart from the keffiyeh of the Middle East, headscarves worn by men are much less common and usually for practical purposes.

Headscarves may be worn for a variety of purposes, such as protection of the head or hair from rain, wind, dirt, cold, warmth, for sanitation, for fashion, recognition or social distinction; with religious significance, to hide baldness, out of modesty, or other forms of social convention. Headscarves are now mainly worn for practical, cultural or religious reasons.

Until the latter 20th century, headscarves were commonly worn by women in many parts of the Southwestern Asia, Europe, North Africa, and the Americas, as well as some other parts of the world. In recent decades, headscarves, like hats, have fallen out of favor in Western culture. They are still, though, common in many rural areas of Eastern Europe as well as many areas of the Middle East.

Headscarves may specifically have a religious significance or function, or be expected as a matter of social custom, the two very often being confused.

Headscarves and veils are commonly used by observant Muslim women and girls, and required by law for women and girls in certain Muslim countries (Saudi Arabia for example). The Muslim religious dress varies, and various cultures include burqa, chador, niqab, dupatta, or others. The Arabic word hijab, which refers to modest behaviour or dress in general, is often used to describe the headscarf worn by Muslim women and girls.

Until at least the Renaissance, some form of cover for the hair was regarded as appropriate for married women in most European cultures, to agree with contemporary notions of modesty and as an indication of married status; the "matron's cap" is a general term for these. For un-married women it was considered appropriate to display their hair to attract suitors. The social elite, especially royalty, generally did not feel bound by these customs, unless they were widows. To some extent, the covering of the head depended on where the woman was; indoors and at home it was less worn, but it was usual outside and on formal occasions, especially in church. After the Renaisssance, the custom slowly declined, but the Roman Catholic Church required all women to wear at least a veil over their hair in church until the 1960s; these are often called mantillas, from the Spanish. Women meeting the Pope in formal audiences are still expected to wear them. Martin Luther and John Calvin also expected women to cover their heads in church.

...
Wikipedia