Also known as a durag or do-rag, the doo-rag has a long (and dark) history in this country. In the last decade of the last century, it was a staple in hip-hop fashion. And you would often see doo-rags worn under fitted baseball caps. But today, the doo-rag has made its way into the high-fashion arena, thanks in part to mega-stars like Rihanna and Solange.

“Over the past few years, celebrities have put durags back on the fashion map. In 2014, Rihanna wore a Swarovski crystal-encrusted durag to match her dress and then two years later, during her VMAs performance of ‘Rude Boy.’ At the 2018 Met Gala, Solange interpreted the durag as a heavenly headpiece with the public statement ‘My God wears a durag.’ The durag is now no longer [just] a protective headwear piece – it’s a chic high-fashion statement that has made its way onto international fashion magazine covers.”

So how should you wear your doo-rag? Well, you just put it on and tie it in the back, right? Hardly. There is a lot more to doo-rags and several ways you can style them.

Let’s take a look.

A Little Doo-rag History

The doo-rag is a bandana-like head covering worn for fashion purposes and to protect hairstyles. Some men wear them to keep braids in place and cut fresh, and others as simply part of an outfit or as a cultural identifier. Although the doo-rag has exploded in popularity among African-American males over the last couple of decades, it’s really not a new phenomenon.

It originates in the nineteenth century and parallels the women’s head wrap. Slaves and then (postellum) agricultural laborers wore head coverings like doo-rags for head protection and to keep their hair back while working. Later, during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and into the Great Depression of the ’30s, the doo-rag grew in popularity as a hairstyle preserver. From about the 1940s on, when African-American men began processing their hair, the doo-rag became an important item for keeping their hair styled at night during sleep.

Then, moving past the mid-point of the twentieth century, wearing a doo-rag became primarily a way to make a fashion statement and as a sign of allegiance to a cause that sought to reverse injustices, as seen in the Black Power Movement of the latter part of the 1960s and into the ’70s. At the end of the last century and into this one, rappers, athletes, and many African-American youth began wearing their doo-rags everywhere they went and not just at night to protect hairstyles.

When the doo-rag went fully mainstream, it found a huge following among athletes, especially pro football players in the National Football League. And go into any hardcore gym, and you’ll find many diehard gym rats sporting doo-rags. And bikers, too – motorcycle enthusiasts of all stripes have appropriated the doo rag as an essential part of their uniform. And then there are those white guys who want to look cool – many of them achieve their cool factor by wearing a doo-rag.

The doo rag, however, has slipped slightly in popularity among African-American males, as seen in fewer rappers sporting a doo-rag in the early 2000s. But they’ve come back strong now.

(Adapted from our book The American Bandana Story, available on Amazon (as well as Apple and B&N) – and ready for you to download today.)

Why Wear a Doo-rag?

A doo-rags can be more than a head covering, fashion accessory, or fashion statement. Here are just a few of the many reasons to wear a doo-rag.

• To keep your hair moist and protected from pollutants
• To protect braids and keep them in place
• To protect your hair from harsh sunlight during the summer
• For a hip fashion look

How to Wear a Doo-rag

So now you know a little about why to wear a doo-rag, but do you know various ways to wear one? Read on to find out.

The Basic Method

This method is probably the popular way to wear a doo-rag, and it’s easy to master. Here’s how . . .

• Center the front edge of the doo-rag in the middle of your forehead so that it is between your eyebrows and hairline, ensuring the fabric completely covers your hair. Make sure it is centered and not uneven.
• With one in each hand, pull the tie ends behind your ears and to the back of your head. Then cross the ends over each other at the back of your head.
• When you get a comfortable feel, bring the ends forward and around the sides of your head and tie them in front. Avoid highly tight knots.
• Pull down the flap left at the back and tuck it under the ends or leave it loose.

The 360 Curves Method

360 waves or curves is a process that trains the hair to lie down into a wavy or curly pattern. It helps the hair remain flat and close to the scalp as it grows. Wearing a doo-rag can assist in this and speed up the 360 process. Here’s how to wear one to do this.

• First, turn the doo-rag inside out so the edge seam won’t make a dent or impression.
• Next, cross the tails/ends at the back of your head, pull them forward and across your forehead, then wrap them to the back again.
• Don’t tie the ends to avoid making lines in your hair. Instead, twist the ends together.
• Finally, put a soft headband over the doo-rag, tucking the flap into the headband, to ensure the doo-rag stays in place.

The Bun Style

For an elegant doo-rag look, try the bun style like this.

• Position the doo-rag firmly and evenly on your head.
• Cross the ends at the back of your head, making sure to pull it firm, but not too tight.
• Free one side and wrap it around the other to form a bun.
• Then, wrap the other side over and tuck it in for an even better bun shape.

The Quick Fix

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for a perfect doo-rag style, try this quick fix .

• With the doo-rag in your hands (not on your head), tie the tails together with a double knot.
• Then, place it on your head.
• And then tuck the flap in.

Bandana as a Doo-rag

If you don’t happen to have a doo-rag, but still want to sport the doo-rag style, you can always use a bandana to accomplish it, as follows . . .

• Take your bandana by two opposite corners, then fold it in half to form a triangle.
• While holding the corners at the base of the triangle, place the folded edge of the bandana against your forehead, ensuring it is in the center.
• Pull the corner ends around your head to meet in the back and over the point of the triangle.
• Then tie the corners together, not too tight but securely enough to keep the bandana doo-rag in place.

Your Source for Quality, Affordable Doo-rags

When you’re ready to purchase your doo-rags, do you know where to get them?

Just go to the bandana source that offers quality doo-rags and great prices coupled with superior customer service – Bandana.com.