5 things you should consider if you’re planning to wear hijab.

We want to wish a happy World Hijab Day to all hijabi beauties. Today is about raising awareness of why many Muslim women choose to wear the hijab, and to encourage women of all cultures and faiths to try wearing hijab for a day. World hijab day is all about education, and building a greater understanding of Muslim religion and culture.

Whether you’re planning to don hijab for a day in solidarity with your Muslim sisters, or thinking about making hijab a permanent part of your life, you probably have questions. And we have answers! This guide will walk you through some things you should know if you’re considering wearing a hijab.

Know why you’re wearing Hijab, make sure you’re ready.

Everyone has their own personal reason for deciding to veil. For some Muslim women, veiling is expressly religious act– a sign of their devotion to god. Wearing a hijab is a symbol of modesty: covering the outward so that (you) and others will focus on what is inside. For others, hijab is simply worn for cultural instead of religious reasons. Some women wear hijab for one or two of these reasons. For others, it's all three.

If you’re considering wearing hijab, you fully understand your reasons for veiling. What is your motive? Take time to study your feelings and your intentions. Research what the Qura’an and Hadiths have to say on the subject of veiling. Reach out to hijabi women that you respect and seek their advice. Hearing their story and listening to their advice will likely help you on your personal journey.

Overcome your fears

Wearing hijab is an intimidating life change. Like it or not, wearing a hijab becomes a part of your identity–it's often the first thing people notice about you. There are difficulties and stigmas attached to wearing hijab. For example, dealing with hot summers while remaining veiled. It might not seem like a big deal to women who have been veiling all their lives, but to newcomers it can be a serious hurdle. There are other fears associated with veiling–like stigmatisation. Will a potential employer pass you up for that job because you’re veiled?
Another fear for some hijabi women is finding a husband.Finding a soulmate is a big deal. It’s already difficult for unveiled women to find one. As a veiled woman, the criteria for finding a husband is perhaps even higher. If you’ve been looking for a smart, outgoing man who is a good fit for you and your family, now you have to find one who is religious and accepting of a hijabi lifestyle–that means changing the way you enjoy things like beaches and nightlife.

You have to understand that God will provide whatever you’re intended to have. Whatever is written for you will come to pass. In God’s time, you will be able to enjoy everything that you want in life. You have to face your fears and uncertainties with a spirit of faith and bravery.

Find a support network

Transitioning into Hijab isn’t something you want to go through alone. Many people have their families–grandmothers, mothers, sisters, to support them as they begin to veil at a young age. If you’re deciding to veil later in life, or don’t come from a veiling family, then you might not have that. Find somebody to confide in who can  advise you and encourage you. They don’t even have to be hijabi themselves!

As you move forward, it's always comforting to have a trusted friend to lean on when things get hard. If you’re not sure where to find that friend, try your local mosque, or even online groups!

Don’t worry about style

If you’re considering wearing a hijab for the first time, you might be worried about how you’re going to style yourself. The good news is, women have been finding creative ways to style modestly for centuries–and that hasn’t changed. The truth is, it’s going to be difficult at first to find your style. Don’t worry. There are plenty of online resources with styling tips for hijabi women–you can get creative and stay trendy, while keeping that modest appearance that you’re looking for. You can even book a style consultant to work with you one-on-one to develop your personal style.  At Bokitta, we offer a line of trendy modest clothes that are easy to match to all sorts of hijabs. We also have a number of in-house guides on finding your style, and creating modest looks.

Why not test it out first?

It only takes one trial outside the house to get a sense for how hijab feels. Before committing to wearing hijab, you can simply take it for a test run. Try wearing hijab out one day while you run errands to see how it feels. You might be surprised at how veiling makes you feel. Maybe you’ll feel more confident. Maybe people will treat you with a higher degree of respect. You’ll never know until you try. You can transition into veiling at your own speed–you’re not on anyone’s timeline but your own. At first, you might want to wear hijab some days, but not others.  Deciding to veil is a very personal decision. Take your time, and trust yourself.