By the middle of April, the question in every hijabi’s head is the same: what can I wear that won’t feel like a towel wrapped around my neck? Cotton and jersey hijabs are the two obvious answers. People will swear by either one, and both of them are right, depending on where they live and what their day looks like.
How each one handles heat
Cotton is a natural fibre, and a light woven cotton lets air move through it. It takes up sweat rather than sitting wet against your skin, though it can hold on to that moisture for a while. In dry heat, the kind you get in Delhi or Jaipur in May, that actually feels pleasant, as the damp fabric cools as it dries.
Jersey depends entirely on what it’s made of. A polyester knit in June is misery. Good bamboo and modal jersey is a different thing altogether, feeling cool to the touch and drying faster than most cotton. In sticky coastal humidity, in Mumbai or Chennai, plenty of women find a fine jersey more comfortable, because cotton can stay damp for most of the afternoon.
So humidity matters as much as temperature. Very dry heat tips things towards cotton. Very wet heat tips them towards a light, modal-rich knit.
Hold and fuss
Here jersey wins easily. Its stretch means one wrap and one pin are enough, while cotton usually needs a bit more arranging. On the other hand, matte cotton doesn’t slip, so once it’s set it tends to stay. A woven cotton can crease in a handbag or on a long drive, and it’s the reason crinkle cotton is so popular. The creases are already built in and nobody can tell the difference.
Jersey also clings a little more to the shape of your head and neck. Some women love that neat look, while others prefer the looser fall of cotton, which leaves more air around the neck. That space helps more than you’d think on a hot afternoon.
Colour
Whatever you pick, colour changes how warm you feel outdoors. Black absorbs more of the sun’s heat than pale shades, and on a noon walk you’ll notice. If you’ve got to wear a black hijab, go for the lightest weave you can find. For long stretches outdoors, try off-white, sand or a pale sage in place of your usual dark neutrals.
Which one for which day
- Office with air conditioning: jersey. It looks tidy all day and doesn’t need adjusting.
- Long outdoor day in dry heat: light cotton, in a pale colour.
- Monsoon or humid coast: fine modal jersey, or a modal cotton blend that dries quickly.
- Travel: crinkle cotton, because it’s meant to look lived in.
- Daily prayer at home: cotton, which feels soft, stays put and goes in the wash without any fuss.
Don’t forget the layer underneath
An undercap can undo all your good choices. A thick polyester cap under a beautiful cotton hijab will still leave your scalp soaked. Look for a thin, breathable tube cap, or skip it on days when your scarf has enough grip of its own.
The practical answer
If you can only buy one kind of hijab this summer, think about where you spend most of your day. Inside and on the go, buy a good jersey. Outside and in dry heat, buy cotton. Most of us end up wanting both, and a mix of cotton hijabs and light knits gets you through the hot months without too much drama. Start with one of each, wear them on a really hot day, and your own neck will tell you the rest.
