In this guide
- Why five pieces?
- Piece 1: a plain hijab in the colour you wear most
- Piece 2: a plain hijab in a second neutral
- Piece 3: a plain Duja Al-Lail hijab
- Piece 4: a hijab with details for visits
- Piece 5: a spare or a second colour
- The five-piece table
- Washing and caring for the wardrobe
- How to grow the wardrobe
- Common questions
Five hijabs (shaylas) cover most of the week: two plain Cotton Voile hijabs in the colours you wear most, one plain Duja Al-Lail (دجى الليل) hijab, one piece with details for visits, and a fifth piece as a spare for your bag or a second colour. This is a planning suggestion, not a rule, and all five suggested pieces can go in the washing machine.
Why five pieces?
One piece for each regular use, plus one in the wash or in your bag. Five suits an ordinary week, so add or remove pieces according to how often you wash.
Most pieces at Shailah are 214 x 106 cm, and the store's About page says the 106 cm width leaves enough fabric to wrap around the head with the end falling freely over the shoulders. To choose a width and colour for how you live, read the daily hijab guide; this article adds how many pieces to own and how to spread them.
Piece 1: a plain hijab in the colour you wear most
Start with a plain Cotton Voile hijab in the colour you wear more than any other, such as black SD6-224 or dark brown SD6-234. These are home hijabs that stay in place on the head, soft and light and excellent for daily use, and they come in a single width of 106 cm.
Piece 2: a plain hijab in a second neutral
The second piece is in the same fabric but in a neutral that complements the first, such as beige SD6-208 or off-white SD6-226. Together, the two pieces cover most days.
Piece 3: a plain Duja Al-Lail hijab
The third piece gives you a second fabric: a plain Duja Al-Lail hijab, such as DS4-60 or DS2-12. The fabric is comfortable and light, in a practical design suited to home and daily wear. Many of these pieces offer a size option with two widths: small at 69 cm and large at 106 cm, with a length of 214 cm in both, and availability of each width varies from piece to piece. For the difference between the two fabrics, see the hijab fabric guide: Cotton Voile or Duja Al-Lail.
Piece 4: a hijab with details for visits
For visits, one piece with details on the same voile fabric is enough. Two options from the current collections:
- Jourie hijabs (RZ codes): wide home hijabs with roses on the edges, such as RZ6-38 in beige and RZ6-30 in blue; they stay in place on the head and are soft and light.
- Embroidered hijabs (CB1 and BD3): such as the wide embroidered CB1-01 in Tiffany and BD3-05 in off-white; home hijabs with embroidery work on voile.
Choose the one that repeats a colour already in your visiting clothes, so a single piece works with more than one dress.
Piece 5: a spare or a second colour
The fifth piece has two possible uses, so pick one:
- A spare for your bag: a plain piece in the same colour as piece 1, or a Duja Al-Lail piece in the small width where offered, since it is less fabric and smaller when folded. Keep it in a clean fabric pouch.
- A second colour: a plain piece in a new colour that adds another way to coordinate, and keeps one piece in the wash while you wear another.
If you want a separate prayer piece, Shailah's prayer hijabs come in a different size, 215 x 254 cm, and their pages describe the fabric as cotton. For size and how to wear one, see the prayer hijab guide.
The five-piece table
| Piece | Example from the store | Fabric | Width | Washing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Plain in your most-worn colour | SD6-224 or SD6-234 | Cotton Voile | 106 cm | Machine |
| 2. Plain in a second neutral | SD6-208 or SD6-226 | Cotton Voile | 106 cm | Machine |
| 3. Plain in a second fabric | DS4-60 or DS2-12 | Duja Al-Lail | 106 cm or 69 cm | Machine |
| 4. Details for visits | RZ6-38, CB1-01 or BD3-05 | Voile | 106 cm | Machine |
| 5. Spare or second colour | A plain SD or DS piece | Cotton Voile or Duja Al-Lail | 106 cm or 69 cm | Machine |
Washing and caring for the wardrobe
Shailah recommends washing all five pieces in the table in the machine in cold water on a gentle cycle and drying them in the shade, and Shailah's fabric is durable enough to stay with you for years. If you later add a piece whose own title or description names hand work, such as DK5-39 (a wide beige voile hijab with scattered handwork) or MN1-02 (the black Munira hijab with black work), wash it gently by hand in cold water, with no iron over the work. All other pieces can go in the machine. Prayer hijabs go in the machine too, including pieces with hand crochet edges.
How to grow the wardrobe
After the five, add one colour per season rather than buying several pieces at once. Before removing the tags, compare the size and colour with a piece you own, because the return policy accepts an unworn piece with its original tags and packaging within 14 days of receipt, after prior approval.
Common questions
How many hijabs does a woman need for daily use?
Five pieces is a practical suggestion for an ordinary week: two plain Cotton Voile hijabs in the colours you wear most, one plain Duja Al-Lail hijab, one piece with details for visits, and a fifth as a spare or a second colour. Add more if you wash less often or go out more, and fewer if you wear one colour most days.
Which colour should I start my hijab wardrobe with?
Start with the colour you wear more than any other, such as black SD6-224 or dark brown SD6-234, then add a piece in a second neutral, such as beige SD6-208 or off-white SD6-226. All four are Cotton Voile at 106 cm wide, so you wrap them the same way and rotate them through the week.
Do home hijabs come in two widths?
Some do. Most plain Cotton Voile pieces (SD) come in a single size, 106 cm wide and 214 cm long. Many plain Duja Al-Lail pieces (DS) offer a size option with two widths, small at 69 cm and large at 106 cm, with the same length. Availability of each width varies by piece, so check the option on the piece's page.
