In this guide
With a black abaya, a black hijab gives one continuous look, white, off-white or beige give a sharp or soft contrast, and red or burgundy give a stronger presence. Start with the piece you wear most, then choose a colour that repeats it, complements it or stands out against it. The images in this guide illustrate how each Shailah hijab (shayla) looks when worn.
How to choose a hijab colour: three steps
- Start with the fixed piece: the black abaya or the dress you will wear the hijab with most often.
- Decide how the two colours relate: the same colour family for a calm look, a colour repeated from the pattern or decoration of your outfit, or a different colour that stands out.
- Check the piece itself: the colour named in the description, the cloth colour against the colour of its decoration, the fabric and the size.
The black hijab: three options
Plain Cotton Voile: the black SD6-224, whose page describes it as soft, light, staying in place and suited to everyday use.
Plain Duja Al-Lail: black is one of the plain Duja Al-Lail colours, though its availability changes over time, in pieces 69 or 106 cm wide depending on the piece, and its pages describe the fabric as comfortable, light and suited to home and everyday wear.
With work along the edges for occasions: Munira MN1-02 in black with black work on all four edges, and Layal LL-03 in black with white beads and stones on all four edges. Both are Duja Al-Lail with hand work, and each comes in two sizes.
Black, white, off-white and beige
These are four plain Cotton Voile hijabs of the same size, 214 cm long and 106 cm wide according to their descriptions, shown against the same backdrop:
- Black: with a black abaya it gives one continuous look from head to hem.
- White: the lightest of the four in these photos, and it stands out clearly against a black abaya.
- Off-white: looks warmer than white in the photo, closer to cream, so it reads softer against black.
- Beige: warmer and a little darker than off-white, for a light colour that does not read as white.
White and off-white with detailing
- RZ6-43, off-white: a Jourie hijab with roses along the edges, in voile; its page describes it as soft, light and staying in place.
- DK1-144, white: the Nujoom Al Sama ("Stars of the Sky") munatharat hijab, with scattered beads on voile.
Shade names can also vary from piece to piece. The description of Hab Al-Saad SHQ-04, from the bridal collection, names its Duja Al-Lail fabric as ivory and adds off-white in brackets. So do not rely on the name alone; compare the photos.
Here the cloth is ivory and the detail appears gold in the photo, so do not judge a piece's colour by its decoration.
A single layer of a light colour usually shows more of what is underneath, so check a white piece in daylight in one layer and then two before you wear it and before you remove the tags: our refund policy accepts unworn pieces with their tags and packaging within 14 days, after prior approval.
Three practical pairings
These are styling suggestions from the Shailah team, not rules. Choose what you like and what suits the occasion.
A black abaya with a light plain hijab
A plain white, off-white or beige hijab stands out against a black abaya and works at home and on visits. Choose white for a sharper contrast, off-white or beige for a softer one. Examples: SD6-225, SD6-226 and SD6-208 in the photos above.
A black abaya with a black hijab with coloured roses
A black hijab with coloured roses along the edges keeps the one-colour look with the abaya while the roses bring colour near the face. On the Jourie RZ5-22 the cloth is black, and the photo shows red and pink roses with green leaves along the edges. For a more coordinated look, repeat one of the rose colours in another piece you wear.
A light dress with a deep-coloured hijab
With a white or light dress, a burgundy hijab gives a clear contrast without being as bright as red. Both photos show the Jourie RZ7-47: burgundy cloth with lighter roses along the edges, worn over a white dress.
Red and burgundy: what is the difference?
These two plain Cotton Voile hijabs are the same size and are shown in the same pose against the same backdrop:
| Compare | Red | Burgundy |
|---|---|---|
| Shade in the photo | Lighter and brighter | Deeper, leaning towards brown |
| Names in our descriptions | Red | Burgundy, also called maroon in some descriptions |
| With a black abaya | Stands out clearly | A softer contrast |
| Plain examples | SD6-232 | SD6-233 |
| Examples with roses along the edges | RZ7-50 with light roses | RZ7-47 with light roses |
On pieces with roses, the roses can differ from the cloth, as on RZ7-50: the cloth is red and the roses along the edges are in lighter tones.
Care by piece
Pieces whose title or description names hand work, such as MN1-02, LL-03 and SHQ-04 in this guide, are washed gently by hand in cold water and dried in the shade, with no iron over beads or work. Most other pieces can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle, including plain Cotton Voile and Duja Al-Lail pieces and Jourie RZ hijabs. For the beaded munatharat DK1-144, follow the washing method on its own page. Shailah recommends drying them in the shade; its fabric is durable and stays with you for years.
Before you order: check the piece itself
- Colour name: read the colour in the product description; it is the reference when a photo looks different on your screen.
- Cloth and decoration: identify the colour of the cloth and of its roses or decoration separately.
- Fabric and size: compare them as in our hijab fabric guide.
- Use: for home and work see the everyday hijab guide; for occasions and gifts see the occasion and gift guide.
Frequently asked questions
What black hijab options does Shailah have?
For everyday wear choose a plain piece: SD6-224 in Cotton Voile, or a black piece from the plain Duja Al-Lail collection when one is in stock, 69 or 106 cm wide depending on the piece. For occasions there are black Duja Al-Lail pieces with work on all four edges, such as Munira MN1-02 with black work and Layal LL-03 with white work.
What is the difference between white, off-white and ivory?
Off-white is a warmer shade than white, closer to cream, as the photos of white SD6-225 and off-white SD6-226 show. Off-white and ivory can name the same shade: the description of SHQ-04 says ivory and adds off-white. Compare the photos and each description.
What is the difference between red and burgundy?
Red is lighter and brighter; burgundy is deeper and leans towards brown, and some descriptions call burgundy maroon. Compare red SD6-232 and burgundy SD6-233 side by side above; both are shown in the same pose against the same backdrop.
Which hijab colour goes with a black abaya?
Any colour can work; the question is the look you want. Black gives one continuous look, white, off-white or beige give a sharp or soft contrast, and red or burgundy make the hijab stand out more. A black hijab with coloured roses along the edges combines the one-colour look with colour near the face.
Is a white hijab see-through?
A single layer of a light colour usually shows more of what is underneath than a dark one, and a doubled front fold adds coverage. Check a white piece in daylight in one layer and then two before you wear it and before removing its tags, so a return within 14 days stays possible if it does not suit you.
Most of the plain pieces in this guide are Cotton Voile: Browse plain Cotton Voile hijabs
