In this guide
The types of shayla at Shailah can be read from the product code before you open the description. Only two codes name the fabric directly: SD is plain Cotton Voile and DS is plain Duja Al-Lail (دجى الليل). The other codes name the family: CB1 embroidered, RZ Jourie with roses on the edges, DK munatharat and KS hand crochet, and each description gives the fabric.
Why the hijab code matters
Product names are long and similar, but the code is short and fixed. Once you know that SD is plain Cotton Voile and DS is plain Duja Al-Lail, you can tell the fabric from the collection listing before opening any page. And when you contact the Shailah team through the contact page, giving the code, such as SD6-225, is enough instead of describing the piece.
Watch the order of the letters: SD and DS are the codes of two different fabrics.
Home hijab types at a glance
| Code | Type as in the title | Fabric | Washing | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD | Plain Cotton Voile hijab | Cotton Voile (قطن ويل), set by the code | Machine | SD6-225 white |
| DS | Plain Duja Al-Lail hijab | Duja Al-Lail, set by the code | Machine | DS4-76 |
| CB1 | Embroidered hijab | Voile in the example's description | Machine | CB1-01 tiffany |
| RZ | Wide Jourie Rose home hijab | Voile in the example's description | Machine | RZ6-36 red |
| DK | Munatharat, from the Scattered Embroidery Hijabs collection | Voile in both examples' descriptions | By piece | DK7-75 hand, DK1-144 per its page |
| KS | Hand crochet hijab | Voile in the example's description | Machine | KS2-11 off-white |
Some other codes whose title carries مطرزة (embroidered), such as NC1-04 «شيلة مطرزة تركوازية», belong to the embroidery family and are machine washable too. DT pieces, titled «شيلة مطرزة على طرف واحد» (embroidered on one edge), name hand work in their description, so they are washed by hand. The occasion hijab TC1-03 is Duja Al-Lail with hand work on two edges, and it is washed by hand.
What sets each family apart:
- SD and DS: plain pieces; the difference between them is the fabric.
- CB1: «شيلة بيت شغل تطريز», a home hijab with embroidery work on voile, as on CB1-01.
- RZ: roses on the edges; RZ6-36 is a home hijab that stays in place on the head, soft and light, excellent for daily use.
- DK: munatharat, small motifs scattered across the fabric rather than concentrated on the edges, some with beads or stones; these are the pieces of the Scattered Embroidery Hijabs collection (حجاب منثرات بشغل يدوي). The description of DK7-75 says «شغل يدوي منثرات» (hand munatharat work), and that of DK1-144 says «منثرات خرز» (beaded munatharat).
- KS: hand crochet on light voile, for daily use as on KS2-11.
What "home hijab" means in a description
The words شيلة بيت (home hijab) on SD, RZ and CB1 pieces, and "suited to home and daily wear" on DS pieces, mean a piece for everyday comfort: light, staying in place on the head, easy to wear and wash. The same pieces are worn outside too, for work and daily errands. To compare pieces by use, read the daily hijab guide.
Home hijab size
Most home hijabs are 214 x 106 cm, and that width leaves enough fabric to wrap around the head with the end falling over the shoulders. Many plain Duja Al-Lail DS pieces, and the crochet KS1-09, also offer a 69 cm width; the difference is width only. Some older descriptions give the size as «الطول وارين وربع، العرض وار وربع» (in yards), so rely on the centimetre figure in the «حجم الشيلة» option.
Caring for a home hijab by type
The rule follows the piece, not the family: pieces whose title or description names hand work are washed gently by hand, while hand crochet and all other pieces can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle.
- Machine: SD, DS, CB1, NC1, RZ and KS. Shailah recommends a gentle cycle in cold water and drying in the shade; Shailah's fabric takes repeated washing and stays with you for years.
- As the product page says: beaded munatharat such as DK1-144; follow the washing method on the piece's own page.
- By hand: DK7-75, TC1-03 and any piece whose title or description names hand work: a gentle wash in cold water, dry in the shade, and no iron over beads or work. Details are in the care guide for embroidered and crochet hijabs.
Common questions
What is the difference between a home hijab and an occasion hijab?
Home hijabs are pieces for comfort and daily use, plain or with light details, light and staying in place on the head, and most are machine washable. Occasion hijabs such as TC1-03 are Duja Al-Lail with hand work on two edges, and they are washed by hand to protect the work. The description sets the use, not the collection name alone.
What do the letters in a hijab code mean?
The first letters set the family: SD plain Cotton Voile, DS plain Duja Al-Lail, CB1 embroidered, RZ Jourie with roses on the edges, DK munatharat, and KS hand crochet. Only SD and DS also name the fabric. The number after the letters identifies the piece and colour within the family, so give the full code when you contact Shailah about a piece.
What is the difference between SD and DS in a shayla code?
SD is a plain Cotton Voile shayla and DS a plain Duja Al-Lail shayla: the same two letters in a different order mark two different fabrics. Most plain SD pieces are 106 cm wide, and many DS pieces offer two widths, 69 cm and 106 cm.
What is munatharat?
Munatharat (منثرات) means small motifs scattered across the fabric rather than concentrated on the edges. At Shailah these pieces carry the code DK and sit in the Scattered Embroidery Hijabs collection, including DK7-75 «شيلة بيت منثرات - قطن ويل». Washing follows the piece: DK7-75, described as hand munatharat work, is washed by hand, while for the beaded DK1-144 you follow the washing method on its own page.
Which type should I choose first?
Start with a plain SD Cotton Voile piece in the colour you wear most. It is the easiest to wear, it is machine washable, and it gives you a reference to compare the other types against before adding a piece with details or hand work.
