How a Jewish Woman can Cover her Hair While Traveling

A few days ago I posted about a shiur I attended in Sydney on why married Jewish women cover their hair and addressing some halachic issues. Now I’d like to address some travel-related questions.

How should I cover my hair while traveling?

While white water rafting, I prefer to wear a scarf because it fits easily under a helmet and doesn't come off easily, even when I remove the helmet!

Putting aside all debates about what is preferable, wigs versus scarves, etc, the best way to cover your hair while traveling long term is generally with a scarf.  This is purely for practicality’s sake.  There are quite a few challenges to traveling with a wig.  First is the cost.  Most wigs are expensive.  Even a “cheap” wig is going to cost say $60-100.  If it is ruined, it is not only a greater financial loss, but you also won’t find it easy to replace in many places.  And if you are really traveling, it really will run the risk of being ruined.  How will it fare in your backpack? How will it do if you’re sleeping with it on while on a train or camping in the desert sand? And what will become of it when you’re wearing your helmet while white water rafting?  Bear in mind that a lot of the best travel experiences require you to cover your hair in strange circumstances, like sleeping or doing something very active.   This is also why a hat is impractical, as it can easily fall or fly off and be lost.  On the other hand, if you do wear a wig it will help you keep your hair covered in cultures where keeping your head covered in a building is seen as disrespectful (as in some native communities in Fiji, for example). But for me, this is not persuasive enough to be so at risk and so inconvenienced. (When I was staying with a native family in Fiji I just explained why I cover my hair and they were very respectful.)  Of course, you could wear a snood or similar and achieve the same effect as a scarf, but they will be hard to replace if they are lost or worn out.  But I have never traveled anywhere in the world where it was impossible to buy a scarf.  Scarves are universally available.  Plus, they are very lightweight so you can always carry a backup or two without adding much weight to your load.  You can also use them to keep warm in cool weather, so they are multipurpose!

Will it be a problem to wear a scarf on my head in other places?

A Buddhist Nepali woman with her hair covered by a sort of cap - she definitely did not think it strange to see my hair covered!

The truth is that covering hair is common in almost every culture in the world.  It is only in Western society that it has fallen out of fashion, and even then, it is relatively recent!  Even in Europe, women used to cover their hair.  From natives in South America to Africa to Hindus to Muslims the world over, women cover their hair.  True, some wear hats, some wear hijabs, and some just toss a scarf loosely over them, but how is not so important.  What matters is that the concept of hair covering is only unusual in Western societies and in other parts of the world, it is a common practice, even if most women today choose not to follow it.  What this means is that people understand the concept of covering hair and will respect it.

Is there a way to cover my hair so that I won’t stand out so much?

Let’s be frank – in most places in the world, you are going to stand out.  What, you’re a white person in a tiny village in Africa and you’re not going to stand out?  You’re going to stand out in Africa, in Asia, in any of the Pacific islands, and even in most of Central and South America, just because you’re white.  If you’re dark, you’ll still stand out everywhere but Africa, plus places like Russia.  No matter what you look like, you’re going to stand out in most exotic places you’re traveling in.  So if you’re wearing a scarf it’s not likely to affect you at all.  In some places I have visited, the locals have never met a white person before, so they just assume it’s part of my culture – and it is.

Native Hindu women from a small village in India all wear their scarves

That said, there are many ways to tie scarves so that it just looks trendy and fashionable.  I often tie my scarves up on top of my head (I have a lot of hair under there) and people think I’ve got dreadlocks! They just think I’m even more of a hippie than I really am. It’s kind of funny.  But the point is that often when I travel people just think I’m covering my hair for fashion.  If I want to project that image, I can.

So go forth and travel and don’t let covering your hair be a concern.  You can travel anywhere and for as long as you want with your hair covered and the worst effect it will have might be when you pass through airport security – although even then the vast majority of the time they never even look at me funny!

Enjoy!