A
do-rag, also spelled
doo-rag, du-rag, durag is a piece of cloth used to cover the head. According to the
Oxford English DictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press , is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language...
and
Merriam-WebsterMerriam–Webster, which was originally the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is an American company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants of Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language...
, however, the term derives from
do as in
hairdoA hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to a styling of head hair. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical considerations also influence some hairstyles...
: a do-rag is often worn to protect a
processed hairstyleA relaxer is a type of lotion or cream which makes hair less curly, and easier to straighten by chemically "relaxing" the natural curls. The active agent is usually a strong alkali, although some formulations are based on ammonium thioglycolate instead....
during sleep. A popular folk etymology claims that the term derives from d
rive-on rag, a term first used by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War to refer to a
muslinMuslin is a type of finely-woven cotton fabric, introduced to Europe from the Middle East in the 17th century. It became very popular at the end of the 18th century in France. Muslin is most typically a closely-woven unbleached or white cloth, produced from corded cotton yarn. Wide muslin is called...
bandage often used as a head covering.
The do-rag was popular throughout many different eras.
A
do-rag, also spelled
doo-rag, du-rag, durag is a piece of cloth used to cover the head. According to the
Oxford English DictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press , is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language...
and
Merriam-WebsterMerriam–Webster, which was originally the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is an American company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants of Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language...
, however, the term derives from
do as in
hairdoA hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to a styling of head hair. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical considerations also influence some hairstyles...
: a do-rag is often worn to protect a
processed hairstyleA relaxer is a type of lotion or cream which makes hair less curly, and easier to straighten by chemically "relaxing" the natural curls. The active agent is usually a strong alkali, although some formulations are based on ammonium thioglycolate instead....
during sleep. A popular folk etymology claims that the term derives from d
rive-on rag, a term first used by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War to refer to a
muslinMuslin is a type of finely-woven cotton fabric, introduced to Europe from the Middle East in the 17th century. It became very popular at the end of the 18th century in France. Muslin is most typically a closely-woven unbleached or white cloth, produced from corded cotton yarn. Wide muslin is called...
bandage often used as a head covering.
History
The do-rag was popular throughout many different eras. A popular misconception is that the do-rag is a recent African-American trend, but, in actuality, for centuries, men and women of African descent from around the world have used various fabrics and scarves to cover their hair. The custom is known also from ancient China, where wrapping the hair (often held in a topknot) was common during physical labour and military service.
Large silk handkerchiefs (or
bandanaBandana can refer to:*Another name for a kerchief*Bandana *Bandana *Bandana, Kentucky, a small town in the United States...
s) are frequently found in Latin America as well, though they are typically worn under a
Panama hatA Panama hat or just Panama is a traditional brimmed hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant...
. They are very commonly seen in
Dominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries...
,
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands...
,
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
,
ColombiaColombia , officially the Republic of Colombia , is a constitutional republic in northwestern South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the northwest by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean...
,
HaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Creole- and French-speaking Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago...
&
PeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.Peruvian territory was home to the Norte Chico...
(this custom may very well have come from the African slaves brought to this part of the Spanish speaking world). These handkerchiefs were in much wider use at one time, being worn by the Spanish in what is now the American Southwest. It was common to see a black or white silk bandana worn under a matching black or white
boleroBolero is a name given to certain slow-tempo latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms, which are both significant, and which have separate origins. The term is also used for some art music...
hat by the Spanish horsemen or vaqueros. The most notable example is the one worn by the fictional character
ZorroZorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley. He has been featured in several books, films, television series, and other media....
. It was this silk bandana that spawned the trend among cowboys to start sporting cotton bandanas.
In the 1930s women wore bandanna-like fabric to fasten their hairstyles in place while they set. In the 1940s the style among women shifted into the workplace where they were taking over factory jobs and needed a safe way to keep their hair out of the machinery.
Rosie the RiveterRosie the Riveter is a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in war factories during World War II, many of whom worked in the manufacturing plants that produced munitions and materiel. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs and sometimes took the...
is famously featured wearing the blue-collar woman's do-rag.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, they were used by African-American men to hold
chemically processed hair-dosA relaxer is a type of lotion or cream which makes hair less curly, and easier to straighten by chemically "relaxing" the natural curls. The active agent is usually a strong alkali, although some formulations are based on ammonium thioglycolate instead....
in place while they slept. Originally they were made from pieces of
handkerchiefA handkerchief is a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose...
, bandannas, or women's stockings; now many are made from
polyesterPolyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
. Do-rags resurged as a fashion trend among urban youth in the 1970s and 2000s. Do-rags are worn in a variety of colours, with black being the most common. Do-rags are regularly used to create and maintain
wavesShort Hair Waves, shortened to just waves, is a very common and sought after hairstyle for African American men. Where in the hair is cropped short to the head in the styling of a 'Caesar Cut' and brushed forward on the sides & front and down to the neck in the back creating the appearance of water...
. They are also used for cornrowed hairstyles. They usually have long ties on either side that are wrapped around the head to secure the do-rag and tied at the back.
It is also in widespread use among women who have had
Japanese Hair StraighteningJapanese hair straightening, also known as thermal reconditioning or yuko straightening, is a method for permanently straightening human hair....
done to their hair.
Uses
The do-rag may be worn by motorcycle riders to keep hair from blowing into the face and eyes (a benefit to both the rider and to any passenger they may have riding on their bike behind them), to keep bugs out of the hair, and to absorb sweat. Generally, riders who use a do-rag do not wear a helmet. The do-rag adds to the attitude projected by the rider as having a tough guy personality. Nevertheless, the majority of motorcyclists prefer the original bandanna. They are also worn by cyclists who wear helmets to keep the helmet from making their head sore.
African-American men use do-rags to maintain the wave patterns in their hair. After intense brushing, an oil sheen or grease is usually applied to the hair which is then wrapped in a do-rag overnight to prevent the waves from losing their pattern.
Other
Some gang members wear do-rags representing their gang colors.
In April 2001, the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the largest professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
banned its players from wearing do-rags and bandanas underneath their helmets. The ban did not apply to players who wore them for medical reasons.
A do rag is also reminiscent of a 'mitpachat': an Israeli style of head covering worn by Orthodox Jewish women. It can be a variety of colours and fabrics, but often it is longer than the average do-rag and tails down the back of the neck. Women who wear the do-rag style mitpachot often cut their hair short in accordance with Jewish law that stipulates that a woman's hair must be covered once married. Some women prefer to keep their hair long and tie the mitpachat in a knot at the back of their head, covering the hair within, this is less like the conventional do-rag. Mitpachot are colour co-ordinated to match clothing, but on special occasions white is a popular choice.