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Headgear

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Headgear is any item of clothing worn on the head.

Hoofddeksels
Hoofddeksels

People use it for many different reasons. Some people wear it to stay safe from the weather. For example, a Canadian tuque keeps a person warm in the cold. In the Sahara, people wear a cheche to block wind and sand.

Cheche
Cheche

Others wear helmets to protect them from hits during sports or while riding a bike. Helmets are usually hard and can even cover the neck. This type of headgear is all about protection and safety.

Many people wear headgear to show their faith or culture.

East Jerusalem - The Old City - 093 (4261630806)
East Jerusalem - The Old City - 093 (4261630806)

In Judaism, men may wear small cloth caps called kippahs or yarmulkes. Sikh men and women often wear turbans, which are made by wrapping a single piece of cloth around the head. In Islam, women may wear a hijab to be modest. Muslim men sometimes wear a skullcap called a kufi or taqiyah. These items are not just clothes; they are important parts of how people live and pray.

Headgear can also show a person's job or rank.

Mary I by Master John
Mary I by Master John

Crowns, coronets, and tiaras are special pieces of jewelry. They are worn by royalty to show they are important. In some places, judges and barristers wear wigs. Some people wear feathered headpieces, like the war bonnet used by Plains Indian cultures. Even in the past, certain hats showed status. A formal black silk top hat was once a very important part of a man's suit.

There are many different shapes and styles of headgear to learn about.

Napoleon Wagram Chabord 1810 (Detail)
Napoleon Wagram Chabord 1810 (Detail)

Caps are often soft and might have a small peak in the front. Bonnets were hats worn by women that tied under the chin. Some bonnets had very large peaks that made it hard to look left or right. Hoods are soft coverings that are part of a larger garment like a coat. Even masks can be headgear. People wear masks to disguise themselves at parties or to protect their breathing.

Sometimes, headgear is used for medical reasons or for art.

Full orthodontic headgear with headcap and fitting straps
Full orthodontic headgear with headcap and fitting straps

Orthodontic headgear helps doctors control how a child's jaw and bones grow. It uses metal hooks and straps to move teeth into the right place. Other headgear, like hairnets, helps keep hair tidy in places where food is made. Some hats are even created as beautiful works of art. These special hats can be worth thousands or even millions of dollars. Headgear is a huge part of how humans express themselves.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Hoofddeksels.jpg
Hoofddeksels.jpg
File:Retrato de una dama con la Orden del Cisne, anónimo alemán.jpg
Retrato de una dama con la Orden del...
File:Cheche.JPG
Cheche.JPG
File:Young Muslim Woman on Street - Sylhet - Bangladesh (12968288153).jpg
Young Muslim Woman on Street - Sylhet -...
File:Bedouin man with Fez.jpg
Bedouin man with Fez.jpg
File:MocheHeadgear.jpg
MocheHeadgear.jpg
File:1971 Instrument of Surrender WaPo.jpg
1971 Instrument of Surrender WaPo.jpg
File:BandSergeantMajor RoyalRegimentofScotland.jpg
BandSergeantMajor RoyalRegimentofScotland.jpg
File:Napoleon Wagram Chabord 1810 (Detail).jpg
Napoleon Wagram Chabord 1810 (Detail).jpg
File:Mary I by Master John.jpg
Mary I by Master John.jpg
File:Full orthodontic headgear with headcap and fitting straps.jpg
Full orthodontic headgear with headcap...
File:MocheTurbant.jpg
MocheTurbant.jpg

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