NIGERIAN GELE

How

          To

 Tie The "Gele"

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How To Tie The "Gele"- the back to front method.

What is a "Gele"?
"Gele" is a Yoruba {Nigeria, West Africa} word for a female Headwraps usually worn at occasions such as weddings.

...the inseparable fashion accessory of the African woman..

The "Back to Front" Style:
1. Fold the material depending on its width to make sure if covers the entire hair {how much you fold this material depends on its width}
2. Stand in front of a mirror or a friendly guide
3. Hold the material with the folded part away from your face.
4. Place the material over your hair/head.
5. Adjust the material so its middle is at the base of your neck. In doing so you will have two ends of material. Holding your head up, look straight ahead, grab the right end of the material midway to the end with your right hand and hold on to while grabbing the left end of the material with your left hand.
6. Hold the ends close together with your thumbs, allowing the rest of your fingers to be free.

7. Keep holding the material with your thumbs, but use the two fingers next to your thumbs to switch the right end of the material to your left hand and the left end to your right hand. {I always find that I bend my head down when doing this or you can just take any position best for you}.
8. Tighten the gele by pulling the ends, your right hand holding the formerly left end of the material will be up above your right ear.
9. Let go of the left side of the material but keep still hold the right.
10. I usually hold my head tilted a bit for this neck step. Take the right end around your head with your right hand until it gets to the left ear.
11. With your left hand, move the left end away from right side you are working with.
{Now here's where you're creativity comes in} You can twist, tuck, or tie this end. If you want to make a crown gele, you're going to be tucking the ends in so no piece shows. And then you when the right end is tucked in, you will do the same with the left end.

But I like to do this:
12. Tie the right end and the left end together at their base. Tie the ends so that they are comfortable on your head-not too loose and not too tight. You should now have a Head-wrap that covers your head with two pieces hanging down-one longer than the other. You could just leave it like that, or you could experiment with twisting, tucking one end at a time or tying both pieces together until you end up with a "finished product" that you like you and is comfortable.

Top Tips for tying a an African Head Wrap (Gele)

• Tying your gele is as easy as making a bow but more versatile. The following steps will work you through the basic styles. Head-wrap styles are as versatile as your imagination can take you.
• The weight, texture, and size of the fabric will affect the end result. For the basic style, use ½ to 1 yard of 100% cotton fabric.
• Always keep your head gear piece crisp with a spray starch for better results.

Step by Step guide to tie a African Head-tie (Gele)

1. Start by folding the head gear fabric (aso-oke) to a width of about six inches. This can be achieved by folding the piece in half lengthwise, and then folding again twice or so.
2. Wrap the fabric around your head with the right side extending about one and half over the left side.
3. Push in the left side but keep the ends out while crossing the right side over (on top of the left end); also keep the right-side ends out.
4. Pull both ends as tight as desired. Push the left side while pulling the right side to get the desired comfort.
5. Push in the right side only from where it touches the left side but without pulling it all the way through. This forms a bow.
6. You may now move this bow to the front, to the side (left or right) or leave it on the back; the choice is yours.
7. Spread out the two ends to obtain a rose petal look, or pin the two ends to obtain yet another look. The different possible styles and looks are endless. You’ll be surprised what you can achieve by experimenting.

Finally…

There are different styles of head wrapping. Even an intricate-looking style starts with a basic procedure. We recommend that you consult an expert for help with the more elaborate and intricate styles. Most experts can look at a picture and re-create the style.

 

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10 Different ways to tie a scarf in your hair

Apr 03, 2014

by Allison Pynn Follow

Hair how-tos

Yes, there are many ways to tie a scarf around your neck, but there are also a variety of ways you can rock one in your hair. Try these tutorials.

1

1. Begin by folding a scarf, longways, so it's about 3 inches in width.
2. Wrap the scarf around your forehead.
3. Tie the scarf to the back of your head, not on the side, to avoid looking like the Karate Kid.

2

1. Stretch out a large scarf around your forehead.
2. Bring the ends of the scarf around to the back of your head.
3. Tie off the scarf in a firm, but comfortable, bow in the lower back of your head (the scarf should rest at the nape of your neck). This separates the chic look from the pirate look.

3

1. Run a long scarf through a clear elastic band. The band should be in the middle of the scarf.
2. Spread the ends of the scarf.
3. Wrap the scarf around the top of your head along the hairline.
4. Tie off the scarf at the back of your head. Bring one end of the scarf around to rest on your shoulder. It adds more pizzazz to the whole look.

4

1. Fold a long scarf, longways, and wrap it around your hairline.
2. Tie off the scarf at the nape of your neck.
3. Pull the end of the scarf to one side of your neck so you can see it when you look straight into the mirror. Tie the ends into a bow for an extra-cute look.

5

1. Make a side braid.
2. Take a short scarf and fold it, longways, so that it's thin.
3. Wrap the scarf around your hairline and tie it off where your side braid begins. The tie will make the braid look "decorated."
4. Add cute boho sunglasses or aviators to complete the look.

6

1. Fold a large or small scarf longways.
2. Wrap the scarf around your neck and bring the ends up to the top of your head.
3. Tie the ends into a bow at the top of your head.
4. Tweak the scarf so it sits a bit to one side and adds "sass" to the look.

7

1. Fold a large scarf longways and rest it onto the back of your head.
2. Wrap the ends to the front of your head and tie them on the hairline.
3. Tightly twist the remaining scarf ends.
4. Wrap the twisted ends to the back of your head and tie them into a double knot.

8

1. Fold a large scarf in half to create a triangle.
2. Place the largest straight end onto the top of your head.
3. Bring the scarf ends forward and criss-cross them lightly under your chin.

1. Fold a large scarf in half to create a triangle.
2. Place the largest straight end over your forehead.
3. Wrap the ends towards the back of your head and tie them once (do not make a knot).
4. Bring the loose ends back toward the front of your head and tie them at the forehead.
5. Tuck the remaining loose ends back into the scarf.

1. Fold a large scarf in half and wrap it around the back of your head. Make sure some of the scarf is hanging out loosely (some of the scarf should be hanging on your neck).
2. Bring the ends forward and tie them off at the hairline.
3. Take the remaining loose ends and twist them tightly.
4. Bring the twisted ends to the back of your head and tie them off above the nape of your neck.

        

For those who don’t know, Gele is the Nigerian Head Wrap. It can be big or small depending on how you like it. You can read all about the Nigerian Gele on my previous post “History of the Nigerian Gele”. So, I decided to write up this step by step guide on how to tie your gele while tying my own Gele (my picture above and below) after being asked by many friends how i get my Gele sitting so well. Below you can see pictures of me tying my gele with guides on how to tie yours. Yes i look very silly in the pictures and please take no notice of my pajamas !! lol but this is how to tie your Gele! There is many ways to tie Gele but i have found this the best way.
First of all you will need to get you material for your gele. This cant just be any material you need proper Gele material for it to tie and sit well. You can get the material from African fabric shops or if you have some Nigerian friends who can get the material for you.
Step 1 – Take hold of your material at each end like below. If you material is very long you can fold it over like i have done below.

Step 2 – Next you will need to tie your hair up if you have long hair like me. Actually you should probably tie it all back before getting hold of you material! sorry! lol

Step 3 – Place your material at the very lower back of you neck. While still holding each end of the material.

Step 4 – while still holding the material, pull the left end of the material forward to the front of your head and place over to the RIGHT side of your head, now do the same for the right hand side of the material, placing it over to the left of your head. See picture below to get a better idea.

Step 5 – Keep hold of both ends of the material and pull both ends to the back of your head. Take both ends (tips) and tie them tightly together, i always double knot it so it wont slip off.


Step 6 – The last step! Sometimes the most time consuming for beginners. But don’t worry, you will soon become an expert after your first few time! Now that you have your gele tied and secure on your head, you now have to “shape it”. This can be done different ways depending on what style you like. You will have to fold it well at the fronts and make it sit well (big or small) i personally like my Gele big if it is light colours like blue. Dark colours i like it a little smaller.