How to Tie a Sikh Turban

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Last Updated: August 18, 2022 Approved

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According to the religious texts of the Sikh religion, the followers must wear a turban and not cut their hair.^{[1]
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Research source} The style of a Sikh turban and how it is tied are very different from turban styles in other cultures, such as Arab cultures that often leave a tail at the back.^{[2]
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Research source} You'll find there are many ways to tie a Sikh turban, and you can personalize yours based on your preferences, though below you'll find two variations.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Tying a Patka

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Pull up your hair. Sikhs often pile their hair on top of their head in a type of bun to keep it under the fabric.
- A patka is considered a kid's turban or one that you can wear to play active sports in. Often, Sikhs tie one on under a regular turban as a way to hold it in place, which is why it's first in this article. It is a smaller piece of cloth than a full turban.
Begin twisting the hair altogether, making a thick rope of your hair.^{[3]
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Make a knot on the top of your head near the front. Keep wrapping it around itself. If it's long enough, you can pull part of it through itself to form a sort of slip knot. If not, wrap the end around the knot. Secure with an elastic holder if it doesn't want to stay.^{[4]
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Some Sikhs wear a patka under their turbans.^{[5]
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Place it over your forehead, holding a corner in each hand. Tie the corners from the front at the back of your head.^{[6]
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Cross one over and around the knot on your head, holding it under your chin for the moment. Cross the other one around the other way.^{[7]
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Tie them at the back of your hair knot.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Tying a Basic Turban

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Holding one end in your mouth allows you to have both hands free while you wrap the turban.
Pull it back around to the front, going around the knot. Let it go lower around the front of your head on one side.
This time, go higher on the other side of your head as you loop around. Pull it down lower on the other side.^{[9]
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Layer it as you go. In fact, you can create a stair-step effect on the front of your head as you wrap it around.^{[10]
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When you come to the end of your turban cloth, tuck it into the top folds of the turban. Be sure to pull it tight so it stays in place.^{[11]
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Pull the end around the back, and tuck it under the back folds of the fabric.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tying a Fortress Turban

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You will be able to wrap with both hands if you hold one end in your mouth. Hold it in the left side of your mouth.
Start on the left side and come up high on the right side. Come around the top of the knot.
As you come around the left side, wrap the turban low, covering the top part of your ear.
On the right side, go lower on each wrap. On the left side, go higher on each wrap.
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Wrap the end around the peak. As you wrap, a peak will begin to form on the front of your head. Wrap the end around the peak. It will look like the center of a bow, as the end will pinch the peak. Each side comes out wider than the middle.
- This type of knot was used by kings.
Pull the other end around the back. Pull it up over the crown of the head, covering the exposed part of the patka. Tuck it under the top folds.
Stretch out the turban so it fits well over all parts of your head.

Community Q&A

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Question

Does this work if I have short hair ?

Stazblood

Community Answer

You will only be unable to wear patka. You can wear the fortress and the basic turban if you do, as explained above.

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Question

Can we tie the turban if we do not have long hair?

Community Answer

Yes you can, some people wrap a small cloth inside the turban when tying, for a better fit.

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Question

Should the turban cloth be washed everyday after wearing?

Community Answer

It dpends on your cleanliness. If you feel that makes you cleaner, then yes. Please wash it at least once a week though, so it doesn't get dirty.

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