How to Wrap Your Gele

A gele is a traditional African headwrap, commonly worn by women in various West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, and throughout the Diaspora. The style and size of a headwrap can indicate a woman’s stage in life and what cultural group has shaped her. Geles come in various fabrics, styles, and sizes, and tying them can be a bit intricate, but with practice, you can achieve beautiful results. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how you can tie a gele: Watch 5 Simple Headwraps in Under 5 Minutes   Materials you’ll need:

1. A gele (usually a rectangular piece of fabric, often about 2-4 yards long, depending on the style and your head size)
2. Optional: pins or bobby pins.]
3. A mirror can be helpful

Step 1: Prepare your hair

• Ensure your hair is styled for the type of headwrap you want. You can use gel or edge control products to smooth your hairline if desired.

Step 2: Gather or Fold the gele

• Find the middle of the fabric, either lengthwise or widthwise.
• Or, if it is very long, lay out your gele and fold it in half lengthwise. This will make it easier to manage.

Step 3: Place the gele on your head

• Start the base of your gele just above the eyebrow and tie a knot in the middle fof the back of the head.
• Or start with the base at the nape of the neck and secure at the front (widow’s peak)
• Or, position the folded gele on your head with one end hanging down your back and the other end hanging down your chest. The folded part should be at the top.

Step 4: Create a base

• Create a hairstyle to use as the base, tucking in any loose hairs.

Step 5: Begin wrapping

• Hold the gele firmly against your head with one hand while using the other hand to start wrapping it around your head.
• Wrap the gele around your head, going from the front to the back, while keeping it snug but not too tight.

Step 6: Make pleats

• Once you’ve wrapped the gele around your head, start making pleats with the fabric. You can make small or large pleats, depending on your preference. Pin each pleat in place as you go along using hairpins.

Step 7: Continue wrapping and pleating

• Keep wrapping and pleating the gele around your head until you reach the end of the fabric.

Step 8: Tuck in the end

• When you reach the end of the gele, tuck it neatly into the wrapped layers at the back.

Step 9: Adjust and secure

• Check the gele in the mirror to ensure it’s even and well-balanced. Make any necessary adjustments.
• Optional: Use hairpins to secure any loose or unruly pleats.

Step 10: Final touches

• Smooth down or style any loose hairs.

Remember that tying a gele can take some practice to get it just right, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t look perfect the first few times. This is an opportunity for creative expression. With time and patience, you’ll become more skilled at achieving your gele styles!