The African Headdress of the West Africans is a combination of expressive and societal culture. The African headdress is part of the society and how is it worn is interwoven into the culture. For the wealthy, it was a form of fashion that could be expressed with intricate designs, colors, textures, and textiles. It identified those who belonged to the upper, middle, lower, and slave caste system. As beads, feathers, frills, etc became increasingly popular the head wrap became a form of fashion that identified those who could afford the latest and best quality materials. Commoners wore simple head wraps that allowed them protect their heads from the sun, but they were usually simple in design. Slaves were not considered to be part of society so they were not given the opportunity to wear head wraps.
In the United States, the African American Headdress was one that grew out of oppression. Socially, the African American woman was identified as a slave by her head wear. However, the African American women enslaved used the head wrap as form of fashion that they adapted to make unique to their culture. They did this by different methods of tying the head wrap. Often, they tied different bun like shapes and bow designs with their head wraps.
Head wraps have grown out of the African culture and can be found in many religions and cultures. In the Islamic and Jewish traditions you will find many women wearing head wraps as part of their dress in order to cover-up. The head wrap is used as a form of modesty, because people of Islamic and Jewish faith find hair to be scared and should be shared between husband and wife. Women will often cover their hair in public, and they will only reveal their hair in the presence of their husbands.
In the Caucasian culture, many Europeans wear head wraps. However, the tying method is extremely different than the African tying method. Typically, white women wear their head wraps in a triangular manner that is often tied down at the nape of the neck. Unlike the African head wrap which draws attention up to the face, the European head wrap draws attention downward away from the face. In colder climates such as Russia, these wraps were used as a form of protection from the winter chill.