Any ladies with short hair who cover?

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cecilia97

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Hi y’all,

I have been feeling a tiny call to wear some sort of headcovering lately. There are other women at my parish who do so, and even more at an Anglican Use parish I visit frequently.

My hesitation comes from the rest of my physical appearance: I have short hair (a la Mia Farrow), mostly for practical reasons (it’s hot here and I do physical work). My work clothing consists of paint-covered overalls and pants. I am comfortable in pants, and I actually feel much more “covered” in pants.

So when I read in Corinthians about coverings and long hair, I think “well, I have no hair to cover”. I have no “crowning glory” so to speak, nor do I want any…been there, done that! 😃

I’ve thought about a plain hat or a solid fabric scarf tied behind my neck.

Are there any other ladies with short hair or non-“traditional” dress that wear a headcovering who could give me some encouragement?
 
Instead of a veil, I wear a black lace scarf-type thing over my head, tied at the back of my neck. It covers my hair, but it is unobtrusive enough that I don’t get the famous ‘stink eye’ at the OF masses we attend most Sundays. I am also looking at getting something like this.
 
“Indeed, if a woman will not wear a veil, she ought to cut off her hair. If it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, it is clear that she ought to wear a veil…If anyone wants to argue about this, remember that neither we nor the churches of God recognize any other usage.” (1 Cor. 11:6,16)

So St. Paul is not saying that women who have cut their hair should not wear a veil. He is saying that if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off (as it once was), then clearly a woman in that situation *ought *to wear a veil. Very different things.

If you think you may be called to do it, then try it, and the heck with anybody who gives you a “stink eye” for that which is so clearly none of their business. I don’t mean that you should ignore the local custom, but rather you should take your cues and your advice from those in the parishes you attend who are open-minded enough to realize that the practice has devotional value.

I think that they will be pleased to hear you find their practice worth imitation–if nothing else it will give evidence that nothing they do has shed any discredit upon it! (Whether it is the Roman collar or the mantilla, no one likes to think they bring dishonor on a pious practice!) I hope they’re a good resource for you.
 
I have long hair, but there are plenty of women in my parish with short hair who cover their heads. One woman has a couple of hats she wears, one that is a small straw hat with a rolled brim, it would look great with trousers, and she has a more winter like one she wears when it’s cold, similar style, but I think it’s wool. Maybe look at something like this: headcoverings-by-devorah.com/headcoverings_weave_kovaim.htm

See Devorah’s main site for tons of options. She is Jewish, but many Catholic women buy from her, she has wonderful products.

If you feel like you want to go the lace route, just get a smaller size veil (personally I don’t like the doily look, but that is personal preference). Try this eBay seller, she has her veils in different sizes, and just about any color you can need: stores.ebay.com/CATHOLIC-TRADITIONS

~Liza
 
I have short hair and I wear a veil. I promised Our Lord, so it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I’m not doing it for anyone else.

Still, in the seventies I remember trying to go without a veil (or scarf or hat) like some of the ladies were doing, but frankly it was just too difficult.
 
ibkc said:
Instead of a veil, I wear a black lace scarf-type thing over my head, tied at the back of my neck. It covers my hair, but it is unobtrusive enough that I don’t get the famous ‘stink eye’ at the OF masses we attend most Sundays. I am also looking at getting something like this.
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The “stink eye” Ha ha! Is that related to the stink ape, my eastern cousin? 😛 I feel very blessed to have a reverent OF at our parish, where veils don’t get the stink eye. There are only about 5 or 6 ladies, but I would like to join the practice.

I guess I’ll get some different sized scarves and start practicing tying them.
 
lizaanne said:
I have long hair, but there are plenty of women in my parish with short hair who cover their heads. One woman has a couple of hats she wears, one that is a small straw hat with a rolled brim, it would look great with trousers, and she has a more winter like one she wears when it’s cold, similar style, but I think it’s wool. Maybe look at something like this: headcoverings-by-devorah.com/headcoverings_weave_kovaim.htm

See Devorah’s main site for tons of options. She is Jewish, but many Catholic women buy from her, she has wonderful products.

If you feel like you want to go the lace route, just get a smaller size veil (personally I don’t like the doily look, but that is personal preference). Try this eBay seller, she has her veils in different sizes, and just about any color you can need: stores.ebay.com/CATHOLIC-TRADITIONS

~Liza
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The straw hat idea appeals to me a lot, thanks! I would do a beret but, frankly, my hair is so short I would feel like I looked like a man. It’s not that I care one bit what anybody else thinks (I wear my painty overalls to the grocery and even out to the occasional dinner after work, after all), it’s that I want to feel like “myself” and comfortable while still being reverent. I can imagine that a lace mantilla would make me SO uncomfortable that I wouldn’t be able to focus on the Eucharist. I would feel like I was playing a part instead of being the unique person God made me.
 
cecilia97 said:
I can imagine that a lace mantilla would make me SO uncomfortable that I wouldn’t be able to focus on the Eucharist. I would feel like I was playing a part instead of being the unique person God made me.
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You are not alone there - many women wish to cover their heads but lace is not for them. Nothing wrong with that at all in my book! 😃 There are SO many options today, we are not traped by fashion when it comes to this as women were in the 50’s when it had to be the perfect hat or whatever. As long as it is respectful, clean, and appropriate (not a baseball cap or hard hat for instance :rolleyes: ) I think it is fine. God knows your intention, that’s the important part.

I was just looking at the Devorah site again and on a page called “all about headcoverings”, she has the most wonderful (albeit Jewish 😉 ) explanation of why women cover their heads. It is one of the best I’ve read. headcoverings-by-devorah.com/HEADCOVERINGS.htm

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
You are not alone there - many women wish to cover their heads but lace is not for them. Nothing wrong with that at all in my book! 😃 There are SO many options today, we are not traped by fashion when it comes to this as women were in the 50’s when it had to be the perfect hat or whatever. As long as it is respectful, clean, and appropriate (not a baseball cap or hard hat for instance :rolleyes: ) I think it is fine. God knows your intention, that’s the important part.

I was just looking at the Devorah site again and on a page called “all about headcoverings”, she has the most wonderful (albeit Jewish 😉 ) explanation of why women cover their heads. It is one of the best I’ve read. headcoverings-by-devorah.com/HEADCOVERINGS.htm

~Liza
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THank you for posting that. And for the others who posted the Devorah site…this is totally my style!

headcoverings-by-devorah.com/headcoverings_frik_kippot.htm

I could keep that in my car and throw it on with my pants and work shoes to run into the chapel. 👍
 
When I was able to go to a parish where some other women also covered and few looked askance at someone doing so, I wore either a chapel cap (handy to keep in the glove compartment of your car for impromptu church visits) or a scarf that I tied at the base of my head (I even got compliments on that one from someone who didn’t cover!). I have shortish hair and those were fine when I went to an NO and in the winter wore pants (it gets cold here). If I’d been able to go to a TLM I would have worn a mantilla, anyway.
 
My hair is cut in a style very similar to Katie Holmes’ most recent 'do, so it’s short but not super-short. I wear a shorter mantilla to the EF Mass. At my former parish, when my hair was shoulder-length, I would wrap a widely-folded scarf around my head and tie it at the back of my neck to wear for the OF Mass. That way my hair was semi-covered, but I didn’t get the weird looks I would get if I wore my mantilla or chapel cap to the OF Mass. At our traditional parish, I could wear a mantilla at any of the Masses, no matter what length my hair might be, and nobody would bat an eye.

We have several old ladies who wear the mantilla, and they all have the typical old-lady hairdo where it is permed, cut short, and set on rollers.
 
I must be terribly unobservant. I have been to nearly ten different Novus Ordo parishes in my diocese, and I have worn my mantilla in all, but I have never seen any “looks”. Oh, I’ve definitely been “outnumbered”, but no looks that could kill (of course I’m not looking for any.)
 
I was interested by your original statement, “that you feel a tiny call to wear a headcovering”. That’s how it started with me. The tiny call grew as I studied Tradition and prayed. Now I simply would never attend Holy Mass without a head cover of some kind.
Listen to ‘that still small voice’. He who is the author of it cannot lead you astray.
 
Onnysgirl said:
I was interested by your original statement, “that you feel a tiny call to wear a headcovering”. That’s how it started with me. The tiny call grew as I studied Tradition and prayed. Now I simply would never attend Holy Mass without a head cover of some kind.
Listen to ‘that still small voice’. He who is the author of it cannot lead you astray.
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👍 Thanks for the encouragement, Onnysgirl!

Indeed, I’m learning in recent years that the still small voice is the important one. I’ve ordered two hats online for Mass and have my plain brown scarf for adoration in the meantime. I’m kind of excited!
 
Isn’t it strange to be excited to be so something so counter-cultural. I covering before God (who we look to as Father) we submit ourselves and become humble. Submission is not a popular notion among women these days.🙂
As I sought out various types of veils and hats I had a really enjoyable experience. My collection is now way to large and I’ve given some away to my Mass community to offer at the front door to those who may feel called.
Relax into your journey. I’m certain you’ll find a rare peace in this step.
 
Onnysgirl said:
Isn’t it strange to be excited to be so something so counter-cultural. I covering before God (who we look to as Father) we submit ourselves and become humble. Submission is not a popular notion among women these days.🙂
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It’s not, but it certainly is growing! 😃

Only a few short years ago I doubt there would be nearly as many women on here covering or even considering the practice! I think this is a wonderful sign that more and more people are growing in holiness and deepening their spiritual lives. A sign of a healthy Faith! 👍

~Liza
 
Hi

As a non-Catholic who is thinking of converting to Catholicism, I am interested in the idea of covering your hair. I have only ever attended Protestant churches, and the only ones where I have encountered women who cover their hair are very evangelical ones in areas with Christians from other countries such as Iranian refugees etc. However I am familiar with the custom Orthodox Jewish women have of always covering their hair once they are married.
Do you know if women in RC churches in the UK commonly cover their hair in church?
Many thanks
Rachel
🙂
 
Gidday Rachel - I’m not in the UK, I’m in Australia. Perhaps you’ll find what I find here???
It is unusual to find women who cover in the Novus Ordo Masses(that is, Masses said in the common language), but in my Latin Mass community, many more wear veils or hats.
May God bless you in your journey into the Faith.

Onnysgirl:thumbsup:
 
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