Information about Headgear

Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on one's head.

Headgear serve a variety of purposes:

• protection (against impact, cold, heat, rain and other precipitation, glare, sunburn, sunstroke,dust, contaminants, etc.)
• to keep hair contained or tidy
• decoration or fashion
• religious purposes
• medical purposes
• modesty; social convention
• disguising baldness
• distinction; a badge of office

Overview of headgear types

Hats

Hats often have a brim all the way around the rim, and may be either placed on the head, or secured with hat-pins (which are pushed through the hat and the hair). Depending on the type of hat, they may be properly worn by men, by women or by both sexes.

Caps

Caps are generally soft and often have no brim or just a peak (like on a baseball cap). For many centuries women wore a variety of head-coverings which were called caps. For example, in the 18th and 19th centuries a cap was a kind of head covering made of a flimsy fabric such as muslin; it was worn indoors or under a bonnet by married women, or older unmarried women who were "on the shelf" (e.g. mob-cap).

Bonnets

Bonnets, as worn by women and girls, were hats worn outdoors which were secured by tying under the chin, and often which had some kind of peak or visor. Some styles of bonnets had peaks so large that they effectively prevented women from looking right or left without turning their heads. Bonnets worn by men and boys are generally distinguished from hats by being soft and having no brim—this usage is now rare (they would normally be called caps today, except in Scotland where the 'bunnet' is common in both civilian life and in the Royal Regiment of Scotland).

Helmets

Helmets are designed to protect the head, and sometimes the neck, from injury. They are usually rigid, and offer protection from blows. Helmets are commonly worn in battle, on construction sites and in many contact sports.

Hoods

Modern hoods are generally soft headcoverings which are an integral part of a larger garment, like an overcoat, shirt or cloak.

Historically, hoods were either similar to modern hoods, or a separate form of headgear. In medieval Europe hoods with short capes, called chaperons in French, were extremely common, and later evolved into elaborate and adaptable hats. Women's hoods varied from close-fitting, soft headgear to stiffened, structured hoods (e.g. gable hoods, hennins or French hoods) or very large coverings made of material over a frame which fashionable women wore over towering wigs or hairstyles to protect them from the elements (e.g. calash).

Masks

A mask is worn over part or all of the face, frequently to disguise the wearer, but sometimes to protect the face. Masks are often worn for pleasure to disguise the wearer at fancy dress parties, masqued balls and during Halloween, or they may be worn by criminals to prevent recognition or as camouflage while they commit a crime. Masks which physically protect the wearer vary in design, from guard bars across the face in the case of ice hockey goalkeepers, to facial enclosures which purify or control the wearer's air supply, as in gas masks.

Turban

Turbans are headgear, mostly for males, made up from a single piece of cloth which is wrapped around the head in a wide variety of styles. Turban is the best known word in English for a large category of headgear traditionally worn in many parts of the world.

Wigs

Wigs are headpieces made from natural or synthetic hair which may be worn to disguise baldness or thin hair, or as part of a costume. A toupee may be worn by a man to cover partial baldness. In most Commonwealth nations, special wigs are also worn by barristers, judges, and certain parliamentary officials as a symbol of the office.

Fillets

A fillet or circlet is a round band worn around the head and over the hair. Elaborate and costly versions of these eventually evolved into crowns, but fillets could be made from woven bands of fabric, leather, beads or metal. Fillets are unisex, and are especially prevalent in archaic to renaissance dress.

Crowns

Some headgear, such as the crown, coronet, and tiara, have evolved into jewelry. These headgear are worn as a symbol of nobility or royal status.

Veils

Today a veil is normally a piece of sheer fabric which covers all or part of the face. For centuries up until the Tudor period (1485), European women wore veils which covered the hair, and sometimes the neck and chin, but not the face. Today many women wear veils when getting married.

The term veil is sometimes used to describe part of Muslim religious dress that accompanies a headscarf.

Hair covers

Hairnets are used to prevent loose hair from contaminating food or work areas. A snood is a net or fabric bag pinned or tied on at the back of a woman's head for holding the hair. Scarves and kerchiefs are used to protect styled hair or keep it tidy. Shower caps and swim caps prevent hair from becoming wet or entangled during activity.

Orthodontic

Main article: Orthodontic headgear

Used to control the growth of the maxillary and mandibular bones during orthodontic treatment.

Headgear is an orthodontic appliance typically used in growing patients to correct overbites by holding back the growth of the upper jaw, allowing the lower jaw to catch up. Headgear needs to be worn approximately 12 to 22 hrs to be truly effective in correcting the overbite, usually anywhere from 6 to 18 months depending on the severity of the overbite and how much a patient is growing.

A typical scenario is a case where some teeth are extracted, and front teeth are being retracted (pulled backward). When extraction spaces are being closed, the teeth behind the extraction space slide forward if not held in-place by headgear. In some situations, to maintain the bite, the orthodontist will need prescribe a headgear at the end of the treatment for another six months period.



The headgear serves to hold them back (maintain anchorage). Orthodontists will want those patients to wear the headgear as much as they can once fitted. Realistically this might only be 12 hours per day, with catch over weekends, but the more the better; even 22 hours may be required.

The orthodontic headgear will consist of three major components:

1. Face bow: firstly the face-bow (or J-Hooks), which fits with a metal arch onto headgear tubes attached to the rear upper and lower molars. This face bow then extends out of the mouth and around the face. Both upper and lower face-bows may be used. J-Hooks are different in that they hook into the patients mouth and attach directly to the brace (see photo for example of J-Hooks).
2. Head-cap: the second part consists of a head-cap, which consists of a number of straps fitting around the head. This is then attached with elastic bands or springs to the face-bow. Additional straps and safety attachments will be used to ensure comfort and safety (see photo).
3. Attachment: the third and final component (typically rubber bands, elastic or springs) joins the face bow or J-Hooks and the head cap together, providing the force to move the teeth backwards.

In some cases it will be required to wear both an upper and lower face-bow or j-hooks, however your orthodontist will provide you with all the information required.

Soreness of teeth when chewing, or when the teeth touch, is typical. Adults usually feel the soreness 12 to 24 hours later, but younger patients tend to react sooner, (e.g., 2 to 6 hours). Adults are sometimes prescribed headgear but this is less frequent. The headgear is one of the most useful appliance available to the orthodontist, but many patients find it difficult to comply with daytime wear, so it is mainly worn in the evenings and when sleeping. A similar appliance is the reverse-pull headgear or orthodontic facemask, which pulls the patients teeth forward (rather than back, as in this case). See Orthodontic Facemask & Reverse-Pull Headgear for more details.

Purpose of headgear

Protection or defense

The most common use of headgear is as protection for the head and eyes.

A baseball cap is used by sports players to keep the sun out of their eyes, and by some chefs to keep the hair out of their food. Traditionally, silk chef's hats are used for this purpose. A rain hat has a wide rim to keep the rain out of the wearer's face. Some traditional types of hat such as the Mexican sombrero also serve this purpose.

There are also the full range of helmets. There are also hats that are worn for protection from the cold. These include many varieties of fur hats, and also the Canadian tuque.

Fashion

Headgear is also an article of fashion. The formal man's black silk top hat was formerly an indispensable portion of the suit, and women's hats have, over the years, attained a fantastic number of shapes ranging from immense confections to no more than a few bits of cloth and decorations piled on top of the head. Recently, the hat as an article of formal wear has fallen out of fashion, though some kinds of hats other than baseball caps may be included in young people's subcultural fashions.

Religious significance

Some headgear is worn for religious practice. Observant Jewish men wear yarmulkes, small cloth skull-caps, because they believe the head should be covered in the presence of God. Some Jewish men wear yarmulkes at all times, others in the synagogue.

St. Paul, also known as Paul of Tarsus, considered the yarmulke a sign of the shame of man because of sin. Because he believed Jesus erased the shame of sin for Christians, he advised Christian men to discard the yarmulke in 1 Corinthians 11. However, he seems to advise women to cover their heads, which some Christians, such as the Amish and some conservative Protestant denominations still do.

Similar to the yarmulke is the zucchetto worn by Roman Catholic clergy. Other forms of apostolic head-gear include the mitre, biretta, tasselled cardinal's hat, and the papal tiara. Orthodox Christian clergy and monastics often wear a skufia, a kamilavkion, or a klobuk. See also the fez (clothing). The term red hat, when used within the Roman Catholic Church, refers to the appointment of a Cardinal, a senior Prince of the Church, who is a member of the electoral college that chooses the Pope. On being appointed to the cardinalate, he is said to have received the red hat, or cardinal's biretta.

Male Sikhs are required to wear turbans.

In Islam, the Hijab, or headscarf, is worn by women because it is considered modest.

Symbol of status or office

Headgear such as crowns, and tiaras are worn in recognition of noble status especially among royalty. Wigs are worn traditionally by judges and barristers of Commonwealth nations. Feathered headpieces are worn by various Native North American and South American indigenous peoples, such as the Urarina of Peruvian Amazonia as a sign of status and sacred knowledge.

Headgear etiquette

In the Western culture derived from Christian tradition, removing one's headgear is a sign of respect, making oneself more open, humble or vulnerable, much like bowing or kneeling. This is as if to say, "I acknowledge that you are more powerful than I am, I make myself vulnerable to show I pose no threat to you and respect you." Men's hats are removed in Church, and not removing them is usually frowned upon. Women, however, are required to wear a hat to cover the head in some churches based on 1 Corinthians 11:5.

In the Jewish tradition, the converse idea equally shows respect for the superior authority of God. Wearing a kippah or yarmulke means the wearer is acknowledging the vast gulf of power, wisdom, and authority that separates God from mankind. It is a sign of humility to wear a yarmulke. There is a common phrase that explains this, saying that "there's always something above you" if you're wearing a yarmulke, helping you remember you're human and God is infinite. A Talmudic quote speaks of a righteous man who would "not walk (six feet) with an uncovered head, the (spirit of God) is always above him".

In Islamic etiquette, wearing headgear is perfectly permissible while saying prayers at a mosque [1].

In the military, there are specific rules about when and where to wear a hat (also known as a 'cover' in America). Hats are generally worn outdoors only, at sea as well as on land; however, personnel carrying firearms typically also wear their hats indoors. Removing one's hat is also a form of salute.

As a guideline, a man should remove his hat to show respect for the dead, when a national anthem is played or in the presence of royalty, in a church or courtroom, and during other solemn occasions, when meeting someone, and indoors while in the presence of a lady. A woman may continue wearing her hat, unless she is wearing what is considered a uni-sex hat, such as a baseball cap, when she should remove her hat as well. Women usually do not take off their hats in these situations because they may be carefully pinned to their hair, but only take off their hats in their own homes.

The hat can be raised (briefly removed and replaced, with either hand), or "tipped" (touched or tilted forward) as a greeting.

See also

• List of hats and headgear
• Chapeaugraphy an act in which a ring of felt is shaped to resemble many hat types