How To Turn A T-shirt Into A DIY Head Wrap

Today’s post is part practical tip and part easy craft, so I’m going to go ahead and call it a “practi-craft.” ;-) This particular practi-craft takes the form of a DIY t-shirt headscarf or head wrap, and it couldn’t be easier to make—or more useful to have on hand!

But before we get started, I’m sure that some of you might be wondering why someone would choose to wear a t-shirt as a headscarf as opposed to, say, silk, or something a little fancier. I wondered the same thing at first, so I thought it would be helpful to explore the why before we move onto the how.

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3 Reasons To Wear A T-Shirt Head Wrap

1. To Cover Your Head

This idea was originally shared with me by an OGT reader named Elise, who said she used this method to cover her head when she was going through chemotherapy. Many chemo patients prefer t-shirts over other headscarf options, because the fabric is really gentle on their sensitive and easily irritated skin.

2. To Dry Curly Hair

For those with curly hair, try wrapping your hair up in this t-shirt headscarf instead of a towel after washing your hair. Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl and respected authority on curly hair, recommends t-shirts over towels because they “absorb too much moisture, which curly hair needs.”

Wrapping your hair up in a t-shirt instead will help absorb excess water without removing too much moisture from your hair. That means softer, smoother, and less frizzy hair.

3. To Keep Your Hair Dry

I’ve started using my own t-shirt headscarf as a shower cap of sorts to keep my hair dry. I just wrap my hair up before getting in the shower and it helps keep my hair protected from the water (as long as I don’t stick my head directly under the shower head.)

I’ve used plastic shower caps in the past, but they always made my head feel sweaty within a few minutes of wearing them. The t-shirt headscarf is so much more breathable, so it keeps my hair dry and my head sweat-free.

Alright, now that you know why the t-shirt headscarf is useful, let’s get to how to make it! You just need a shirt, some scissors, and about two minutes to make one. :-) Here’s how to do it:

How To Make A T-Shirt Head Wrap

You’ll need:

An old t-shirt
Sharp scissors

Directions:

Start by cutting a straight line across your t-shirt, from the bottom of one arm hole to the bottom of the other. Discard the top portion of the shirt, or set it aside to use in another project.

2 Ways To Wear A T-Shirt Headscarf

Option A – Twist & Wrap

Drape the lower portion of the shirt over your head, placing the finished seam along your forehead.

Draw the excess fabric together at the back of your head and twist to keep it in place.

Finally, draw the excess fabric over the top of your head so that it wraps around your forehead and stays in place. Fabulous!

Option B – The “Plop”

This method is called “plopping” because you “plop” the hair on top of your head. It’s a popular way to wrap up curly hair after adding product because it allows the roots of your hair to dry in a lifted position, and it promotes curliness. For best results, keep your hair in the shirt for 10-30 minutes, then air-dry or use a hair dryer and diffuser.

Start by placing your t-shirt headscarf flat on a counter, stool, your bed, or another flat surface. Push back the top layer of fabric to expose the inside of the shirt while keeping the bottom layer flat.

Bend over so that your wet hair is upside down, then set your hair on top of the shirt so that it piles up on the inside of the shirt.

Grab the top layer you pushed aside and pull it up and over the back of your head, then grab onto the bottom layer as you stand up so your hair stays scooped inside the shirt.