What is a "Gele"?
"Gele" is a Yoruba {Nigeria, West Africa} word for a female Headwraps usually worn at occasions such as weddings.
...the inseparable fashion accessory of the African woman..
The "Back to Front" Style:
1. Fold the material depending on its width to make sure if covers the entire hair {how much you fold this material depends on its width}
2. Stand in front of a mirror or a friendly guide
3. Hold the material with the folded part away from your face.
4. Place the material over your hair/head.
5. Adjust the material so its middle is at the base of your neck. In doing so you will have two ends of material. Holding your head up, look straight ahead, grab the right end of the material midway to the end with your right hand and hold on to while grabbing the left end of the material with your left hand.
6. Hold the ends close together with your thumbs, allowing the rest of your fingers to be free.
7. Keep holding the material with your thumbs, but use the two fingers next to your thumbs to switch the right end of the material to your left hand and the left end to your right hand. {I always find that I bend my head down when doing this or you can just take any position best for you}.
8. Tighten the gele by pulling the ends, your right hand holding the formerly left end of the material will be up above your right ear.
9. Let go of the left side of the material but keep still hold the right.
10. I usually hold my head tilted a bit for this neck step. Take the right end around your head with your right hand until it gets to the left ear.
11. With your left hand, move the left end away from right side you are working with.
{Now here's where you're creativity comes in} You can twist, tuck, or tie this end. If you want to make a crown gele, you're going to be tucking the ends in so no piece shows. And then you when the right end is tucked in, you will do the same with the left end.
But I like to do this:
12. Tie the right end and the left end together at their base. Tie the ends so that they are comfortable on your head-not too loose and not too tight. You should now have a Head-wrap that covers your head with two pieces hanging down-one longer than the other. You could just leave it like that, or you could experiment with twisting, tucking one end at a time or tying both pieces together until you end up with a "finished product" that you like you and is comfortable.
OR
How to tie a "Gele" using Aso-oke.
Step 1: Spreading out the "gele"
The first step is to spread out the aso-oke, and tie on the head firmly, like you would tie a typical head scarf.
The aso-oke can vary in texture and length. As a beginner,it is advised to use a "gele" with medium length and texture, to prevent things from getting too complicated.
To stand out in the crowd, use a multicolored aso-oke, if you are comfortable with just looking nice and not making a statement with your "gele", then a plain colored aso-oke will do just fine.
The aso-oke can vary in texture and length. As a beginner,it is advised to use a "gele" with medium length and texture, to prevent things from getting too complicated.
To stand out in the crowd, use a multicolored aso-oke, if you are comfortable with just looking nice and not making a statement with your "gele", then a plain colored aso-oke will do just fine.
Step 2: Tying the base of the "gele"
For a "gele" to come out looking good, it needs to have a very strong base.
To ensure this, place the aso-oke firmly on your head and tie the back of the scarf ( the two ends),into a knot, like you would tie a typical headscarf.
Make sure it is tight enough, but be cautious not to make it too tight, because you can get a headache if it is too tight.
To ensure this, place the aso-oke firmly on your head and tie the back of the scarf ( the two ends),into a knot, like you would tie a typical headscarf.
Make sure it is tight enough, but be cautious not to make it too tight, because you can get a headache if it is too tight.
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