Amish Workshops has posted a great look at the process Amish women go through to pin up their hair. The article features over 2 dozen photos illustrating the procedure.
Amish women don’t display their hair for Biblically-based reasons. They also do not cut their hair, pinning it all up underneath a kapp, or prayer covering.
When I posted this article on the Amish America Facebook page last week, one reader commented on the girl having a “glorious” head of hair. Keith of Amish Workshops responded that “Yes she does, but nobody in her home would ever say so.”
This is a good point. Hair is not to be a source of pride, which is one reason it remains covered. That said, if you’re at an Amish home at the bookends of the day you may catch an Amish female with locks unfurled.
Last week in Lancaster County I visited a farmer friend. As I was pulling into the drive, his teenage daughter rode up on ponyback, a few feet of unharnessed tresses billowing in the late-evening breeze.
Some people think that Amish women would be loathe to be seen by non-Amish with an uncovered head. Many might, but this isn’t always the case. My friend’s daughter wasn’t self-conscious about her hair being down. I’ve sometimes seen the same with married women when I’ve happened to be at Amish homes at early and late hours.
It also brings to mind the question of what Amish wear “after hours”. I know some might find this heresy, but a number of Amish don’t wear the plainest clothes at the end of the day. Some men, for instance, might change into comfortable T-shirts and shorts for sleeping, or just lounging around at the end of the evening with family. Women and girls wear pajama gowns.
I remember coming across a young Amish man getting a haircut from his wife on the back porch one afternoon. He was decked out in what looked like basketball shorts (color red) and a print T–I assumed to keep hairs from getting all over his regular clothes. We might see something similar when Amish visit the beach.
Not all Amish do the same, of course, and plain-attire-in-public remains the rule. And (getting back to the main topic), for Amish women, the kapp is like American Express: don’t leave home without it.
Check out the rest of this Amish hair pin series over at Amish Workshops.
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37 responses to How do Amish women put up their hair?
This was very interesting seeing how it is done. This is one of the things I have always wondered about with regards to the Amish. Do their hairstyles differ, just like their caps differ?
As a headcovering non-Amish Christian I share the view that hair must not be hidden all the time and I don’t think there is any shame in showing the hair but since I want to live a life in prayer the covering will need to be on most of the time anyway. At home I often remove it because it is easy to put it on once I want to pray while outside the house that cannot be done so there I am always covered. I forgot my covering once this summer and I felt almost naked, it has become such a natural thing now to wear.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
I would like to know how the lancaster Amish get the hair Parted in the middle and “twisted” back on either side to follow the face into the bun? I have tried and tried and cant get it to work for me.
What is a “pajama gown”?
Nadege I think I just meant nightgown
I wear a white kapp to church and when not in church, I wear a prayer veil. My hair is always covered except when I’m at home.
The Part
The little girls start having there hair parted at a very young age so it just naturally parts for them. I use to wear a head covering until I came across the passage right after it talks bout having the hair covered, where it says we have no such customs and neither does the church of God. I feel very comfortable with out it and trust me God hears and answers my prayers!
@ Ruth, Where in the bible would that passage be??
Lissa Holder, it is found in 1 Corinthians 11.
Thank You!
Yup no prob
I’ve only just recently started wearing a bandana in church. To my knowledge, I am the only person who does for the 1 Cor. 11 reason. I disagree with your interpretation of Paul’s statement at the end of the passage, but that is for another time and place.
This seems to work well because it seems to me that most Amish women have rather straight hair. I wonder, however, how well this would work for women of other ethnicities with much less cooperative hair types?
I notice that Amish women from different communities not only differ their hairstyles but also their kapps. I am most familiar with the Southern Maryland and Lancaster County communities where the women “twist” the front sides when putting up their hair and wear the heart-shaped kapps. Also, I’ve noticed clothing differences. Interesting!
I’d like to offer another perspective on hair covering. Throughout much of history, it has been common practice for both men and women to wear some sort of head covering when away from home (although I acknowledge biblical headship as well). It seems to me that the trend to be uncovered grew as every one started taking a daily shower, instead of a once a week (or less!) bath. I became aware of this when my family moved the other way, from taking a daily shower to a once a week bath! My husband washes his hair in the sink before going to work, but when he doesn’t have to go to work he just throws on a baseball cap. I put my hair up and cover it with a bandana, except when I need to wash my hair to be “dressed up.”
How do Amish women put up their hair?
I use to have terrible trouble with my neck. The pain in it was terrible. I went to doctors and even wore a brace on my neck. My hair was long and I wore it in a twist in the back. When I moved from the north to Florida (I have since moved back up north), I had my hair cut-I haven’t had trouble with my neck since. Since that time I have worn my hair short. Also when I let my long hair done, especially in the heat, my neck would break out. I admire those that have long hair, but I can’t do that anymore.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
Marilyn I hate to hear about your neck touble but it also makes me curious-you must have had a lot of hair! I wonder if neck exercises are an option for people in that situation.
Jackie, the hair is parted and the very edges of the hair at the front of the head is twisted inwards, and held in place with hair pins or barettes.The bun is then placed low at the back of the head.It’s quite an easy hairstyle to do.
Thanks Lucy, Thats kinds how I pictured it. I guess since I have very thick wavy hair its not too easy for me.
I will keep trying as I never wear my hair down and need a new ideas for work.
amish women and there hair
I am glad to see that the women do not go bald from wearing a cap all the time because it is a know fact that most men ( the English ) who wear a baseball cap all the time end up going balled.
Oh, I see ...
Now THAT would have been a handy thing to know about 35 years ago or so! Guess who has probably 40 to 50 baseball style caps and not much hair?
Oldkat, Linda this is important info…I’ve never worn ballcaps, maybe my instincts were telling me something
When I saw this post, I thought it was going to show the typical hairstyle of Lancaster Amish. The hair parted down the middle and twisted with the low bun. I love that style, and periodically do my 6 year old daughters hair like that. All I can say is practice makes (near)perfect.
I love some of the different buns look. Me being all thumbs, find a flat bun covered with a net the best way to go. And I do cover at home and out and about. I have an older kapp that I wear if I am doing some messy work. Interesting article!
Hi, May I ask why your kapp is black ??
That was a wonderful article and a very nice website I might add! I like how the photographer never got a front shot of the girl’s face.
Hair and Covering
My own long hair is uncut, but I don’t need to go to the lengths (pun intended) Amish women do when I put it under my kapp, as it is naturally fine. My own thought is that covering is a Christian witness, but not required unless one is in a church with an ordnung about it. Throughout history “decent” women covered away from home and this did not change until the late days of the 1800s. So if it was done by Christian women in the days of the apostles until almost 2000 years later, then the obvious interpretation of Paul’s letters concerning covering meant that he and the early church interpreted the theology of headship to be that women covered. (As always in prayer.) But any verse in the Bible can be turned to suit our own desires, can’t it? For more on covering, see my other blog http://magdalenaperks.wordpress.com. It is called “Anglican, Plain” and I have written extensively on this subject.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
Hello Magdalena,
Thank you so much for the address to your word press blog! I just went there. . . It looks wonderful. I will be spending plenty of time there reading & catching up until current. I did try to sign up to have new posts come to my email, however it did not work for me, just sent me to a short list of prior posts?
Blessings ,
Linda Saul – Unfortunately, Amish women do go bald over time where their hair is parted, and especially the ones in Lancaster who tightly twist the hair on the sides as well.
I grew up in the Methodist faith during the 1950s and 1960s. My mother wouldn’t be caught going into church without a hat on her head. She also made sure that I had several cute little hats to wear on Sunday. Her explanation was that it showed respect to our Lord. We relaxed as we neared the 1970s. I can also remember going to the Catholic church with my best friend during the week when she would say her confessions. Her mother had pretty little lace head coverings, all ready for them in her purse. She also made sure that this little Protestant girl had her head covered with a Kleenex …
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How do Amish women put up their hair?
Speaking of hair…I just read this in this morning’s paper (Ohio). Not sure if allowed to post URL’s here? So I copied and pasted. Hope it’s allowed (if not, just remove).
Times-Reporter
STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County sheriff says a renegade group has been attacking fellow Amish, cutting off their hair and beards.
Sheriff Fred Abdalla in Steubenville said Thursday that his deputies have been hampered by the reluctance of Amish to press charges.
His office is working with sheriffs in Carroll, Holmes and Trumbull counties investigating attacks. No charges have been filed but several victims suffered minor injuries.
The sheriff says men and sometimes women from a group of families disavowed by mainstream Amish have terrorized a half dozen or more fellow Amish. They allegedly cut the beards off men and the hair off men and women.
The sheriff says the motive may be related to religious differences involving 18 Amish families who have drawn previous attention from law enforcement.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
Kerry thanks for sharing- wild story. Ive heard of some semi aggressive behavior from disgruntled groups (ie vandalism) but never anything so direct. BTW Sharing urls is fine here, It doesnt link out but allows for copy paste.
I’ve tried that style of bun but it seems like either my hair is too heavy or I’m just not good at placing the pins. The bun always slides down and “bunches” low at my neck through the day. Right now I part my hair in the middle with a twist (I think it’s the opposite of the Lancaster twist) and put it up high in a twisting cinnamon-bun way. It’s not as flat and I don’t know how it would fit under a kapp (I wear hanging veils) but it stays better. One thing about long hair – it’s HEAVY!
How do Amish women put up their hair?
hair loss
The rumor about hats and hair loss is not accurate. Please follow this link (cut and paste – http://www.hair-loss-adviser.com/do_hats_cause_baldness.html). Good article once more, Erik
Thank You
Thanks to all of you who commented on our photo essay. It was more work than I imagined it would be and I’m grateful for the response. Taking the photos without showing Christina’s face was tricky!
I’m very thankful to Mary and Christina for allowing me to document the process. Like most Amish mothers, Mary is a very busy woman. I think we photographed the hair-pinning at about 11:00am, and prior that she made breakfast for her family of eleven, washed the dishes, slaughtered and cleaned 25 chickens, and baked a mid-morning snack (cinnamon buns) for her husband’s 10 workers.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
Oi, I have extremely thick hair, and having it long is just not an option…hot and heavy!
I live in a neighborhood with man orthodox Jews…both men and women wear head coverings. The women are very veiled…to wear you can’t see their hair line at all. The men wear yarmulkes, and some ar these 10 gallon hat type hats black. I wonder if they follow the same scripture as mentioned above in this post?
How do Amish women put up their hair?
Jewish customs
Jews do not use the same scriptures for head coverings as the head covering scriptures are only found in the NT.(1Cor.11:1-16)
Jewish men cover their heads to show reverence for God and men are not to walk more than four paces without a covering. Jewish women only cover when married, as beautiful hair is considered a visual attraction for the opposite sex and once married it is to be reserved for the husbands viewing pleasure only.Both teaching are from the Talmud and not the Bible.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
I read the article & looked at the pictures, I even watched a video on u tube about a Swartzentruber Amish lady putting up her hair. I have the same problem as some of the orther readers on here, that is I am either all thumbs or my hair won’t hold. right now I put it in a pony tail, braid that secure the end & wrap it into a bun & secure that with 4 large bobby pins. I am looking for a way to NOT use the pony tail method because of broken ends of hair. Are there any more articles that you (Ercik) or anyone else would know about? Thank You in advance.
How do Amish women put up their hair?
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