Head to the Hijab Clinic for tips on how to wear in style

The Hijab Clinic is a consultation service for women who wear hijab but want tips on how to be more stylish or how to manage it with their daily life.

Maha Khalid, a hijab stylist and the founder of Hijab Clinic. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National

Where are you from?

I’m a Palestinian-Jordanian-­Canadian.

How long have you been wearing the hijab?

I put it on for the first time on my 21st birthday. I am 35 now.

What is the Hijab Clinic?

It is a service I offer to clients in my salon to advise them on how to wear the hijab, which fabric to choose and colour coordination.

Why did you start the Hijab Clinic?

I first started to notice the stigma towards hijab when I visited Germany with my husband, who is Palestinian-German – people were taking pictures of me. I really wanted people to perceive hijab in a more positive way and I also wanted to show other women that they can still look good, stylish and have an active life with hijab.

Did you take any formal training?

Not at all. I am originally an architect, but I reached a point in my life where I wanted to be my own boss so I opened a salon. The Hijab Clinic started when so many customers and friends would ask me about my own scarves and how I wore them.

What does it involve?

I take into consideration the personality of my client and their lifestyle. The first session is all about getting to know the client; I will ask them about their lifestyle and how they need to present themselves. I also introduce them to different materials and show them how to look for the right ones for them. In addition, I take the measurements of the face and head so that I can get a very clear idea about what would suit their face. The second time they come, I will have prepared three hijab styles that best fit the criteria. I will show the customer how to do it, practise with her and take a video with her mobile so that she can look again when she gets home.

What kind of response do you get?

People come for regular styling and I have had brides who call me on Skype from their bridal suites and I talk them through it.

Is there one thing that every client struggles with?

Most of the clients have short patience for learning new styles. There is also a common mistake with the types of material that people choose; this can make a really big ­difference.

How much does it cost?

It is Dh400 for two sessions.

Top tip

For every hijab style it is important to wear a cotton cap underneath the scarf onto which you can pin the material.

• The Hijab Clinic is inside Polish Salon, Al Karamah, Abu Dhabi. For more information, visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/polishhijabclinic. For more styles and step-by-step guides, visit www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle