Hi richardjahillary-ga,
What a great question! As a matter of fact, I happen to know the
answer because, as a biker, I wear them both. And the short answer to
your question is yes, there IS a difference between a "doo rag" and a
bandanna. Let me explain:
First of all, bikers (and others) began tying bandanas over their
heads for a couple of reasons. First of all, because it ties down the
hair, an important detail especially if one's hair is long. It keeps
it from getting in your face and eyes, and from getting so tangled the
only way to deal with it later is to cut/shave it off - not a pleasant
prospect for someone who likes their hair long. In addition, in cool
or cold weather, a bandana is a practical head covering for warmth,
especially for bikers who choose not to wear helmets. Besides,
bandanas do indeed cover up your hair, which is definitely a boon,
even if you do wear a helmet, giving you a great way to conceal that
awful "helmet hair." Some people, like my husband, can ride all day
and have their hair look freshly brushed no matter what travails of
helmet or wind they encounter. Not me. I definitely rely on my trusty
bandanas/do-rags to hide the evidence of a less than cooperative head
of hair!
Ok, enter the do-rag (or do rag, which is normally how it's spelled).
This is merely a form-fitting version of the tied bandana. The
standard design conforms to the shape of the head more closely, has a
flap down the back, and ties to customize the fit and hold it on. It
fits better, stays put better and is easier to put on and off than a
bandana, which must be folded and formed and doesn't always stay where
you want it.
Some people use both, though. I have, mainly for variety and if I
can't find a do-rag to match my shirt, or whatever. But I greatly
prefer a do-rag. Now those stretchy polyester numbers googlenut-ga is
talking about below are really a somewhat different animal, generally
called "skullcaps," though do-rags are also sometimes called skullcaps
and vice versa. It gets a little confusing, but sorts out better if
you understand that the terms are sort of interchangeable. These
headwraps (yet another term) can and do come in a variety of
materials, ranging from very thin mesh for summer wear to heavy
leather for cold weather, with most being made of lightweight printed
or solid cotton fabric.
Also, as this type of headgear has become more popular among bikers
and other, along have come numerous makers and sellers, and various
variations on the standard do-rags have appeared. Some have bills, or
visors like baseball caps, some have long tails that cover the whole
neck, some come in sizes, some have cooling "crystals," others have
velcro closures, still others have ome have fancy names like
"Fly-danna" or "Doo Rag" (as your example), or other creative plays on
words. But again, just remember, the bandana came first, then the
do-rag, and now there are both choices, with a lot of variations.
Another thing to keep in mind is that bandanas serve(d) other purposes
than just head/hair covering. For one thing, you can soak a bandana in
water and tie it around your neck to help keep you cool in summer, not
easy to do with a do-rag. You can use it to wipe off your seat if your
bike gets rained on, or to wipe the dipstick to check your oil, to
clean your mirror or polish a smudge off the chrome. It can insulate
your hand if you need to reach down near the hot pipes for any reason,
and warm your neck if the wind turns cool. Some bikers still keep a
bandana on their bike even if they're wearing a do-rag on their head.
I'm one of 'em.
And one tidbit: although bikers have really popularized this form of
headgear in recent years, they're certainly not the only ones who wear
it, or something similar. For instance, young urban youths, as
mentioned below, often wear their own styles of skullcaps. Cancer
patients frequently use colorful bandanas or do-rags to hide their
bald heads. Even certain religions use a form of skullcaps. For
example, observant Jewish men wear a yarmulke, and young Mulsim women
often wear a form of skullcap under their veils. Fireman and others
who must wear helmets often choose to wear some type of head covering
underneath for comfort. Construction workers, landscapers and others
who work outdoors frequently wear bandanas under hats for protection
from the sun, but I've also seen do-rags, with their signature tails
sticking out in back.
Here are a few interesting links for you:
"What is a Do Rag?" Short explanation w/comments and a bit of trivia:
http://journals.aol.com/mosie1944/MYCOUNTRYLIFE/entries/1169
Biker Headwear - a retailer with hundreds of types and styles of
do-rags and bandanas:
http://www.bikerheadwear.com/
Do Rag sewing pattern:
http://www.ridemyown.com/articles/other/pattern_doo-rag.shtml
Paper: "My Kingdom for a Crown: An Around-the-World History of the
Skullcap and its Modern Socio-Political Significance," by Rev. Antonio
Hernandez
http://www.hatsuk.com/skullcaps.pdf
Note: You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the above file, so if
you don't already have it, you can download a free copy here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Or, here's a link to an html version of the paper:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:7PDDRzie9rIJ:www.hatsuk.com/skullcaps.pdf+biker+do+rag+history+OR+trivia&hl=en
I hope this fully answers your question, but if anything still isn't
clear, please do use the "Request Clarification" feature to ask before
rating and closing your question, so I can be sure you're happy with
the information provided.
Best regards,
Byrd-ga
In answering this question, I relied mostly on my own knowledge of
this useful and practical headgear, supplemented with links found by
using the following search terms:
[biker do-rag]
[sewing pattern do rag]
[biker do rag history OR trivia] |
