Hellenic polytheism stems from a rich culture, receiving its common (but not exclusive) name from the region in which it was primarily practiced. Naturally, some elements of ancient Hellenic values and traditions made their way into religious practices. Some of these traits are more obvious than others, but today, I’d like to introduce how I bind and veil my hair on a daily basis.
I’ve written about what binding/veiling is in the past, so if you’d like a clear introduction to the concept, I suggest reading one of my posts, and/or this great post by Elani, aka @baringtheaegis . In short, though, binding and veiling was something used by women during the later periods of life in Ancient Hellas. it was a way women would protect themselves from lyma (the pollution/distraction we naturally gather in our day-to-day lives– but this is not sin check out my subheading for lyma on my masterpost for more info) and maintain ritual purity, also called katharmos. It was very culturally significant, which accounts for its place in Hellenic Polytheism.
Although not mandatory, binding and veiling during rituals was very common, and if you want to give it a shot, that’s where I would start. For a while, that is what I did, until I found my personal method of veiling and binding, which suits my lifestyle better than before.
I personally veil everyday before I leave the house, which, for me helps with a few things:
Reminds me of the Theoi and acts as a devotional ‘activity’ (for lack of a better word)
Adds a routine for me to use to honour the Theoi everyday
Everyone who veils does so for their own reasons, in their own ways, and with their own ideals of what binding/veiling means to them. Some people bind or veil, preferring one or the other. It’s a very intimate way to connect to the Theoi and our religious predecessors.
When I think of veils/etc., I tend to recall hijabs, tichels, and other very well-defined coverings. In Ancient Hellas (which is a broad time frame as it is), there wasn’t a set way to bind or veil. Binding just means tying back your hair, and veiling is covering it in some way (entirely, or not). Himations (see below) were used to veil, but how you arrange the fabric is really open to interpretation. It’s like having a large scarf wrapped around your body and/or across your head. It looks pretty comfy, right?
However simple to wear and easy to replicate himations are, they aren’t super practical for modern lifestyles. Trust me, having to readjust these is a pain. If you think you could do it, then by all means, give it a go, but for me, it isn’t feasible.
There isn’t really a formula for binding either, which isn’t really a bad thing. There are tons of options left behind through art, including the caryatids (see first image below) and vase depictions of women living their lives (the first image after the caryatids is a scene where one women is being styled).
What I have seen most often are buns/updos of some kind with headbands or mesh coverings that hold them in place. This is what I usually use for inspiration when I get ready in the morning, but I also love braids, so those do sneak in, too.
Now that I’ve discussed veiling and binding a bit more, I’d like to move on to how I do it. This is by no means the only way to bind/veil. In fact, this is one of the less-intensive versions I have seen. I find joy in it, but if you don’t, that’s cool! Find what you like and ditch it if you don’t. Veiling and binding isn’t for everyone, and every technique offers different pros and cons.
Anyway, here’s the staples of my collection:
At the top, I have a few hairties that I use to create buns/tie off braids (I have dark hair, but I love these too much to actually not wear them, haha. They’re called teleties). If I don’t want them to show, I just use plain black hairties. Similarly, I have a bunch of bobby pins, because my hair is long and unruly.
I have three headbands, one of which I made from upcycled materials (very bottom). The other two I bought for very cheap, totalling at $4? They’re really comfortable, which I refuse to compromise on (looking at you, plastic headbands from my childhood). I usually layer the sparkly one over the white one, which has a really elegant look when put all together.
I also have two ornaments, which I don’t usually use, but have for special occasions or for when I want to feel special. The feather is a hair clip (great for binding on days when not veiling) and the wreath is a brooch.
Every once in a while, I add a strip of fabric I have lying around, and tie bows or braids. In general, though, this is what I tend to stick to!
I struggled with not looking like an idiot when wearing these, at first, but after some wiggling around, I figured out that these styles work best for me (modified as needed):
(source [this is an etsy listing, so if you like it, you can buy it])
(source [this is also an etsy listing]).
*I would typically pair this kind of style with a braid, probably a fishtail
(source [yet another awesome etsy listing])
There are days when I don’t leave the house or I don’t want to veil for whatever reason. On these days, I have a few hairstyles I go to:
Other ideas I’ve had fun with (or want to try) include hair tucks (see this video for an example), milkmaid-style braids (example video), beanies, hats, and Renaissance hair nets (example).
This style is something I desperately want to recreate, but I haven’t really figured it out yet (click to view it at its source).
I hope this post is helpful to anyone looking to learn about or try binding/veiling! Let me know if you have any questions!
Otherwise, I hope to see you soon! Khaire!
*** I would like to note that binding/veiling is not, in my opinion, something only women can do. I think anyone, regardless of gender, should be able to bind and/or veil as they please, based on my views as a feminist. However, no one should feel pressured to bind/veil if they don’t want to. This post is purely for the education of interested parties! ***
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