Style, care tips for geles

THE year is still very young and there is no time like the present to take stock of your various headgears. For those who are yet to break into the headgear trend, which has become a signature mark for many fashionistas, it is not as hard as it seems.

Start small from the simple wraparound styles and work your way up to the complicated, yet trendy, infinity pleats and even geles styled with yards of Ankara material.

Geles have evolved from the shiny damask to the now popular aso ofi and are now adding instant pomp to any outfit if styled properly. Unlike the damask which is given to creases and fading, aso ofi gives the wearer the advantage of styles as it affords the wearer an array of styles owing to its nature.

The simple wraparound is a necessary basic style for gele wearers to achieve other styles. To style, depending on the fabric, make a mini fold for the front and share the gele into two halves. Place on the head and cross at the back. If the gele is wide enough to go round, wrap it around the hair on each side and finish up the knot at the back. If the fabric is not enough to finish the not, hold the gele down at the back with office pins. Smoothen out the front and back and you should get between two or four pleats.

Infinity pleats gele style is the more complicated form of the simple wrap around. This is the most popular style at the moment. It can be achieved with aso ofi and even Ankara. For more pleats, use material with more width, such as instead of three yards of Ankara fabric, go for four or six yards.

Other gele styles include the butterfly, side waves, rose, knotty, among others. To take it up a notch, go for the double gele style. For best results, seek the services of an expert. If not, there are a variety of already-styled geles available in the market.

How to ‘wash’ gele

There is no doubt that some may have even become dirty due to much wearing or from dust. Makeover spoke with fashion expert, Damilola Motunrayo, who shared tips for getting the best from various headgears.

When using makeup products for the face, avoid blending in too much into the hairline as this will leave crease marks or stains on the headgear. Instead, use edge control on the hairline to reduce the makeup effect and prevent stains from getting on the gele.

To clean the gele, first test the edge to ensure that it is not the type that fades when washed. This is very important especially when working with Ankara fabrics. For other popular gele fabrics, instead of going for full wash, simply use a small brush, dabbed in warm soapy water to gently brush the stained part of the gele. Spread on a plane surface to dry. Ensure you find out about the fabric’s tendency when exposed to sunlight before spreading under direct sunlight. Some geles fade out after too much exposure.