My husband likes to pull my head covering down when my hair starts to show, but I don’t really mind if my hair peaks out. He also prefers me to wear head coverings that aren’t associated with certain religious groups. As beautiful as the hijab looks to me, he wouldn’t want me to wear that particular style. So what’s a wife to do when her views of head covering don’t align with her husband’s views?

The purpose of a head covering is to honor our head (which is man), but if we dishonor our husband’s wishes for how/when to cover aren’t we undoing the entire purpose of covering in the first place?

Navigating the waters of our husband’s wishes is one of the biggest issues I’ve seen plague the 600+ women of the head covering group I’m a part of on Facebook. If you find your desire to cover in some way at odds with your husband’s wishes, believe me: You. Are. Not. Alone.

Some common Head Covering issues that take place between husband and wife:

• My husband doesn’t want me to cover.
• My husband disagrees with my choice of head covering style.
• My husband doesn’t want me to cover all the time.

The Bible says:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:22-24

But how do we do submit to our husbands when what he says seemingly contradicts what the Bible is teaching? If covering is causing strife in your marriage or if he has asked you not to cover, is it better to remain uncovered? Should you let God deal with your husband on this matter or follow the Biblical commandment? 

For those who are struggling with your husband as it pertains to covering, you might want to ask yourself and your husband a couple questions:

Have you prayed about it?

Many times we forget that we don’t war against flesh and blood, but principalities. Your first and foremost option to combat your husband’s disagreement about your head covering is prayer. It might take one week of prayer…or one year..or one decade, but prayer is your best option for changing his heart on the matter.

Does he have any underlying fears about you covering?

Is he scared what people at church might think? Does it bring up fears that you are being ‘legalistic’? Is he scared you’ll be a target of persecution? Fear can be a huge factor for a husband not desiring his wife to cover. Take the time to discover if your husband has any fears about it.

Does your husband not like what you look like covered?

Remember the woman your husband married. How does she compare to the woman you see in the mirror today? Men are very visual. Being covered doesn’t mean that you should forsake your looks. Ask your husband if your covering is problematic because he doesn’t feel like you look as beautiful as you do without it. If this is the problem, discuss ways that you can remain covered while upholding his desire to see the gorgeous woman he married. This might mean you have to compromise on style of covering, type of clothing, and wearing jewelry or makeup while covered.

Have you gently explained why you like to cover?

Communication is key to any good marriage, but many times wives tend to nag in order to get their point across…especially if it has Biblical backing. We are not our husband’s Holy Spirit, we are to come to our husband in gentleness. Try explaining how covering makes you feel in conjunction with scriptures. He might be more willing to allow you to cover if he feels like it’s coming from his wife instead of his judge and jury.

What do you think?

Have you experienced problems with your husband and covering in the past that have been resolved? What worked and what didn’t? Let us know in the Head Covering Movement Facebook Group!

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Elaine Mingus

Elaine Mingus always knew that some day she’d be a real writer. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism, she imagined herself walking up and down the streets of New York but instead found herself walking up and down the stairs of a house in the suburbs of Austin, Texas chasing six children. Today, she writes on the side, happily pimps a white picketed-fence and a minivan but still dreams of New York. She blogs regularly at Radical Christian Woman.

Latest posts by Elaine Mingus (see all)

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