What is a Snood?

By definition, a snood is a fabric bag or net that holds the hair on ones head. It is pinned or tied at the back of the head and can also be attached to the back of a hat.

Pre-cursors to the snood were around in the middle ages. Typically, they were simply a bag of knotted lace that covered the hair. In the 1800s, crocheting was invented by Irish nuns who used their handicrafts to raise money for victims of the potato famine. Crocheted snoods were "lacy" and much more beautiful than a plain old cloth bag. This greatly increased their popularity.

Snoods really became popular during World War II. Women replaced their hats with snoods to show their patriotism by conserving precious fabrics so that their husbands and boyfriends in the field would have adequate uniforms. If you ever watch a dance scene in a World War II movie, you'll probably notice the girls "jitterbugging" with their hair contained by a snood!

Snoods come in many different varieties. They can be made from lace, yarn, or fabric in a myriad of different colors. Sometimes they are adorned with beads, imitation gemstones or even real jewels!

Snood also have many practical benefits including:

1. They make the hair appear to be longer.
2. The spherical shape give the appearance of fullness and rich body.
3. Artificial hair or other stuffings can even further enhance the benefits of #1 and #2.
4. Snoods keep the hair off the neck which is much cooler on hot days.
5. The hair in a Snood always looks great and takes only moments to make up.

Snoods are still worn today by many married women of the Orthodox Jewish faith.

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