Ask anyone what a khimar is and you’ll get answers that overlap with hijab, naqab and burqa — which is exactly why it deserves its own guide. In the simplest terms, a khimar is a head-and-shoulder covering that drapes down over the chest, worn by women who want more coverage than a standard hijab offers without the full face covering of a naqab. It’s a hugely practical piece for Indian conditions — and one of the least understood. This guide breaks down khimar styles, sizing, fabrics and wearing basics so you can order with confidence.
New to the terminology? Our burqa vs naqab vs abaya guide explains how all these garments relate. This post focuses on the khimar itself.
A khimar is a single-piece covering worn over the head that extends down over the shoulders and chest, usually reaching anywhere from the upper chest to the waist or below. Unlike a hijab — which is typically wrapped and pinned from a square or rectangular scarf — a khimar is often a pre-shaped or long flowing piece that sits on the head and drapes without complicated pinning. The key difference is length and shape: a khimar covers the upper body, not just the head and neck.
These are the khimar styles we make and see most often, with the practical differences that matter when you’re actually wearing one.
A half khimar covers the head and falls to the chest, stopping around the upper chest or just below the collarbone. It’s the most practical khimar for daily wear — full coverage of the head and neck with minimal fabric, which makes it the best starting point if you’re new to khimars.
The long khimar extends from the head to the waist or below, covering the entire upper body in a single flowing panel. Worn over a modest dress or with an abaya, it provides generous coverage with a graceful drape. It’s the classic khimar silhouette and the one most women picture when they hear the word.
Some khimar styles come with a fitted under-cap built in, or a separate face-covering piece. The khimar-plus-niqab combination is popular among women who want the shoulder coverage of a khimar with the face covering of a naqab — see our naqab styles guide for the face-covering options that pair with it.
Prayer khimars are lightweight, generously sized pieces designed specifically for salat — usually a full khimar that covers the head, shoulders and arms during prayer. Many are made in soft, breathable fabric and pack flat for the mosque bag. The same design is widely used for Umrah travel, where a compact, easy khimar is worth its weight in gold.
Choosing between khimar styles comes down to three questions:
Answer those and you’ve already narrowed the khimar styles down to the one that fits your routine.
The best khimar fabric is soft, opaque and breathable:
For sizing, tell us your head circumference and how far down you want the khimar to fall (chest, waist or below). We’ll stitch the fit — including the face opening — to your measurements. A well-fitting khimar sits on the head without pulling and frames the face without gapping.
The beauty of a khimar is that it needs almost no styling skill:
If you wear your khimar with an abaya, keep the lengths complementary so the khimar’s panel falls neatly over the abaya rather than bunching.
Khimars are gentle-care garments. Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent, dry in shade to protect colours, and iron on low heat or steam lightly. The care rules in our abaya care guide apply to khimars too — treat them with the same respect and they’ll keep their drape for years.
Modest fashion has embraced the khimar’s practical elegance in recent years, with modest wear editors regularly featuring it alongside the hijab — coverage by Vogue Arabia is a good window into how the khimar is styled globally.
A hijab is typically a wrapped scarf covering the head and neck. A khimar is a pre-shaped or long flowing covering that also drapes over the shoulders and chest, offering more coverage with less pinning.
Yes — in fact, dedicated prayer khimars are designed for salat, covering the head, shoulders and arms with a breathable, easy fit.
Match it to your coverage preference and occasion: chest-length for daily wear, waist-length or below for mosque and gatherings.
Lightweight crepe or cotton. Both breathe well and stay comfortable in Indian summers; save heavier fabrics for cooler months.
Yes — khimars are stitched to your head and body measurements, with length, fabric and opening options chosen on WhatsApp.
The khimar is the most practical head-and-shoulder covering most women never try — and once you do, it’s hard to go back to complicated pinning. Choose your length, pick a breathable fabric, and let custom stitching handle the fit. Browse our burqa & naqab collection for khimar options, or message us on WhatsApp with your measurements and we’ll recommend the right khimar style before you order.
NISABIYA® Styling Team — Custom abaya, burqa, naqab & hijab specialists — Pan India delivery since 2018.
Khimar Styles, Made to Your Measurements — Half, long or prayer khimar, stitched for a perfect drape.
Loved this guide? Get styled by our team on WhatsApp — free advice, no obligation.
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