Guess I didn’t get the memo. Is there a name for those nylon deals that many young african-american males sport on their heads these days, and what’s their purpose? They aren’t hairnets, and in fact most of the time the person who is wearing one seems to have a shaved head.
Please help so I can get my street cred documents revalidated.
I’ve heard them referred to as do-rags, as in a rag to cover your 'do (or lack thereof).
Son, you got a panty on yo’ head.
I believe they are refered to as skullies or something like that.
I can confirm they are indeed called “skullies.” Derived from skull cap.
Pop culture references to this word go back to at the very least 1996 or so, when I remember Wyclef’s song “Anything Can Happen” kicking off with a riff talkin’ about “Got a skully to my face”.
I’ve always heard them called do-rags, but I could never dicern their purpose.
I don’t think what the OP is referring to are “do-rags.” Those always meant a bandanna around the head wherever I went to school.
Are those the skull caps with the little veils in the back?
Yes. Back in the day they were also called do rags (which does refer to good ol’ fashioned bandanas too), but if it’s street cred you’re looking for, skully’s the word.
Just checking in.
Re: do-rags, I always understood that these were cloth, a bandanna or such. What I was referring to, which we now know are called “skullies”, are woven, sheer nylon and look disturbingly like a rolled-up pair of pantyhose (kudos for the ‘Raising Arizona’ quote). Still hoping, however, that someone can post the practical value to this type of headgear.
Hairnet for really short hair?
Guy at work said he wore one to protect a brand new hairdo…he had just had close-fitting braids done on his hair.
Now I’m wondering if there’s a name for close-fitting braids…argh! will it ever end!
Corr
Now that we know what they are called, what are they? Do you buy one in a store or are they really just a piece of pantyhose?
You can get skullies at many large discount stores (e.g., Ames), or convenience/drug stores, but from my experience only in areas that have significant black populations. Some of my friends wore them to protect new braids or cornrows, some for no practical reason other than aesthetics.
They shouldn’t cost you more than a couple bucks each.
Slight hijack here.
Are these different from what I’ve seen Mexican / Chicano youth wearing out west?