Hi! I’m Bailey Umm Ibrahim and welcome to OldSchoolHijabi!

A woman wearing a maroon hijab and glasses, looking to the side.

Hi, salaamu alaikum. My name is Bailey UmmIbrahim, and I’m an American Muslim revert since 1996, a mom to two munchkins (one who is now 18!), an RN, and a long-time wearer of the Hijab.

I chose Islam and started wearing the Hijab way back in the 1990s as a teenager when there was not much information out there on either, as well, social media didn’t exist and what online socializing we did have consisted of online messaging boards and chat rooms. I remember having a difficult time finding suitable modest clothing and forget about learning what the latest Hijab trends were, let alone getting a hold of what was available at the time. I started OldSchoolHijabi to serve as a resource for Muslim women who were considering or new to Hijab and as a site for community among Muslim sisters online. Over the years, I have forged long-lasting friendships with the sisters I met online and IRL via this blog; OldSchoolHijabi.

So, now you’re wondering why this blog is named OldSchoolHijabi? Well, I consider myself just that, an Old School Hijabi. My first few hijabs I owned were made by me from fabric I purchased at a fabric store; my first few modest clothing pieces were donated to me by sisters through the now long-defunct SisNet Discussion Board. At the time, you couldn’t pop online and order up a couple of trendy modal hijabs or the latest tunic or abaya from the UAE. If you knew a sister going abroad, you’d ask them to bring you back a couple of items, or sisters who recently returned from trips abroad would resell items they found in their local suqs and bazaars in the sisters’ area of the local masjid. LOL.

Over the years I’ve found my style and interests surrounding the Hijab and Islamic Fashion ever evolving, changing and growing.

This Blog remains focused on sharing Hijab and Islamic Clothing information, Reviews, Tutorials and general Islamic & Hijab related Lifestyle pieces which my readers had and continue to find useful and educational. I have also Blogged extensively about Cultural forms of Hijab across the Muslim world and Historical Hijab as well.

Prior to my multi-year Hiatus from Blogging due to Life & Work committments (Nursing School IS Brutal guys) OldSchoolHijabi was active on the early forerunners of modern Social Media namely; Facebook & Instagram. You can still access my old OldSchoolHijabi Facebook profile HERE. Unfortunately I no longer have access to that FB page so I am in the process of making a new one.

I am at this time most active on TikTok, Instagram & Pinterest. You can also access my Amazon Storefront HERE. I’d love it if you would check me out on my Social Media.

5 tidbits about me:

1- I started my first forerunner of a Blog way back in 2000-2001 as an online digital diary. I then started my first actual real Blog when I had my eldest son in 2007. That blog was devoted to Babywearing and Muslim Motherhood and I was featured in Azizah Magazine in 2008!

2- In my spare time I enjoy knitting, crochet and working out.

3- I’m a consummate bookworm and linguaphile. I have studied several languages including Mandarin Chinese (high school) & Arabic (university) but am most passionate about the Persian language & its literature/art.

4- I was an Exchange Student with Rotary International in 1996 to Morocco. I had my first exposure to Islam in Morocco and found that for the first time in my life a religion and way of life resonated with me.

5- I work full-time as an RN in Cardiology but Blogging is a huge passion and interest of mine and am excited to grow this Blog so it can be of benefit to more Muslim women online.

PR/Collab Requests feel free to contact me at bailey[@]oldschoolhijabi.com.

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Thanks for reading this

–❤️Bailey Umm Ibrahim