What Constitutes Beautifying The Hair?
And if I normally never cover my hair outside of prayer and it is common to show it in my culture, then would it be considered sinful not to cover my hair while wearing something like I’ve shown?
السلام عليكم What you have shown seems to be a common hair tie. I can’t think of any reason it would be considered an embellishment. So, no, it would not be considered sinful (in my point of view) especially if it is normal in your culture. To provide you with a more scholarly approach as to what is meant by الزينة, this is a passage from Zamakshari’s Al-Kashaf: الزينة: ما تزينت به المرأة من حلىّ أو كحل أو خضاب، فما كان ظاهرا منها كالخاتم والفتخة(٢) والكحل والخضاب. فلا بأس بإبدائه للأجانب، وما خفى منها كالسوار والخلخال والدملج والقلادة والإكليل والوشاح والقرط، فلا تبديه إلا لهؤلاء المذكورين He explains that الزينة is anything by which a woman embellishes herself from jewelry or Kohl (antimony used to darken the edges of eyelids) or dye. So, what is apparent is on the lines of rings, Kohl and dyes and what is hidden is on the lines of bracelets, anklets, armlets, necklaces, crowns, ornamented belts over the shoulder and earrings. I hope this helps clarify what is meant by embellishment here. I don’t think a hair tie would fit in this list.
covering embellishment is against men, not against God. In prayer, woman covers her hair as a manner, not as an obligation. the way Muslim man covers their head too.