Meet Hedva, a Wrapunzel head-wrapping maven!  I’ve been impressed by her creative and adventurous wrapping skills since I first met her online, but recently I got to meet her in person and… wow!  She’s also a lawyer, and has strong moral and religious values.  She’s honest, direct, has a lot to say, and is a PERFECT Lady Wrap Star.  Photos, you ask?  We have photos!  I just couldn’t choose which ones to feature so I’m sharing over 100 with you!  Check them out in the gallery at the bottom of this post and get inspired!  And now… [drumroll] meet Hedva!

– Can you tell us a bit about yourself?  Some interesting facts, where you’re from, hobbies, work, etc.?  I was born in Israel and we moved to the US when I was 5.  But I think my heart stayed in Israel, the land where headscarves are a beautiful norm!  I was raised with a strong sense of individuality and have always followed my own fashion muse.  I currently live in NYC with my husband and our 4 sons.  I’m an attorney and my husband is a rabbi.  That sounds like the start of some joke, doesn’t it?  As for hobbies, I am very interested in health and natural living, especially natural childbirth.  I would love to become a doula someday, or some sort of a practitioner of alternative medicine.

– When did you start covering your hair?  I began covering right after marriage, 10 years ago.  As a Torah Observant Jew, I always knew I would cover my hair after marriage.  I loved my curly hair and cute hairstyle, but I enjoyed covering my hair from the very start.  I was in law school at the time and I received diverse feedback..  Although some comments were negative, a nonconformist streak in my personality helped me stick to my guns.  Covering my hair made me feel more connected to Judaism, to G-d, to my husband, and to myself.  I wasn’t going to let some small-minded people take that away from me!

– Did you start covering with mitpachot/tichels?  What prompted you to get into it?  Yes, it was tichels from the start!  I bought a wig just in case I needed it for interviews, but I hardly ever wear it.  I’m a very natural, no make-up type of girl, and the wig just feels very fake and “costumey”.  When I wear a headscarf, I feel so grounded and connected to Torah and Jewish history.   I am so grateful for this mitzvah (Torah commandment) that just keeps inspiring me more and more as the years go by.

– Please tell us about your style – how do your head coverings help you express your personality?  I’m all about comfort – I don’t wear heels and I don’t wear uncomfortable wraps.  My style is definitely bohemian and fun, but also elegant (I hope!), often with hanging tails and lots of color.  I try to make my wraps beautiful and interesting, not necessarily for others, but for myself.  See, I constantly struggle to view the world in a positive light, as I am very sensitive to all the negative things which I read and hear about.  A sad news story can put me in a funk for days or weeks, and I can start to think that the world is a terrible place and what exactly is the point in all of this?!  One of the things that really helps me stay positive is to focus on the natural beauty that G-d put into this world, and I remind myself that it’s proof that G-d really loves us.  I wear all those beautiful colors on my head as a constant reminder to focus on the positive.  An interesting wrap with twists and braids just add to the fun and beauty and further remind me of G-d’s love for us.

– What are your favorite colors/styles to wrap?  I love them all!  Thanks to Wrapunzel, I have discovered that I can wear any color, so long as I have a flattering color next to my skin.  But my favorite color has to be teal.  It is so incredibly rich and versatile and looks great with so many other colors!  As for my favorite style, that changes all the time.  I am currently loving the Liezl braid, but I wore Shira tails all winter.

– When you are in a rush, what is your ‘go to’ wrap?  I love the turban wrap for when I am in a rush.  I even made a tutorial!  I get a lot of comments about how “ethnic” I look, and I love it.  I feel like a queen, part of some holy plan, with the symbol of G-d’s love perched right on my head.

– What is one piece of advice (or more pieces if you want!) you would give to someone just starting to wrap?  Get a velvet headband and start simple!  Once you’ve mastered a certain style, try something a little more complicated.  Get some bling, in the form of headbands and pins, as they are a really easy way to add fun and interest.  Look for inspiration everywhere – in nature, in your own closet, and in other women.  Do not give up, and don’t let aching arms stop you!

– What do your friends/family think about your wrapping?  Have you ever had any awkward/negative experiences?  How did you deal with them?  Most of my friends and family are super cool with my wrapping.  My mom used to bug me about wearing my wig, but she stopped that a couple of years ago – she realized it was a lost cause! My husband is my biggest fan.  He is constantly encouraging me to experiment with different colors and styles, and he always compliments my wraps.  My sons love them too!
Some friends have made negative comments in the past, but I tackled the issue right from the start and straightened it out.  I don’t like to let bad feelings fester – that’s not good for any relationship!

– Can you tell us a bit about your professional life, and how does hair wrapping connect to this?  I’m a self-employed attorney. I wear wraps all the time when meeting with clients, going to court, and going to depositions, and I’ve gotten only positive feedback.  My very diverse clients love them, and fellow attorneys usually compliment them.  I find that my wraps seem to garner more respect from my clients and colleagues.  For example, people will apologize for swearing in front of me.  I love that!

– How do you go about putting your scarves together?  Please tell us a bit about your creative process!  First and foremost, I am always taking note of great color combinations I see throughout the day, either in nature, on a bus ad, in someone else’s outfit, or just any random place.   And I love getting inspired by all the wonderful ladies on the Wrapunzel FB page!
My mornings are really busy, so I choose my outfit the night before.  I find the process really calming before bed.  I own lots of colorful clothes, so I look to them for inspiration as well.  For example, I have a great skirt with teal, light blue, dark red, and brown – any combination of those colors looks amazing!  If I’m wearing a monochromatic outfit, I try to add another contrasting or complementing color to my wrap to spice it up.  I then choose an accessory to add a little bling or to pull it all together.  I love my headbands and pins!  In the morning, I put the first scarf on and, depending on how it’s laying or how many scarves I want to wear, I then decide on a particular style.  So if I’ve chosen to wear 2 in 1s, I’m likely to do a double braid, a double twist, or a Liezl.  If it’s a pashmina that I’ve chosen, I’ll likely go for Shira tails.  If it’s a shimmery, I’ll do the waterfall wrap.  When I have extra time in the morning, I’m more willing to experiment and do something I haven’t really mastered yet, like a criss-cross wrap.

– What are you grateful for today?  It’s been one of those days that has made me realize how much G-d has given me and how precious it all is.  I am grateful that I have a purpose in life, and that I am part of a holy plan.  I am most grateful for my amazing husband and our adorable sons.

Hello Hedva!