You asked! Here is a tutorial on how to do this twist!
Author: Andrea Grinberg
The New Twist
I am still experimenting and perfecting this new wrap! I think it’s now mastered, so you can look forward to a video on how to do it soon! This one was done with two cotton scarves instead of the shimmery gold and yellow ones from before. And my beaded bobby pin was the perfect contrasting accessory 🙂
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Flowers ‘n’ Ribbons
I am really starting to look forward to opening my mail box. There are so many artistic ladies on this site! My friend, Stephanie, who is a Lady Wrap Star (see her post here) is also starting to make her own scarf wrapping accessories! They are gorgeous, and work very well because they are specifically made for those of us that cover with scarves. I am loving this pretty gift of a yellow flower clip/headband – I can’t seem to stop wearing it!
I hope that one day I can start being crafty like some of the ladies on here… but for now, I can just get excited about opening my mail box! Here is the flower headband/clip on a different wrap:
Stephanie is also making hair clip holders (basically, a pretty ribbon – or two – attached to a loop that can be hung on your wall) and sent me one. It holds my flower clips beautifully and is very practical for storage. You can see it on the left side of this photo. (On the right is how I store my pins.) Yay no more crushed flowers!
I am not sure, but I do think she is selling her creations and since everything is made by hand, will do special requests. I will let her clarify that! Thank you Stephanie!
(and FYI – she did not ask me to make this post… but how could I not? ❤ )
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Meet Myriam!
I am happy to introduce you to a woman that knows a lot about looking beautiful with very little time required. Here is Myriam and her marvelous hair coverings!
Hi Myriam, what is the most memorable thing that has happened to you today?
I am running a lot of errands today instead of working (my office is closed for maintenance, what can I do ) but I am also cooking and bringing a meal to a friend of mine who just had a baby (last week). Our community organises a meal rota for new moms. The best thing: this friend asked if she can also be on the rota for the next two of moms who are due in a couple of weeks! Some women are incredible!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am French but have lived in Israel, Ireland and now England for the last 7 years. I am doing a PhD in international law which I am hoping to finish in the next 6 months. I am hoping to lecture at university and be a consultant on my main expertise, which is counterterrorism.
My husband and I hope to move to Israel in the next couple of years, where my four sibblings already live.
I also absolutely love baking and, when I have time, I make costume jewlery.
How long have you been covering your hair?
Since I got married, almost three years ago.
Have your feelings about hair covering changed over time? If yes, how so?
Before I got married, I wasn’t sure how often and how I would cover my hair. My husband always said I had to do whatever I felt was right and once I got married, I actually didn’t even think and covered all the time (although not when alone at home with him). What has changed is the way I cover: I used to have short hair and so would cover most hair but have some sticking out.
I have now grown my hair, so I now ‘put it all in’ and cover everything.
What is your favourite aspect of covering your hair?
I never particularly loved my hair so it wasn’t too hard to cover. I love the variety of it, and also, I never have a bad hair day! I have always loved hats so it’s mainly fun.
How do you normally cover?
I tend to wear hats/berets during winter and scarves during summer, although I have light cotton berets and warmer scarves. I quite like the seasonal aspect of my covering.
How do you cover your hair on formal/unique occasions?
I have a couple of fancier scarves which I tend to wear at all formal occasions. I do buy expensive scarves and hats in general because I am not original at all and am useless at ‘wrapping’ with various colourful scarves. So I tend to be lazy and buy scarves and hats that are already a bit special. I am always so impressed by what Andrea comes up with, and the jewlery etc, but I guess I am either too lazy or not brave enough to try. I’ll tend to go for a scarf which has a wow factor already. My bank manager would probably prefer I didn’t….
Has covering your hair affected your work/study? How so?
Interestingly, no one has ever commented or asked about why I started covering my hair (although the Brits are way too polite to ask anything anyways 🙂 My thesis supervisor never mentioned anything.
I must stress though that I am a student and even if I attend conferences and teach, I do not work as a lawyer, or have clients. I do think that if I did, I might feel more comfortable with a wig, even though I do not want to wear one (and don’t have one). I also know that I always feel more ‘normal’ covering when I am in Israel.
I have had a couple of muslim colleagues ask for recommendations of where to buy scarves.
What is your most vivid hair covering memory?
Presenting a paper at a conference and having a couple of people commenting on how nice and elegant my hat was. One even said ‘women used to cover their hair when they went out in public, things have changed’. It just felt funny to be discussing such things in the middle of a very serious conference on state sovereignty and the european union. I guess everybody needed a break!
What kind of community do you live in, in terms of hair covering practice? How does this affect you?
In my community, most women only cover their hair for shule, if at all. There are only a couple of us who cover entirely and all the time. I have always been a very independant person so I don’t really care what people do and think, although most people comment on how nice my hats are, which doesn’t hurt 🙂
Our community is very intellectual and cultured so I feel that this is what matters most, not particularly the physical appearance or the religious practice.
What is your favourite hat?
Hard to choose, usually changes on the season. I have a favourite designer though (see below).
Can you recommend some of your favourite places to find hats?
I buy A LOT from Chirelle D, a former student at my Jewish school in France, who makes scarves and hats. They are all unique and handmade creations, which means they are very expensive.
But because I cover everyday and feel like I have to look professional, I have invested in many of her creations, which always make me feel glamorous, original and professional at the same time. She has such an amazing creativity and, as I said, for those of use who can’t make it beautiful wraps, her scarves and hats are the answer. She has people who sell her creation in France, the UK and Israel and will soon sell online. I usually try to wait for sales but it is my guilty pleasure (on the contrary; I have like 3 pairs of shoes…)
I have bought hats from arts fair in Toronto, shops in Jerusalem and brands like H&M, etc. Israel is always a great place for diversity and price.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for having a really supportive family and an amazing husband; for my good health and for the internet that allows me to share my passions (cooking, hats, etc) with so many people and which allows me to connect with everyone dear to me.
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Sunny Day Colours
In keeping with my discovery that I can indeed wear all kinds of yellow-inspired hues on my head, here is today’s wrap!
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Elegant Practicality
This simple bun was exactly what was needed for my day today!
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New Favourite
Here it is – the over/under wrap with a beautiful bow embellishment! If you want to try this, make sure the top scarf is thin enough to work with the bow. I think this is one of my current favourites!
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Yellow & Gold
After last week’s surprise success with the colour yellow, I was encouraged by a special reader to try wrapping with a gold scarf. The funny (and amazing) thing is that within a few hours of receiving her suggestion, I was waiting for a friend who was running late and decided to duck into a gift shop. All their “winter” scarves were on a huge sale, and I put winter in quotes because included was a beautiful, sheer, woven gold scarf. This is the wrap that I created with it… and YES, I will make a video tutorial on how to do the twist part, because I just figured it out!
I took these photos with a faulty camera in a room with inadequate light, so I had to play with the settings on my computer to make them look acceptable… yay artsy!
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Meet Rivki :)
This week’s Lady Wrap Star is Rivki Silver! I discovered Rivki through her blog, Life in the Married Lane, and after reading her “about me” and seeing that she was a fellow musician (clarinet and piano) and also liked Star Trek, I had to send her a message! My husband and I recently met her in person during a recent trip to where she lives, and I must say that she is even more lovely and inspirational in person! I was very excited to ask her some interview questions:
Hi Rivki! Can you tell us a bit about yourself, ie how do you choose to spend your time, where do you live, hobbies, family etc.?
Let’s see, where to start? We currently live in Baltimore, though we’ve also lived in Cleveland and Memphis. My “official” occupation is a stay-at-home-mom, and much of my day is spent with my three kids, the oldest of whom is four years old. So, that keeps me pretty busy! In between the meal-preparation, diaper-changing and playtime, I’m also in charge of the laundry, cooking, and general tidiness. It really is a full-time job to keep a house running, but our home is our own little sanctuary, and it gives me pleasure to work to create a happy space for my family.
So, in the free time which somehow still exists, I also write and play music, do a blog and vlog for Partners in Torah, try to post weekly on my personal blog, Life in the Married Lane, participate in Rabbi Aryeh Nivin’s chabura, learn with my Partner in Torah, and play in a community band. Wow, that seems really crazy, but somehow it works.
How long have you been covering your hair?
I started covering my hair when I got married a little over five years ago.
I started covering my hair when I got married a little over five years ago.
When people ask you why you cover your hair, how do you usually respond?
It’s been a while since anyone asked me why I cover my hair. If someone does ask, I usually offer a brief explanation about how Jewish law teaches that once a woman gets married, her hair becomes spiritually charged, and she keeps it covered to protect the holiness. The only man who gets to see it is my husband, and it’s like a special treat just for him. If the person seems interested, I’m happy to talk more about it, but generally, I keep it relatively short.
It’s been a while since anyone asked me why I cover my hair. If someone does ask, I usually offer a brief explanation about how Jewish law teaches that once a woman gets married, her hair becomes spiritually charged, and she keeps it covered to protect the holiness. The only man who gets to see it is my husband, and it’s like a special treat just for him. If the person seems interested, I’m happy to talk more about it, but generally, I keep it relatively short.
What do you tell your children about it?
My children are still small, so we haven’t gotten beyond “Mommy covers her hair.” They know the difference between my different hair coverings (sheitel, tichel and hat), but that’s pretty much it at this point.
My children are still small, so we haven’t gotten beyond “Mommy covers her hair.” They know the difference between my different hair coverings (sheitel, tichel and hat), but that’s pretty much it at this point.
Can you give us some scarf tying advice, based personal experience? (ie you hair type, face shape, colouring, lifestyle, etc.)
I started out using square-shaped scarves, folding them in half to make a triangle and doing a basic bun-style tichel. Sometimes I would put a stretchy headband underneath to hold it in place more securely. I like cotton-blend scarves because they don’t slip as much. In the past year or so, I branched out to rectangular-shaped scarves, which gives me a little more height, as opposed to the bun-style, which tends to be flat to my head. I have an oval-shaped face, and I’ve found that both styles work with my face. For the rectangular scarves, I like to work with a cotton-based material, as opposed to jersey. It also helps to do a big bun-style tie underneath the rectangle, to provide some volume in back.
What are your favourite kinds of scarves and colours that you like to wear?
My current preference is to use colorful scarves. I used to stick to more neutral colors (they match more outfits!), but I’m trying to make my wardrobe more vibrant, so now I keep my eyes out for scarves will more personality. I gravitate toward navy blue, purple and teal.
How did you feel about hair covering before you got married? What about now?
Before marriage, I never really thought much about hair covering; it was just something I was going to do. Now it has become such a integral part of my life that I feel a little naked if my hair is uncovered. It’s like a part of me is missing. I love how each hair covering gives me a different look. My absolute favorite part is that it drastically reduces the amount of time needed to get ready in the morning. When I’m running out to take my four-year-old to his preschool, I can get stick my hair in a bun and pop on a hat. It is the best. If I want to be a little fancier, I can put on a beautiful tichel, and it makes me feel so regal. Much better than the washing, drying and straightening routine I had with my hair pre-marriage. Also, my hair is super-healthy now that I’m not constantly abusing it. Bonus!
Do you have any funny or inspiring hair covering stories that you would like to share with us?
When I was newly married, I worked in an office where I was the only Jewish woman. It was in a town that does not have a large Orthodox population, and it’s likely I was the first (and perhaps only) Orthodox women my co-workers had encountered. At the time, I only owned one sheitel (wig), and the time came for it to be washed. It wasn’t ready by Monday, so I wore a tichel to work. One of my co-workers asked me how many times a year I had to cover my hair. When I told her “all the time,” she responded, “but I see you with your hair all the other days.” So I revealed that it wasn’t my hair, but a wig, and she wouldn’t believe me until she was able to inspect it the next day!
You have a beautiful blog called Life in the Married Lane. What made you start blogging? How has your writing style and the topics you choose to discuss evolve over the years?
I started blogging when I was studying for a year in Israel. That first blog was called “Inspirations from the Holy Land.” Its purpose was a way for my friends and family to keep up with me while I was abroad. When I came back from Israel and got married, I started a new blog (I was no longer in the Holy Land, unfortunately), and it served the same purpose. That was over five years ago, and slowly, it has grown into a beautiful community of women who I am so glad to have in my life.
My style has evolved because now I’m aware that people I don’t know personally are reading my blog, and that I’m kind of representing Orthodox Judaism, so it’s a certain level of responsibility. I would say I’m more thoughtful about my posts now, and take more time to try and clearly express my thoughts, to make sure that I’m accurately representing Judaism, and myself. I’ve also scaled back on sharing details about my personal life, unless I think they would be helpful or inspiring to others. I’ve started writing a lot more about Judaism than I intended, but someone my religious posts seem to be my most popular. So that’s what I’ve gravitated toward.
My style has evolved because now I’m aware that people I don’t know personally are reading my blog, and that I’m kind of representing Orthodox Judaism, so it’s a certain level of responsibility. I would say I’m more thoughtful about my posts now, and take more time to try and clearly express my thoughts, to make sure that I’m accurately representing Judaism, and myself. I’ve also scaled back on sharing details about my personal life, unless I think they would be helpful or inspiring to others. I’ve started writing a lot more about Judaism than I intended, but someone my religious posts seem to be my most popular. So that’s what I’ve gravitated toward.
What music are you loving lately?
Lately I’ve been really digging Anat Cohen, who is a phenomenal clarinetist/saxophonist/composer. She plays jazz. I heard her on Fresh Air, and I was smitten. I purchased her newest album, Claroscura, and it has been in heavy rotation. I’ve also been listening to Shalsheles Junior, which is simple and upbeat, and gets my energy flowing. Also Beethoven’s 4th and 5th piano concertos, Chopin’s preludes and etudes, Ast by Pachora (another jazz combo with clarinet) and some Yosef Karduner, who really speaks to my soul with the simplicity and devotion of his music.
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The Classic Layered Regal Wrap
This wrap is such a classic… and always gets a lot of “wow”s and questions. It’s easy! You can be a little less careful with it (ie leave scarf fringe hanging out, don’t line up layers perfectly) and it still looks put together. This one is exactly the same wrap that I show in this video, except minus one scarf.
Hope you are all doing well! Happy wrapping 🙂
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Surprise yourself!
Yellow. The colour that I long refused to wear.
I claimed that since it matched with my hair, I couldn’t pull it off because I would be “all one colour”. Somehow, when I started covering my hair, I neglected to realize that since my hair colour would no longer be showing, this logic no longer applied. Since covering my hair, I had always avoided yellow scarves and ran towards my favourite blues and greens.
Well, of course this logic was flawed, because my own “yellow” hair was no longer showing! Therefore I would not be all one colour if I wore it.
Thanks to my mistakenly holding this scarf up to my face in a store (I was reaching for the blue), I have realized that yellows and golds are probably some the most beautiful colours for me to wrap over my hair! I especially like this scarf because it is so big and soft… quite comfortable! And of course, my “tichel tiara” made it look even more elegant. I think this is one of my new favourites!
Lesson learned; Surprise yourself! 🙂
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Beginner’s Guide and Shopping Advice!
You asked, so here you go!
I have added a new page, called The Beginner’s Guide, with a video devoted specifically to beginners, and links to the most simple wraps on this site. Check it out! There is some good advice even for those that have been wrapping for a while… it’s always important to review the basics!
And also as per request, I have added a new section for those of you that want to share shopping advice, recommendations, and questions. I will be adding my own as well to the page (and will update occasionally), but for now you can start off by adding your recommendations in the comments section. Thank you for helping us find beautiful scarves!
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Grateful :)
There is something important that I would like to say, probably the most important thing I have said on Wrapunzel since creating the site:
“Thank you.”
Yes, you! Over the last few days, I have received an overwhelming amount of love and response from this community. It has been much more than usual, and is the reason why I am going through my days with a perma-smile! These messages, comments, and emails have given me so much strength and encouragement. It is amazing how much love and blessing I can feel through your words, and I thank you for giving so much of your love to me and the others on here! It has made me reaffirm how much a site like this is needed in the world, and I am so grateful to have been given the tools to run it. I am also glad to announce that over the past two days, Wrapunzel has achieved the highest number of daily site visits since its creation… wow! Thank you so much to those of you who have been sharing the site. I would have never guessed that hair covering could help build so many bridges and create so much love!
On Saturday night, I has the opportunity to teach a hair wrapping class to the largest group of women that I have taught! The particular one was for a group of Sephardi women, and it was a wonderful experience. I made new friends, learned a lot, and am looking forward to doing many more events like this in the future. If you have any ideas of places that could use hair wrapping classes, I would appreciate the connection. I especially want to reach out to health centers in order to offer classes to ladies who are dealing with hair loss… I know that feeling beautiful during rough times can do wonders for self esteem and healing.
Anyway, I digress. This post is about gratefulness and yesterday I received the most exquisite gift; Batsheva, our “Lady Wrap Star” from the Golan sent me a package in the mail. I opened it and after her beautiful note made me tear up, I discovered that it contained beautiful jewellery and hair covering accessories that she had made by hand! I had no idea that she was such an artist, but now that I look back at her photos, I should have guessed! She apparently used to sell them but does not do so anymore… but I’m thinking we should encourage her to start up again because these are gorgeous (she did not ask me to make this post, but I got her permission – her creations are just too beautiful not to share)! I am especially inspired by her “Tichel Tiara” (the one in a spiral – it’s not a necklace), that is adjustable and will not cause pulling like the other headbands I use. Can’t wait to wear it! Here is what she sent me:
So, I want to wear them all at once, but since I realistically can only wear one pin with earrings and a necklace, here is today’s wrap!
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The “Rachel Imenu”
I was intruiged by Batsheva’s description of the retro “Rachel Imenu” style, so I decided to try doing a wrap that incorporated it into the style. She was right, I did feel a bit dated (who knew that scarf wrapping had eras/trends?) but I actually got a lot of nice comments throughout the day!
Here is the knot at the top:
The colours are a little darker than what I usually go for, but with a bit of eyeliner I didn’t feel too washed out:
And the back of the wrap is one of my favourite ways to tie my bun area – the elegant double twist braid!
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Let’s get fancy
I am loving this multi-tonal, sparkly, sheer scarf that I recently found! To achieve the braid at the back, I put on the white scarf first, then the black over, and then blue one on top. All the scarves had one end short and one end long. Once they were all tied back, I braided the longer ones and brought them over the bun, securing them with an elastic to the shorter ends. Then I covered the elastic with a pretty flower pin!
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