These wraps may have been in one color scheme, but they were certainly NOT one-dimensional! The wrappers in our Wrapunzel Community Group on Facebook twisted, turned and tasseled their way into creating the most amazing monochromatic styles – and we were floored! Take a look at some of their handiwork for the last two weeks of October 2021 🙂

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Hi there! My name is Elli Leppä and I live in Finland, in the Northernmost part of Europe. I work as a pharmacologist and I also write poetry (my second collection is coming out in the autumn). I’m interested in mythology, folklore and various sciences like astronomy and ecology, and I try to incorporate these things into my writing. Some of my role models are Margaret Atwood, Ursula LeGuin and Neil Gaiman. I’ve read science fiction and fantasy literature since I was a child, and these literary circles, as well as the live role playing community are like my second family. I also sing in a small folk music ensemble.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with autoimmune alopecia, which lead me to wrapping. I have always paid quite a lot of attention to my clothes and accessories, and I wanted to find a new way of expressing myself to compensate for the unavoidable changes in how I looked. A wonderful Finnish friend pointed me to the Wrapunzel website and Facebook group, and right from the first moments I felt so welcome and cherished! Taking photographs of my wraps and posting them in the Wrapunzel group has really helped me to process my illness and to find a new kind of joy in choosing fabrics, textures, patterns and styles for my wraps. (I have also accumulated a truly hilarious amount of scarves and I despair of keeping them in order. I suspect they multiply at night when I’m not looking).

My friends, family and colleagues have been very supportive of my wrapping. Wrapping is not common where I live, and I felt self-conscious at first, but positive comments have helped dispel my self-doubts, and these days I don’t worry about standing out anywhere, be it in professional meetings, with my hobby friends or at formal events. Although I’ve had short hair for most of my life, wrapping takes me back to my teenage years when I had hair past my shoulders and wore it in a variety of styles. Choosing a scarf and a style every morning reminds me of doing my hair. I don’t consider myself very dexterous, and initially I found it difficult to find easy beginner styles. Wrapunzel tutorials on YouTube were a great help. I began with the Regal Wrap style and gradually increased to more intricate wraps. I still struggle with narrow pleats, but I’m confident there isn’t anything I can’t learn if I put my mind to it. Currently my favourite scarf type is the Harmony Sari (I won’t reveal how many individual sari scarves I have. You’d faint!). They have a wonderful versatility and flair, and they can be used to create so many styles, from formal to wildly eccentric.

When choosing a style for the day I often like to balance and coordinate my wrap with my outfit in several ways: patterns in my top or dress go with a wrap with little or no pattern. If I choose a completely black outfit, my wrap can be a firework of colors. And lots of detail in the wrap call for a simpler outfit. For the longest time I thought that high, turban-like wraps wouldn’t work for me, but currently a two-scarf turban (for example, a Petalsoft underscarf and a Sari for a sash) is my favourite combination. Sometimes I add a hair clip or a brooch for pizzazz. I dress somewhat eclectically, and it’s taken me a while to explore the whole gamut of ways of expressing myself with scarves. I like to think I can nowadays create both feminine, romantic ensembles as well as darker, edgier and more androgyne looks.

Having your hair visible is the standard way to look where I live. Deviating from this norm for whatever reason (for example illness, religion, spirituality, fashion statement) tends to make you reconsider beauty norms and societal expectations. That you don’t have to look a certain way to be appreciated. Although I’ve been very lucky in that I haven’t had to defend my choice to wrap to anyone, I feel a certain solidarity with everyone who has been criticized for their wrapping. The supportiveness of the Wrapunzel community is nothing short of amazing. I’ve been moved to tears several times, when someone has brought their sorrows over having had their wrapping aggressively questioned, and been consoled and empowered by the wonderful people there.

I strongly recommed the Wrapunzel community to anyone who has already started wrapping, anyone who has wrapped for years and wants some new ideas and anyone who is a little bit curious what wrapping is about. The inspiration, practical tips, advice and really just the warmth and kinship of the lovely Wrapunzelistas are like sunshine on a dark day.

And to wrap this text up (heh), here’s a translation of a poem I wrote that reflects some of my feelings concerning my hair loss.

I weigh these things in my hand

before throwing them away:

useless stuff

hopes regrets

combs brushes shampoo bottles

upon fields and courtyards I have shed
my hair eyelashes eyebrows
have birds nested in them?
have squirrel mothers made small blankets
for their babies

I know precisely the shape of my skull
the smoothness under my fingers;
not everyone has been granted this
exploration of downy hills
the wonder
to feel
questioning raindrops on my head
this gift wrapped in this loss

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

A New Wrapper’s Guide On How To Get Started – by Rikki Breuer

Are you new to wrapping? You may have seen how gorgeous ladies with beautiful head wraps look and would like to try them out, or you may have a medical or religious need to cover your hair, and would like to do so in the most beautiful way possible. Well, we’ve got good news for you. You are in the right place – we’ve got you covered!

Here is a guide to everything you need to know to master the art of head wrapping: 

First off, take a deep breath, and get ready for this enlightening journey to explore your inner beauty! 

Next, know there are thousands of women just like you who have also started out without knowing where to start. They too started here, and now they are their own wrapping experts. They practiced, experimented, and most importantly had fun along the way!

The Wrapunzel Community consists of beautiful women from all over the world, and from all walks of life. There are so many different reasons to wrap, and different WAYS to wrap. The most important thing to remember is there are no rules. Just play around, and the possibilities will be endless. 

This is so important! Essential tools are ESSENTIAL! We can’t say this enough. Just like you wouldn’t start a painting without a canvas on which to paint, you wouldn’t want to create a head wrap masterpiece with no base. Without placing a Shaper or No-Slip Headband under your scarves, your wrap will move and slip. Bigger and thicker scarves definitely need to have a place to sit and grab. And if you are wrapping due to hair loss or have short or very fine hair, a shaper will give any scarf room to sit neatly. It may seem overwhelming to see all the shaper options we offer, but don’t worry, we realize that, and have therefore created lots of resources for you to learn which shapers work best for you. Check out our shaper comparison chart;

Also, our 60 second shaper review and all these other shaper tutorials will help tremendously. Plus, use this video to learn how to correctly measure your head for our No-Slip Headbands! Keep in mind different shapers work better for different wraps! And, most of our shapers’ pouf sizes are adjustable. Just adding or removing stuffing gives you some leeway in wrap/scarf options.

Next. Now you have your base, what now? Where do you begin? Grab your popcorn and sit down to binge watch some fun tutorials! We have a playlist specifically for beginners just like you. Master a few basic techniques before trying to create more complicated wraps. Mastering the basic techniques will give you the skills needed to move onto the next level. A few great wrap styles that will teach you indispensable techniques you’ll need to start with are the Beginners Luck Knot and the Regal Wrap. These are simple to do and once you’ve mastered them, you will have the skills to learn many, many more wrapping techniques. The Lazy April and Shira Tails also utilize simple techniques that will get you far. Take a look at those too. Practice, practice and more practice these same techniques over and over and you’ll get it in no time! Check out the Beginners Tutorial Playlist and One-Scarf Wraps playlist for more great styles to explore.

Keep in mind, different styles suit different faces. Play around, try different styles and see what works for you, and what you feel most comfortable in. Wrapping is an art, and you are the artist. Be creative, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Many times mistakes create the most amazing art! 

Wow, that’s a lot of new information to learn! But, we know you’ve got this! You’ve got your techniques down pat, you’ve figured out which shapers you need, but now, you need to fill up your collection with stunning scarves. With so many options on wrapunzel.com, where do you start? There is no simple answer, since everyone has different tastes and different clothing in their wardrobe to match with. But, a good place to start is with some solids, in colors you tend to wear most often.

Great and easy for beginners, solid scarves are Petalsoft Scarves, Tuff and Original 2-in-1s, as well as the Back To Basics and Cornerstone Scarves. These are lightweight, and therefore easy to maneuver and even layer when you get brave enough to have fun and experiment with layering scarves and sashes. Check out our Solid Scarves Comparison Chart, to learn all about our solid scarf options, their dimensions and which wraps they are best for:

Patterned scarves with lots of different colors featured in the pattern are beneficial, since one scarf alone could match many items in your wardrobe. Wrapunzel has many gorgeous patterned scarves to choose from. Watercolor 2-in-1’s, the Can’t Catch Me Scarf, the New York Brights Scarves and the Dreams Come True Scarf are great for beginners as they are light and easy to wrap. 

For fancier occasions, Wrapunzel’s Shiny-licious, Sparkle-licious and Dewdrop Sparkle Scarves are lightweight and super pliable, hence great for beginners. And, if you are looking for cozier scarves, the Lakeshore Bliss Scarves, Soft Pashminas, and our Signature Scarves are great starters. They are soft and stretchy and wrap like a dream. No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered!

Join beautiful Wrapuzelistas from around the world on the Wrapunzel Community Facebook Group. In this wonderful group, women from all walks of life unite in their love of head wrapping. They share practical wrapping tips and tricks and cheer each other on as they master technique after technique. They can be a wonderful support system as you embrace your crown!

The world of wrapping is full of color, beauty and joy. It’s a way to express yourself, express your inner voice and inner beauty! It’s your journey. The world is your oyster. Express yourself in your own way! Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your wrapping journey! We are so glad you chose us to join along with you! 

The heady heat of summer has given way to the cool, breezy days of autumn. Out come larger mugs for your hot beverages, warmer clothing and snuggly blankets and anything you can think of to layer – especially your scarves. Taking a stroll, you notice that things even sound different…there’s less automobile traffic and more sounds of squirrels scurrying to fill their burrows with acorns to fuel their winter’s nap. There are fewer puddle splashes from summer rains and more of the crisp crunching of leaves underfoot. You can breathe more deeply as you inhale the less humid air of autumn. You smile. So many of you can’t get enough pumpkin spice drinks and products, you wrap their colors on your pretty little heads instead. All is well. Add another layer of golden orange glory to your wrap and step out. Wrap an additional thickness of dark red or ochre yellow, or if you’re so inclined, capture the color palette of that lonely evergreen peeping out amidst the seasonal fire. No matter your fall fantasy, you’ll find it in the colors of the trees. Take a look at our incredible Wrapunzel Community Members and their gorgeously creative autumnal crowns 🙂

(written by Nicole Dunn)

A little about myself. Well lets see, I grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota  (USA). I left a few times, but always made my way back home, as all my family lives here as well. I became a Christian six years ago , and began my journey of reading and studying the Bible. What a journey that has been! So many things I didn’t understand in the beginning. And I thought to myself, “Well isn’t that just suppressive?”. I was so naive! Oh how the Lord has opened my eyes and opened my heart.  Three years ago, when I first became interested in head covering, I had no idea the religious significance it had or would have in my life.  Yes I was three years into my walk with the Lord before I began to cover, and even then it wasn’t full time. I did it when someone was sick like my father, or someone needed prayer, or I needed to be in deep prayer for myself.

I received a lot of negative comments when I first started to cover, and it’s always the ones closest to us that that seem to want to judge us the most, So I went about a whole year with out covering because I felt condemned. I felt judged.

Then I had a light bulb moment. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed some more, and asked myself, “Nicole who are you trying to please? Man or God?” I still struggled. As I covered and went to work, I was asked if I was becoming Muslim, and was met with many evil-hearted comments. I took these horrible slurs to my Maker and said, “Please help me, and help them to understand the significance of being under Your authority.” It was in this understanding of God’s authority that I was able to smile through it all, and realized that it didn’t matter what people thought or said anymore, because I was doing it for G-d,  And for the first time, I felt absolutely beautiful in my cover!

I came across Wrapunzel in a Christian Head Covering support group. Yes, in this day and age us ladies need all the support we can get.  I used to wear simple things, just like Chemo cap coverings, but Oh my Gosh… Wrapunzel! Their Shapers, their scarves. I can’t say enough about them. Absolutely beautiful! And the Shapers have changed my life. I have short hair so having a shaper has made it all the more possible to get the look and feel I was going for. Thank you, Wrapunzel.  

I am not a very creative person, so I needed some help learning how to wear these coverings. Leorah is my absolute favorite person on YouTube to learn from. And sometimes, I just go with what feels right that day. And some days I have to take the whole scarf off and just start from scratch. And if I’m being totally honest here… some days it feels like such a burden to me, but Then I think of the Glory it’s bringing to my Lord.. And we start wrapping and tucking and when it’s finished. I claim “Thank you G-d!” 

I pick out my outfit for the day and then I go into my bathroom and look at my scarves hanging on the wall and say, “Ok, which one is speaking to me today? What can I do with this and this?” And then I just let the magic start taking place.    I’m normally listening to some sermon in the morning or I’m singing and worshiping as I’m getting ready.  I’m constantly reminding myself of the Glory I am bringing to G-d, and praying He shows me favor throughout my day. 

My favorite scarf is the Petalsoft Scarf at Wrapunzel. They are so easy to tie and absolutely so very comfortable. As far as tips and tricks? Well ladies, as I’ve said, I’ve had to start over from scratch many many times. I’ve watched tons of Wrapunzel’s tutorial videos online, and when all else fails, I tuck and tuck some more. But I can’t encourage you enough to get a Shaper. They will change your life. And your look.

I am going to tell you this. Covering for me is a personal conviction I feel from G-d, it took a long time for the Lord to speak to me about this. And for a long time I’ve let what other people think and feel about it sway me in one way or another. I even resisted the Lord over it,  Me and G-d, We’ve had some arguments. . But once I submitted, once I obeyed what G-d was telling me, I found things in my life falling into place like never before. Oh I still get looks, and people still make comments to me about it, some not so very nice, but I’m living to please the Lord and not man, and that makes all the difference in the world to me.  That’s what makes me smile each and every day, and that’s what keeps me grounded. Honor yourself, and be true to yourself.  Love Yourself, and you will have all that truly matters.

My Love to all my Wrapunzel Sisters!

Love, Nicole

Hi Wrapunzel Ladies!

I had a little time on my hands – and I began to think about the Colors of Love!

Of course, red and pink are perhaps the most obvious color choices for love, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to create a week’s worth of Love Wraps with just two colors!

So I found myself seeing all of the different types of love in my mind’s eye, and then envisioning the myriad of colors we could associate with each. I was discovering that each color I mulled over would evoke different emotions and auras. Each color embodies love, is valid, and is unique and worthy of exploration.

As with so many of my musings, these thought processes translated into a week of fun Tichel styles and a bit of reading and research into color meanings. I got up each morning and picked up the scarf that called to me, did a bit of reading on the color, thought about which wrap type/style represented the aspect of love associated with the color, and then executed the wrap.  It was planned spontaneity…and I came up with what you see below.

Warmest Regards,

Olivia

PINK = Playful Love

Pink is a delicate color. Its meanings include… nice, sweet, playful, romantic, charming,, and tenderness. Pink is associated with flowers, babies, little girls, and sweetness. It is also considered the colour of universal love of oneself and others, representing friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approachability.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• Wendy Beret Volumizer in Blonde
• Wrapunzel Comfort Scarf (no longer available on the site, but am hoping it will return)
• Wrapunzel Soft Pashmina
• Brooch from the Wrapunzel Scarf Of The Month for January 2020

PEACH = Immortal Love

This is the second look in my Colours of Love Series. The Focus Color is Peach.

In researching the meanings associated with colors, I read that the peach fruit represents immortality in Chinese civilization; having been associated with the peach tree of immortality.

I have also learned that Peach is said to…
1. Encourage great communication
2. Stimulate great conversation
3. Inspire good manners
4. Put people at ease, and
5. Be charming

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• Cream cotton scarf
• Wrapunzel Original 2 in 1 in Peach
• 3D lace applique
• Wendy Beret Shaper

ORANGE = Adventurous Love

Today’s colors are Orange and Royal Purple with the main focus being on the color Orange.

Fun Color Facts:

1. Orange is flamboyant and dynamic and radiates warmth.
2. Orange gives confidence and injects fun.
3. Other words associated with orange are: balance, abundance, adventure, happiness, optimism and strength.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• Orange Solid Pashmina
• Purple Utter Enchantment Scarf, that could be replaced with a similar color in the Original 2 in 1, Tuff 2 in 1, or maybe even a Solid Pashmina in Eggplant
• Ruffle option included an orange Israeli  Tichel
• Wendy Beret volumizer 

BLUE = Intuitive Love

Today’s love color is blue. I am wearing several shades of this wonderful color in the artsy side swoop style.

Associated with blue…the sky and the sea, freedom,intuition, imagination, expansiveness, inspiration, and sensitivity.

The color blue represents… depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, and intelligence.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• Wrapunzel Cranberry Scarf in Slate Blue
• Wrapunzel Israeli Tichel (Silver Threads) – Dark Blue
• The grey scarf was not Wrapunzel, but a viable option would be a Wrapunzel Tuff 2 in 1s Scarf in Pewter-
• Wrapuznel Wendy Beret Shaper in Black (fully stuffed)
• “Antique” pin (lol from the 1980’s) from my collection

GREEN = Abundant Love

Today’s focus colour is Green… the colour of life, renewal, nature, and energy

Green is associated with… freshness, safety, fertility, the environment, harmony, growth, and peace.

Green is soothing, relaxing, and youthful.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• Wrapunzel Bubbling Brook Scarf
• Simple Style
• Over a low bun velvet cap

GOLD AND BROWN = Illuminated Love

Today’s Colors are Gold and Brown. I chose to combine these two colors into the same look because they are cousin colors and they balance one another.

Gold is associated with illumination, love, compassion, courage, passion, magic, and wisdom. As a precious metal, gold is associated with wealth, grandeur, and prosperity.

Brown is the color of stability and Reliability. It is associated with dependability, comforting, honesty, support, and protection. Brown inspires us to appreciate the simple things in life.

As an aside… brown can be seen as boring and dull. I was not a big fan when I was younger and it has taken me many years to come to appreciate the beauty in such a humble color.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• Cranberry Scarf in Saffron
• Cranberry Scarf in Olive
• Shimmery Scarf in Gold
• Wendy Beret Shaper in Blonde

RED = Romantic Love

Red is the colour of Fire and blood…

In eastern cultures, such as China, red is the colour of good luck and is a traditional colour worn by brides for their weddings. Brides in India also often wear red for their weddings.

Red is an emotionally intense colour.

Words associated with red…energy, strength, power, determination, passion, assertive, confident, spontaneous, determined, desire, and Love.

Signifies pioneering spirit, leadership, and is the colour of physical movement.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• A Red and Black “scarf” made from a remnant of the fabric used to make the dress I’m wearing
• Tuff 2 in 1s Scarf in Black
• Wendy Beret Shaper in Black

YELLOW = Optimistic Love

The focus color for today is yellow; which happens to be my favorite color.

Yellow is the color of the mind and intellect. It is optimistic and cheerful, uplifting and illuminating, offering hope, and inspires original thought and inquisitiveness.

Words associated with the color yellow include: happiness, clarity, energy, optimism, enlightenment,honor, loyalty, cheer, and joy.

I love to say yellow is the color of sunshine and dandelions… both of which bring me joy!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

This look was created using:

• White Soft Pashmina
•  Light / Baby Yellow Pashmina (this one is similar to the Soft Pashmina but I think a light yellow Solid Pashmina would work. I may be mistaken but I thought there was an option for a very pale yellow Soft Pashmina in the past)
• Shimmery Scarf in Saffron
• Wendy Beret Shaper in White
• Pin is from a Wrapunzel Scarf Of The Month I think from 2019. It’s my absolute favorite Wrapunzel pin. It looks like a chrysanthemum!

Hi! My name is Brittney Lake-Telford. I’m from South Carolina, but I currently live in Montana. I’m an Air Force wife, and a stay at home mom to two amazing children— Isaiah and Ruth. Both of my babies have special needs and they both keep me on my toes. I spend a lot of time advocating for my children, and helping other military dependents who have special needs children learn about events and services that may be beneficial for their families. In my spare time, I sing, I do makeup, and I crochet. I am also involved in a graduate chapter of my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. I stay pretty busy.

I started covering my hair part time in high school. I would cover for church and school events; however, I didn’t start to cover full time until about a year ago. As I studied the scriptures more, and looked into the history of Christian Head covering, I felt compelled to cover full time.

I’m almost always covered in some way. I’m either wearing a scarf or an under cap. Since I started out with covering part time, transitioning to full time wasn’t too big of a deal. I remember wearing my hair covered for the first time in high school, and I felt so empowered. I also remember enjoying having more time in the morning to spend doing other things than my hair. It has been 18 years since I’ve been wearing head scarves in some way, so it’s second nature now. 

One of my most memorable moments was right after I graduated from college. I was working at a therapeutic recreation camp with special needs children. On Fridays we would watch movies, and this one day, we were watching The Princess and the Frog. One of my clients looked at me in a white scarf and yells, “Ms. Brittney! You look like Mama Odie.” It was absolutely hilarious.

I remember the first time that I heard about Wrapunzel. I came across a tutorial on YouTube from one of my favorite makeup enthusiasts, and she was reviewing some Wrapunzel products. A few weeks later, I made my first purchase, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love the Wrapunzel scarves because I can be really creative. I watch tutorials and I learn a lot from the ladies in the Community Facebook group, and this is where I draw some of my inspiration from, but I’m quite partial to the Turban. I love different variations of it. I feel so dignified in a large and high turban— especially when it’s paired with my Uber Pouf Shaper.

I love bright colors, and Spring/Summer is the perfect time for me to show off the bright colors that I have in my collection. I also wear a lot of neutral colors, so bright head covering are my way to throw in a little spice. My favorite color is yellow, so I wear it quite a bit in my daily routine. My absolute favorite scarf is the Million Dreams scarf paired with my yellow Tuff 2 in 1. Oh my goodness, I love these two scarves paired together. There are times that I’ll completely change my outfit, just because I want to wear these scarves.

I enjoy longer scarves because I want the height and I need the material to cover my shapers. I always try to tuck my ears into my scarf but never into my shaper. That’s when things get too tight for me. Keeping your scarves secured yet loose is important. I’ve had days where my wraps were so beautiful, and yet, I had to unwrap my head and start all over because I had things wrapped too tightly. 

Wrapping in Southern Black communities is actually becoming more and more common. I never really felt as if I stood out because of the fact that my head was covered. Back home, there are so many other women who use African prints or solid scarves to wrap their heads. When our family got stationed in Montana, I didn’t notice too many women who use scarves or tichels in order to cover their hair. I definitely get asked a lot of questions about it.

Whenever I go grocery shopping, people ask me about my scarves. I definitely get a lot of stares, but I’m certain that it’s because I’m super cute. LOL! I’ve been asked for tips when it comes to wrapping, but my only suggestion is to practice. If you don’t like it, take it down and start over. Don’t spend too much doing any style.

I am so grateful for my life right now. My husband and my children are an absolute blessing. I’m grateful for this opportunity to tell the Wrapunzel a little more about myself. I’m truly thankful.

WRITTEN BY: Meira E. Schneider-Atik, Contributing Author

What with everything going on right now, we’re always looking for ways to cope with the stress of it all. 

I love clothes and accessories so my favorite way to cope is to wear real clothes and accessories and not spend the days in pajamas. Aside from jewelry, my favorite accessories are my wraps.

 Normally, I reserve sari scarves for special days. But this past Sunday, I just wanted to feel good so I wore this sari. I love the combination of brown texture-y print with the textures and prints of the red sari. 

This past Friday, I had errands to run and I needed an energy boost, so I chose my favorite color- green. A layered wrap of print scarf plus green 2-in-1 added that extra element of fun. 

As a precautionary measure, my shul (synagogue) is closed. However, Shabbat (Sabbath) doesn’t stop just because I’m not going to shul. Putting on Shabbat clothes and a great wrap helps me get into that mode. A sari turban (worn over a 2-in-1) feels fancy and fun. 

One of my wrapsisters recently posted that the only reason she wore a particular scarf was that it brought a smile to her face. I told her that there’s no better reason to wear it. This combination of green flower print scarf plus Watercolor 2-in-1 puts a smile on my face (especially since green is primary here) and there’s no better reason to wear it. 

As you can see, great wraps have been helping me cope with the stresses of this time. If you love wraps, this is a great time to play around and have fun.

Ahhhhhhhhh! The day is here! You’re about to publicly affirm your love for another soul in front of witnesses. You’re making a life-changing commitment to your most special, treasured one – and should you lean towards the spiritual, the presence of a Higher Power is palpable. Many women will, for reasons of religious obligation, marital status, medical adversity/hairloss issues or just pure choice, choose to cover for the first time ever, or to resume covering, on their wedding day.

My personal story was a combination of some of the above, with a twist, but we all have our own stories. 🙂 I had been married once before, ten years prior to my second marriage, and had covered for the most part with hats during that first marriage. I did own a few scarves, but they didn’t become my primary covering style during that time. I tried sheitels (wigs) too, and I still do not ‘get along’ with them!

While preparing for my second marriage and wedding ceremony, and meeting with my Rabbi in Baltimore, we had a discussion about how I would wear my hair for the special day. After my divorce, I had no desire to cover whatsoever, and decided to wear my hair ‘out’ when my religiously-granted divorce became final.

However, my sweet fiance and I had been making a spiritual journey together to Orthodox Judaism, and I wanted, by covering from our wedding day onward, to honor our commitment to each other, to our (often difficult at times!) journey and to our One and Only G-d by covering my hair. For this second wedding and marriage, I was a bit shocked when I blurted out to my Rabbi that I wanted to begin covering again ON the big day. I surprised myself – and I think I may have surprised my Rabbi as well. So, after arguing with the Rabbi a bit when he refused to allow me to wear a hairpiece of bangs, I set out on my search for the perfect dress and tichels to top it off – and this was way before we had even set our wedding date!

Being an ‘older,’ plus-sized bride with a very limited budget and a definitive personal style, I began the trek. Bridal shops and online bridal sites carrying very ‘typical’ wedding styles were a wash for me. I wanted something different, yet something ‘diva.’ After lots of looking i found, on a plus-sized clothing site, the perfect short sleeved, fully-lined dress in a sheer, flowing ivory fabric, ornamented with large metallic gold roses. It had a lot of silvery bling added on. It was so me and so perfect for me – and anything ivory with metallic gold or silver could coordinate; jewelry and tichels. The dress was delivered and found a home in my Rebbetzin’s closet until I became engaged and a date was set. I also found the perfect shoes shortly thereafter. I wound up wearing them for a big 5 minutes on the big day – using them for a gorgeous, artistic photo – and returning them to the seller as soon as I could! OUCH!

Now the hard part. To find the perfect tichels. I had never heard of a Shaper before to use for height and volume. This was all in the year 2012, when Wrapunzel wasn’t even around! I saw many styles that I wanted to imitate, many ideas that I had found mostly on websites geared to formal wraps for Muslim women. There were pleats, rosettes, bling, netting creating tails and braids – none of which I knew how to create. I thought I’d enlist the help of a super-spiritual lady and the best head wrapper in Baltimore at the time, Rivka Malka Perlman, to help me on that day. And help me she sure did! These two videos will show (and tell!) you everything!

Procuring my wrap supplies was fun. I shopped online until I found the perfect open-weave, ivory scarf with gold threads subtly woven through. I went to my local fabric store and found netting in gold and silver metallic. I still felt, however, that something was missing. Brides…..lace and pearls! At that same fabric store I found a wide lace ornamented with pearls. But alas, it was bright white. So I called my sister who happens to be a crafter, and she suggested that I tea-dye the lace. So I did, turning it a perfect shade of ivory, a length of which i secured to the part of my tichel that would rest on my forehead. I was now ready to get ‘coiffed’ for my big day!

Rivka Malka came up with a gorgeous combo to get me to the chuppah (wedding canopy) in style. Blinged up, too, with a pin from my best friend’s mother in law, it lasted all the way through the first dance, at the end of which all of the excitement and jumping up and down brought it tumbling down. Time to re-wrap! So I enlisted the help of another friend and head wrapper in the community, Esther Gur, who had hosted a “tichel shower” for me a few weeks before the wedding, growing my collection. Esther created a lovely ‘do’ for me to wear for the remainder of the reception.

But ladies, this is only my story, and I wanted to find out about some of yours! So I went to the ladies of the Wrapunzel Community Group for some added material:

Jordan A., married three years and from Arizona reminisces:

I didn’t wrap full-time before getting married, but I did wrap for church and for some private prayer. I knew that the wrap I wore on my wedding day would be important because of a particular moment that occurred while dating my husband. He and I were praying together after a particularly rough day, and this is hard to put into words, but you could say I was feeling emotionally drained and empty spiritually. As he prayed, I got a strong feeling that I needed a scarf, so I dashed upstairs to retrieve one. He told me later how that struck him, and how it clearly influenced what was going on both between us and beyond. Knowing that he knew the power of wrapping definitely made me feel more confident choosing to wear a wrap over a traditional veil for our wedding day.

How did I come up with my wrap style? Actually, my husband was involved in the process of choosing the wrap. I kept my whole ensemble a surprise for him, but I asked him some questions about his preferences. He wanted me to use a scarf or scarves that I could wear after the wedding, and he wanted it to actually fully cover my hair, as opposed to most traditional veils that you can see through. Finally, he wanted me to wear my hair down underneath. It was a bit of a tall order!

Other than commemorating my wedding day itself, I didn’t have any milestones to celebrate by wrapping that day. At least not anything I can sum up in a few words! There was so much going on during that time frame as far as my “life journey” was concerned… way too much to put on paper at this time!

Check out this absolutely stunning pic of Jordan A. and her husband on their special day. It truly radiates the peace, love and spiritual depth they shared that day and beyond!

To sum things up, no matter what the occasion, but especially on days associated with life-cycle (and life-changing) events, covering one’s hair creates an indescribable, highly personal aura that radiates from a woman. It is an aura that is perceivable to all around her – her spouse, her family, and her friends. It is an aura that connects her to the divine within herself and with the Divine. It is an aura that bestows a bit of the Holy Presence upon our world, and for that, so many of us are eternally grateful.

Meet Susan from New York City, who finds herself happily wrapping in “Corporate America!” Wrapunzel is honored to have her reveal her wrapping journey in a three-part Blogpost – Part One: Beginner’s Luck!, Part Two:  Storage and Structure, and Part Three: Corporate Me!

It’s Susan’s greatest pleasure to bring you her incredible tips and tricks – read on to see what might work for YOU!

Stay tuned for Part Three coming soon…

• 

Part Two: Storage and Structure

In storing a large wardrobe of scarves, for easy access and for protecting the scarves from my kitten (who is sure that he can fly!), I store the majority of my “wear to the office” scarves in “gown” size multi-garment bags (54”, clear/see-through and heavy duty). I hang the scarves within the bag on hangers using cascading hooks so each hanger can hang from the hanger above, etc. Each garment bag is approximately 5 to 6 hangers deep, and with the garment bag being at gown size proportions, the scarves are kept where they are protected and easily accessible for choosing during your daily scarf search. For convenience and easy access, I also coordinate of my scarf color collections separately by garment bag. Because most of my scarves are stored by color range, they are stored in similar color tonalities, one each for:

• Blacks, grays and muted silvers
• Whites, off-whites, creams and beiges
• Reds and burgundies 
• Browns and earthy colors
• Sunset Colors:  Gold, yellow, mustards, warm orangey, rust and sienna tones
• Corals, pinks and purples
• Blues:  All shades, including navy
• Teals and turquoises
• Greens:  All shades, and
• Multi-colored (where the base color to match has more than one possibility to choose from)

When rushing to get out of the house early in the morning, I first select an ensemble color (suitable for the current season). Then, I grab the garment bag(s) containing the desired color ranges and then simply choose my scarf/scarves to wrap with from the selected garment bag. If winter, I will choose a heavier, winter-appropriate scarf. If spring/summer, then I choose from the lighter weight scarves in that same garment bag.  

I recently switched to one-piece stainless steel hangers (from Amazon) to hang my scarves because the “hook” portion of the hanger (constructed as one piece with a tip protector) does not pull out from the base when the hangers begin to feel the weight of many scarves. The clear zippered garment bags (multiple gown size) also serve to protect the scarves from my cat AND my kitten, not to mention other potential disastrous mishaps.

• 

• 

• 

• 

As mentioned above, I keep a separate garment bag of “multi-colored” scarves that have multiple  base colors, matchable to more than one ensemble, like

• The Wrapunzel Signature Scarf
• The Original Tapestry Scarf, and
• Watercolor 2-in-1s Scarf

The exception to my garment bag storage method is my “special/delicate” scarves requiring special handling, such as metallic, glittery or patterned “accent” scarves. These “special” scarves are those that I find very delicate or easy to damage. These I store per style of scarf and not by color:

• New York Brights Scarf
• The Shimmery Scarf
• The Shiny-licious Scarf
• The Sparkle-licious Scarf, and
• The Harmony Scarf, Melody Scarf, and Sari Scarves 

The end of the work day and evening are often tiring, and sometimes I just can’t find the strength to put all things back where they belong. I keep a clear container with a lid to simply fold my scarves and leave them protected until I can make the concentrated effort to restore them to their rightful storage places, whenever that may be!

Note:  I wish to thank my friend and co-worker, Eleanor Healey, who was dedicated in helping me to capture visual images to submit to Wrapunzel in support of this article. As a grandmother of 2, she’s developed a good eye!

Meet Chaya! Working every day in the Healthcare field, Chaya was tasked by her current employer to research and provide documentation that her head coverings met the guidelines necessary for healthcare employees in sterile environments.  Here are her findings – they’re fascinating!  We hope you find them just as intriguing as we did, and helpful if you’re already in, or are considering, a profession in healthcare!

There are really two aspects to head wrapping in a healthcare environment- being the provider versus being the patient. The premise is, however, the same. The interesting part for me is that I work in an IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) laboratory these days, and similar to in an operating room, everyone covers their hair! But they wear those paper tissue caps and take them on and off, repeatedly, every time they go in and out of the lab – because they look ridiculous. And then they complain all day that their hair is messy. I don’t have that problem. 🙂 

I was wearing regular tichels and covering them with the paper caps, but I was concerned that this may not have been the best practice, and started researching where the concept of “scrubs” and head coverings in clean/sterile environments originated. There are two schools of thought behind it. First of all, you do not want to bring any unwanted “stuff” into the area – “stuff” being lint, pollen, bacteria, etcetera. Surgical clothing is designed specifically of low lint, low absorbency fabric for this reason. So a tichel with fringes was not the best choice.

And secondly, healthcare providers see many patients per day, and don’t want to carry pathogens from one room to the next. Again, the low absorption factor is important. This is also why in high-risk areas like an operating room, the facility provides the scrubs, and the facility washes the scrubs- so pathogens don’t leave the space to travel to peoples’ homes. 

My research led me to a position statement by the Association for peri-Operative Registered Nurses, who explored the needs of operating room staff members that wear head coverings. They acknowledged that ideally, head coverings in the operating room should be disposable or laundered by the facility, and loosely wrapped around the neck. They also understood that the typical caps used may be too transparent, or not cover enough (ears, neck) to satisfy the needs of some who cover. They state that it should be the responsibility of the facility to provide a head covering that meets standards both for the healthcare provider and the facility, whether that means letting someone layer two or three paper caps, purchasing a different style disposable, or ordering from their uniform supplier. 

These factors are what has led me to decide to have “work head coverings” and “home head coverings.” A bandana-like fabric would work just as well, but I went for scrub caps. Experience eventually led me to add back my Wrapunzel No-Slip Headbands underneath. (Yes, Wrapunzel No-Slip Headbands still meet standards! There was actually a study done exploring whether surgeons wearing socks and underwear contributed to increased infection rates. The consensus was that it did not.) 

My experiences in school with clinical uniforms and work with clinical standards taught me to know the guidelines and know my rights, as well as to inform employers of proper accommodations for my head covering needs. If there’s a facility policy, it usually isn’t hard to find. For example, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing has a policy stating “For cultural or religious purposes, a solid navy blue, black, or white head-covering may be worn with the uniform scrubs.” And it’s right there alongside the rest of the uniform policies. In most encounters I had, I was either told something specific that was arbitrarily made up by the person I spoke to, or was told that there isn’t a policy, and to do my own research. 

When I was in school, I asked my instructor about my scarf and was told I needed to provide a letter from a religious authority (good thing my grandfather was a Rabbi with personal stationery!), and that my head covering had to be a solid color. I begged and borrowed for a burgundy scarf from everyone I knew. A year in, I met a student wearing what I’m pretty sure was the Wrapunzel Imagine That Scarf! When I asked her about it, she shrugged and said it didn’t occur to her to ask anyone, and nobody had ever approached her and told her a policy. When I worked in a hospital, I asked a coworker wearing a scarf. She said she had been working there when the hospital instituted their system of assigning a specific color uniform for each department. At the time, her supervisor had told her not to bring up scarves – she said “if they don’t talk with you about it, don’t ask! You’ll be the only pop of color left in the hospital!” At my current workplace, the Director of Nursing asked me to do the research and provide documentation showing that whatever I was wearing met guidelines, so that if ever there was a state inspection they could prove I was “clean enough.”

The result? Well, you’ve already seen a picture of me at work above, as well as other pictures of head coverings used by healthcare professionals. In addition, I’ve attached a very informative continuing education report that discusses my findings and more!

• 

• 

Meet Susan from New York City, who finds herself happily wrapping in “Corporate America!”  Wrapunzel is honored to have her reveal her wrapping journey in a three-part Blogpost – Part One:  Beginner’s Luck!, Part Two:  Storage and Structure, and Part Three:  Corporate Me!

It’s Susan’s greatest pleasure to bring you her incredible tips and tricks – read on to see what might work for YOU!

Stay tuned for Part Two coming soon...

Part One:  Beginner’s Luck!

Good day and thanks for stopping by.  I have been wrapping my head full-time since May of 2017.  I wrap daily in conservative, Corporate America.

Once I decided to wrap, I began my efforts with various YouTube searches for ways to cover one’s head if bald (my hair was falling out from what was eventually diagnosed as Alopecia). I was fairly ignorant as to why or how many women of various cultures were inclined to wrap.  During my initial searches on YouTube, I thought about getting a wig, but my physician advised me to avoid any potential irritation to my scalp which could potentially make things more challenging, at least at that time. 

To do my due diligence, I did try some of the many varied suggestions shared on YouTube, and learned that I could cover my head using old t-shirts and leggings, as well as by many other curious methods. After trying some of those, I found Wrapunzel (on YouTube) and have been a faithful Wrapunzelista ever since.  Wrapunzel stocks many gorgeous scarfs (for cold & warm weather), and also various accessory products to enhance one’s wrap.  They post an abundance of wrap tutorial videos on the Wrapunzel web site and also on YouTube, which is where I found this amazing company.  In these tutorial videos, Wrapunzel shows many ways how to begin wrapping, as well as how to improve and expand one’s wrapping technique.  

They also have conversations which help to support the emotional impacts of wrapping, such as how it makes all women feel beautiful, how it makes each woman’s uniqueness shine, how to handle questions you may get when you start wrapping, and many other interesting topics. These topics, plus others, were helpful to me as I started my wrapping journey.

After beginning my wrapping relationship with Wrapunzel, I felt really encouraged in decision I’d made to headwrap. It felt “natural” to me for the way I live my life.  From my perspective, the most important factor was to maintain an executive-level presentation in my company, as we interact with clients and other professionals outside of our company on a daily basis.  At the time, I was not aware of anyone else within my company who was wrapping.

Since I began wrapping, many have expressed interest in possibly starting to wrap themselves! I was often stopped at Grand Central Station with inquiries.  I began keeping Wrapunzel business cards with my monthly commuter ticket, so I had them at the ready when an inquiry was made. My personal corporate “uniform” consists of suit ensemble pieces and generally include a combination of either a suit, skirt, pants or dress with a jacket and sweater or cardigan.  Of course, I pair these with the classic ‘corporate’ pump, or with pants, often an ankle boot.  I match my headwrap to either the color of the skirt/pant/dress/suit, or to the blouse or tank I pair with them.

My goal in sharing my personal experience here is that it might prove useful to other women who also wish to wrap in a conservative, corporate, professional environment. Initially, I took what I learned from Wrapunzel and just figured it all out as I went along. 

In the beginning of wrapping, especially if you’re the only one doing it, it can feel unsettling.  Soon, however, you will realize that you are still you, and you can still execute all the aspects of your job while wearing a wrap.  I found that, as you become more at ease with being wrapped, those around you also become more at ease with it. Your wrapping will then stand out less and everyone will acclimate accordingly.  

At the start, some people in my office environment felt uneasy to express their curiosity and concern that health issues might be the reason for my wrapping.  I attempted to be at ease and make them comfortable to ask me anything, which then made their fearfulness turn into curiosity.  They became less concerned and this opened the conversations as to what or how I’d wrapped that day, with comments similar to “I really like your outfit today!” and “Wow, it matches!” 

If a particular day in the office is deemed especially conservative or stressful, then I am inclined to wrap conservatively with that in mind.  I might choose a turban style or simple wrap with classic tail(s).  If a more relaxed day, I might be a tad bit more creative in my wrapping.  My bottom line for my office ‘look’ is that I must always feel free to walk confidently into a conference room and engage accordingly.

Over time, wrapping my head has simply become a part of my “presentation” to my daily work experience.  Wrapping did not change my work ethic, my anticipated intelligence or my ability to conquer any project.  Many would compliment me on a scarf color or pattern, a particular “match” or style making me feel like the “Queen of Sheba” in their kind observations.  People would happily comment the likes of, “Blue is a good color for you!,” “ Well done!,” “Did you do THAT wrap yourself?,” “How do you always match your head wrap to your clothes?, ”I like what you have on top!” and such  (I then graciously shared that it was called a “wrap/headwrap”. The gentleman then responded that he didn’t know what it was called, but he liked it.)

Initially, I started simple in my approach to wrapping in choosing only one scarf and using simple wraps matching one color of my ensemble.  Later, I tried various kinds of scarves and combinations as I became more experienced and then more confident (thanks to Wrapunzel tutorial videos).  My ‘look(s)’ each day then became a topic of conversations, observations and expressions of curiosity. As long as I was comfortable with my wrapping, people had interest and would interact accordingly, also feeling comfortable with the topic.  Mostly, people would ask me, “Did you do that yourself?” and “How do you consistently match the scarf to your outfit?”

I respond with the answer “Wrapunzel.” Yes, I did wrap it myself. Wrapunzel taught me how to wrap and encouraged me to find my own style in wrapping. I purchased 99% of my scarves and wrapping accessories at Wrapunzel, and the rest were recycled from scarves that I used to wear around the lapel of my suit. Wrapunzel varies their stock seasonally, according to climate. They have numerous sales through the year. 

In starting my headscarf collection, I chose scarves that I considered would specifically match my work attire. The remaining items I might catch at a street fair in NYC and, occasionally, something will catch my eye at a store. Once I began wrapping full time, there were some items in my closet that I simply did not wear, until Wrapunzel stocked a scarf which I felt would match THAT particular color ensemble for work.  My office wardrobe ensemble was confined to that which also had a matching headscarf.  And so, I just waited.  Eventually, I did build a wrapping wardrobe that pretty much covers all of my office ensembles (across the seasons).  For myself, my wardrobe is sorted via color tonality, as are my scarves. 

Note:  I wish to thank my friend and co-worker, Eleanor Healey, who was dedicated in helping me to capture visual images to submit to Wrapunzel in support of this article.  As a grandmother of 2, she’s developed a good eye!

We are so excited to introduce you to Olivia! Olivia is an amazing Wrapunzelista who recently shared a personal challenge that she created for herself on the Wrapunzel Community Page. We loved her challenge so much that we wanted to share more about it and her story here! Enjoy! 

A bit about me…
Hello my name is Olivia Henderson. I was born and grew up in the Baltimore area. I have been married to the kindest and most loving man for nineteen years and have had the pleasure of raising three strong and beautiful young adults.

The question of why I Wrap is complex. I could simply say it’s because  I am a married Jewish woman, that it makes me feel pretty, or that It creates boundaries. My daughter tells me it’s just who I am. All of these answers are true, but I think the biggest reason for my wrapping journey is that I find it empowering.

Wrap-spiration….
I have been on this wrap journey for many years beginning with the snoods and special hats bought for holidays, but I truly embraced covering full time when I saw a beautiful Israeli lady at one of my daughter’s ballet performances in a tichel. I was mesmerized by her simple elegant style. Soon after I discovered Wrapunzel and haven’t looked back. Now just because my family accepts my covering now, doesn’t mean it’s been smooth sailing. I thought most of the issues concerning my covering would be from strangers, but sadly it’s the ones we hold near and dear that are the challenge. During this time I got a lot of practice in patience, persistence, and perseverance. Lol. I say this to give fellow wrap sisters whose families are struggling with their choice to cover hope. They will come around given time.

The Marrakesh Turban Challenge began as a fun way to test my skills with different kinds of scarves and maybe use those scarves that just sit and look pretty. After the first day I realized that I wanted to do more… in our collections there are scarves that are only for this wrap or that wrap and it’s probably the style that sold us the scarf.

I met the Marrakesh Turban in the last 30 day challenge and liked it, but this uses a pashmina and that’s not warm weather friendly. It is also too fancy for everyday wear. Recently I got it in my head that I needed to challenge these ideas and that maybe by doing this it would push the imagination to see just how many other wrap boundaries I can change.

 

Day one is the Scarf of the Month from November. I had to use this one with all of its splendid colours and details …. including a strip of Magen Davids!!!!

Day two was chosen because of its simple elegance. Cotton fabric with a hint of shimmer.

 

Day three was chosen to truly test my skills with this silk stunner. A bit of patience goes a long way with this scarf. Lol

Day four was chosen because of necessity. Two days before a holiday means comfort and ease maintenance of scarf cleanliness is vital. Of all, I was surprised the most by how lovely this one turned out.

 

Day five was all about a return to glamour. This scarf is smooth as silk and wraps like a dream.

Day six was Harvest gold. This scarf is usually wrapped in partnership with its sister scarf in brown, never alone. It’s a rather simple scarf and yet it puts pizzazz into this wrap.

Day seven I wanted to pick a special scarf to end my challenge and this embroidered silky scarf fit the bill. Due to its contrary nature I must admit this one is the most underutilized scarf in the closet. That may change.

 

Check out the Marrakesh Turban tutorial here! 

Ever wondered how to match a scarf or top with a bold print to your other clothing? Not sure what goes with what? This is a common question! Check out Meira Schneider-Atik’s tips and tricks:

I’m a stylist. Among other things, I help women put together new and different outfits using what they already have. One of the questions that comes up time and time again is how to put colors together.

While I have a lot of different suggestions of how to not be afraid of trying new and different color combinations, there’s one suggestion that always works- use a print to anchor the whole thing.

If you have a printed clothing item that you love, then you know that the colors in the print go together. So use that as your base. Choose colors from the print and wear them in the outfit. You know they go because they go together in the print.

Here I am (below) wearing this awesome print dress that I found shortly before Pesach. I wore it for the first Seder and I paired it with my dark brown and taupe 2-in-1s. Those colors both show up in the print, so they work here (they’re also both neutral, so they go with everything).

You don’t necessarily have to wear a full-on print base outfit to do this. Your print could be just a subtle accent to your outfit. Here I am (above right) wearing my Bohemian Dreams scarf (one of my favorite prints) as an accent to my navy 2-in-1. My dark teal top and rich green earrings are both taken from colors in the print.

There are tons of color combinations that look amazing. Play around and find the combos that work for you. Use prints as you need them. Try to have fun with it. You can do this!

 

What’s your favorite way to combine prints and solids? Share with us in the comments!