Hi, Wrapunzelistas! Summer has officially begun in my neck of the woods, so I’ve been on the hunt for styles to help stay cool in the sweltering heat. Some of my favorite summer scarves have always been Israeli Tichels and I found myself reaching for my favorite one recently, when I knew that I’d be spending lots of time in the sun. Having just watched Andrea’s new Israeli Tichel tutorial, I found myself itching to try something different and came up with the following easy breezy look. It’s so simple!

If you can tie your shoe laces, you can tie this tichel! I was particularly thrilled that it could be worn over just a No-Slip Headband and that it doesn’t require any volume in the back, as I usually skip wearing a shaper at the beach and during many other summer activities. Plus, it can be worn with tails or without, which give even more possibilities.

Tails blowing in a warm summer breeze!

Or even fanned out, lending the appearance of a flower. Totally flapper-esque, am I right?!

This style will work well with any square tichel and a variety of materials. One of my passions has always been collecting vintage silk squares, but I have struggled a bit when coming up with ways to highlight them. Well, I am happy to report that they work beautifully here and even manage to give a more amped-up, fancy look. This one will be just perfect for Shabbat!

Before you watch the tutorial below, know that this style can also be tied with a long, oblong-shaped scarf. Skip your pashminas, grab your favorite thin, rectangular tichel (embroidery might be tricky), tie a knot in the back of your head with one short tail and then bring the longer one over your head, before tying the bow/flower.

Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!!!

My husband and I are at this stage of our lives during which… how to I put it?  In short, we have a lot going on.  A lot of options, a lot of brachas, and a lot of opportunites in terms of how to spend our time.  Between running Wrapunzel, two non-profits, performing as musicians, teaching, my husband doing his doctorate, living in a vibrant community where we love to host huge meals, and oh! most importantly, striving to be present as much as possible as parents, we are being stretched with opportunities.  Not to mention Pesach prep, which we are hosting.  Sometimes, one needs to take a step back and realize that by saying “yes” to wonderful opportunities, one is saying “no” to something that is infinitely more important.  There is a lot to say on this topic, but needless to say, we hadn’t spent much quality time together (aka not working and actually bonding) and we missed each other.

So while our commitments and obligations were looming, we decided to say “no” to everything else and “yes” to each other.  We hired a babysitter for the night and went out on a date, with all work talk banned.

Needless to say, we were excited.

It was such a treat, getting dressed in colors that I know he loves, putting on (minimal) makeup, putting time into my appearance for no one else but my soulmate (who is a part of me, so really, putting time into myself).  I chose a dress that made me feel great, and wore Gryffindor colors in my tichel, which I knew would make him happy.

I wore a dark red comfort and a shimmery sash that I ripped from my old gold shimmery.  Here are a few more photos of my tichel:

How was it?  It was under two hours, and it changed our lives.  And all those other stressful obligations?  They have become so much more manageable and less stressful now that we have invested time in what matters most.  Shalom bayit is the greatest gift that we can give ourselves, our spouses, our children, and the world.  For all of you that think you don’t have the time or can’t go out. I am here to say yes you can.  Say “no” to something else and say “yes” to your marriage.  You won’t regret it 🙂

Wishing you all a stress free (or at least, as little stress as possible) Pesach prep!
Love, Andrea

It’s getting warmer out there, and it’s a great time to start thinking of ways to do easy, layered wraps without a lot of weight or bulk – and without spending ages in front of the mirror! Penina Taylor is here to share her go-to layered wrap using a lace sash (we’re getting more in this week – get excited!), a 2-in-1, and a long, patterned rectangle scarf (use any scarf or sash in your closet that fits that description – Coloriffic or our new Darling Dots Sash would be great choices!). She adds in a stretchy elastic headband and sparkly pin for extra glamour – feel free to use any in your collection, or just leave them out for a simpler look!

Penina got great reviews wearing this wrap as a guest speaker at our Baltimore show – check out the photos below, and then give the wrap a try with her tutorial!

Don’t let this collage fool you! Despite the relatively small amount of photos it includes, in the fangroup we had a ton of fun with our hilarious Challenge of the Week! It seems that many Wrapunzelistas don’t wish to record photographic evidence of their #wrapunzelticheltantrums, however, the stories and pics we did see were highly entertaining! I (Rachel) had a particularly interesting experience, which I would like to share with you all:

“I had a major tichel tantrum today- in public, no less! For the first time in forever, I decided to wear my Signature Shaper with an Oomphtastic Scrunchie, but because my hair is so short, the pony tail itself was very small. The end result was just large enough to keep the tails from slipping off the back of my head. I was entering a physical rehab facility (visiting a patient) and as I caught my reflection in the front door, saw that both tails had completely fallen down and were hanging by my side! I was running late, so was forced to rewrap as I wandered the halls, en route to my destination. Thankfully, I was able to do a quick regal turban without a mirror and managed to look somewhat presentable, but still…. It was totally a ‪#‎wrapunzelticheltantrum‬!”

They can happen to anyone, right?! Tantrums ranged from, “This one seemed fine at first, but then it started falling onto my forehead and hitting my right eye, so I had to rewrap in the bathroom at my office. After that, it was fine.” to ” This regal would not come out right. I spent most of breakfast getting it to just lay right. Gave up and covered it with some bling.” to “Not so much a tichel failure as a missed opportunity.”

Check out the collage below and don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom for this week’s reveal video!

Thanks, ladies!

What one woman considers a tichel tantrum might be tichel success to another and it is definitely evident in this collage. We think they all look great! Do you have tales of tichel woes worth sharing? We’d love to hear all about them in the comments below!

As for this week’s theme, we’ve decided to focus on scarves known as “the basic building blocks of any great tichel collection.” They’re some of our favorites and one of the most versatile type of scarf we can think of!

Check it out:

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzeledinpashminas. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 2 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

That’s right! We don’t mean the kind that actually involve water and are fed by babbling brooks and streams, but what we are talking about is the ever-so-classic Waterfall Twist! This Challenge of the Week found us wrapping with style and grace. It was awesome seeing so many women “do the twist”!

Check out our fabulous gallery below and don’t forget to scroll down to see the theme for next week’s challenge!

The theme for this week’s challenge can be summed up in one photo:

What’s going on there? Why, that would be a group tichel tantrum featuring Andrea and Naomi Rose! That’s right- our theme for this week is tichel tantrums! We want to see your tichels gone wrong! Your selfie-bloopers, accidents and more! None of us have managed to lead wrapping lifestyles free of this burden, so we thought, why not embrace the experience and share our frustrations together! This will certainly make for a hilarious compilation of photos next week!

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzelticheltantrum. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 2 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

Here is the tutorial for a style that I (Rachel) am totally loving right now! You might remember Italian Wrapunzelista Yael from her Regal Wrap with a Twist tutorial, but today she is back with an all new turban style and we are so excited to share it with you! In Yael’s words, “I like it because it reminds me of the hats women wore in the ’20’s and ’30’s,” and how we couldn’t agree more!

If you’re a turban-lover, like myself, this one is definitely worth checking out!

Edit: The blue/olive pashmina seen here is a Woven Vines! Color option: Navy Cool

Well, ladies, #wrapunzeledinsaris was a whole lot of fun and we absolutely LOVED seeing everybody’s colorful creations! Whether a sari scarf or sash was used, each participant exhibited such creativity and care… The ways these unique scarves were used is seemingly endless and this collage is one of our favorites yet! Do you need inspiration or ideas for how to use your sari scarf? Check out the gallery below!

For this week’s challenge, we’re revisiting an old favorite. A style that Andrea first developed before Wrapunzel was even a store! It is easy and elegant and seems to look good on everyone… Check out the reveal video below to find out more!

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzeledinwaterfalls. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 5 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

***Need to learn how to do the twist? These tutorials have the answer!

Veil tutorials are all the rage lately! First we had Samantha’s original Princess Wrap, then Andrea’s easy Wrapunzel Veil, then Naomi Rose with the Duchess Wrap. But all these techniques work best with large, thin scarves. Wrapunzelista Mirjam wanted to find a way to do a veil with a thick pashmina – and boy did she ever nail it! Here are some photos she sent us:

We’ve always admired Mirjam’s posts on the Fangroup for her bold individual style, impeccable dramatic makeup, and especially her seemingly magical way of making any pashmina cooperate and turn into a wrap straight out of a fairy tale! So we were SUPER excited when she sent us a tutorial video to share. Without further ado, here she is:

Have you ever met a hair-covering Buddhist? We’re always amazed at the sheer number and diversity of spiritual backgrounds that inspire women to cover their hair. Check out Victoria’s beautiful and personal story below – and don’t miss her stunningly elegant wrapping style!

My name is Victoria Hogan. I’m a soap maker, business owner, homesteader, and blogger on hippiestink.com. I began wrapping part-time about five years ago, after much debate and thought. My mother is Vietnamese and a Dharma Buddhist, while my father is Irish-Romanian and Cherokee and a practicing Wiccan. I felt more connected to Buddhism, and it’s actually the main reason I wrap my hair.

My hair has always been the subject of envy from my friends. I have fine but dense hair, and in a very dark brown that is almost black. “Asian hair”, my friends would call it. People would always ask me “can I touch your hair!” Some people wouldn’t even ask and would just come up and grab it. I also would fuss over my hair, spending lots of money on conditioners and masks and product to make it look the way I wanted it. I would bother my mother to spend hours on styling it, and would spend a lot of money getting it cut the way I liked it. It became a nuisance and a distraction.

When I began practicing Buddhism in earnest, attending temple and such, I noticed the nuns all had their heads shaved bald just as the monks did. Some wore little sock caps and such, but they were completely bald. They do this to show humility, that they care not for things of this world, and that they are beyond the vanity of their hair. I did more research on the matter and learned that there are some nuns who wear coverings over their head, and that it’s common for nuns to shave bald or cover their hair. After thinking it over, noticing how vainly I viewed my hair, and debating with myself I came to the decision that as a layperson in the Buddhist faith I would cover my hair.

To me hair is a woman’s glory, her pride and joy. It’s considered a status symbol to have glorious, beautifully kept, healthy hair. I used to be so preoccupied with my hair, that it became the thing that I let define myself. I began covering my hair because I wanted to remind myself that I am more than my hair, that my vanity is less important than reaching Enlightenment and Nirvana. I began wrapping and wearing hats and snoods over my hair so I could stop focusing on how my hair looked and remember the important things: family and faith.

I cover for my faith, and I don’t let fear of what others may say and do stop me. We go often to Antwerp, where I can safely wrap because of the large Jewish population. When I’m not safe at home or among others who would not mind, I don’t wrap but wear a snood or hat. I’m glad to share my story with such amazing, beautiful women and I hope you find my story enjoyable!

Here is a style that I (Rachel) have been wearing for a while and with our current Challenge of the Week theme being sari scarves, there has never been a better time to share the tutorial with you all! Its origins were a few months back, during a wrapping phase of mine that was particularly zig-zag heavy. Experimentation and trying different scarf combinations led to a peculiarly obvious question- why had I never tried this style with sari scarves before?!

I proceeded forward with caution, concerned with how easy the task would be to accomplish, but was pleasantly surprised at the results these unique scarves produced! Using saris with contrasting colors creates a look rather dramatic and vibrant. With similar hues and patterns, a  more subtle look is achieved. I never grow tired with experimenting with them and to be honest, think I prefer each type equally!

Anyway, sari lovers, rejoice!  I have finally made a tutorial for this incredible look and you can find it below:

I (Andrea) am so happy to share this post with you!  I met Anjae on facebook and was moved by her beautiful writing – I just had to ask her to share her story!

Anjae’s story hits home for me in a personal way as well.  I used to teach at a school with many kids from different backgrounds and cultures.  I was always flabbergasted by some of the girls who told me how long it took to get their hair braided and how much effort went into the whole process.  Many of these girls’ mothers would approach me about my wraps and I would gladly teach them after music class was over.  I hope Anjae’s story inspires you as much as me!

Hello, my name is Anjae Hatley. I started wrapping about October of last year. I am biracial. My mother is black and my father is white. I have blue eyes, a thin straight nose and dark, thick, curly hair. People are always trying to figure out “what” I am. Hair was a big issue for me growing up. Being half black, there was the question of, “do you wear it natural, do you relax it, and do you use extensions?” As my grandmother always put it, “you have GOOD hair.” Being half white, I get asked all the time, “Can I touch your hair, or why don’t you straighten it- you look white anyway?” So, for much of my 34 years on this earth, my hair has been the topic of discussion for many people. When I got to college, I cut it off, super short. The woman cutting my hair made me call my mother to ask if it was “ok for her to do this to my curls.” Even after getting it cut, I still had little curls and that was still enough for men and woman to focus on. I could not get away from my own hair, it was something that everyone else seemed fixated on as a measure of my beauty. I love my hair, but I am not going to lie, it’s a lot to handle, especially living in the Midwest. My husband loves seeing me with my hair down, and curly. It makes him happy and it warms my heart to hear him say, “I love your hair like that.” Since I have been wrapping my hair, he has been supportive of my decision to cover my hair.

It’s simple, I started wrapping my hair so that the emphasis can be taken of my physical appearance and put on what matters; me being a good person, being capable at what I do, being an educated woman, etc. By wrapping my hair I feel confident when I leave me house, as before having to do my hair was a hassle and I was always fussing with it. I am so much more than my hair. I wrap because I suffer from anxiety and when I have a beautiful scarf on my head, I feel as though it allows take the time to focus on my wrap I am doing and that gives me the moment of clam I need before I start my day. I wrap because it allows me to be my authentic me. The authentic me that I speak of is a woman that has struggled with identity all her life, and has finally found something that allows me to be, without the emphasis on my physical appearance. The focus is on who I am, not what I look like. I say that stumbling upon Wrapunzel has given me so much more than learning how to wrap, it has given me a community of woman that uplift each other.

Thank you for reading my story!

Here’s the story behind this epic wrap:

“How do I know if a wrap suits me?”

This is a question that we are forever trying to answer here at Wrapunzel, and really, it is a question with infinite depth.  Since each and every one of us has huge potential and complex personalities that change day by day, moment by moment, how is it possible to dress in a way that suits us?  How is it possible to dress in a way that truly reflects the inner beauty of our souls?

The answer, of course, is that it is impossible to do perfectly.  We live in a physical world in which it is not possible to convey the infinite beauty of our souls in ANYTHING that we do, but don’t let this deter you – let this inspire you!  While we can’t do it perfectly, we can strive to do it better and better.  And as we learn, we will be able to reveal the beauty of our souls through what we wear.  Life is a journey of learning and growth.  It’s wonderful to know that you will always be evolving and changing!  And it IS possible to learn how to dress in a way that is deeply satisfying and liberating.  We wake each day with new moods, new challenges, and new perspectives.  We want the clothing we cover ourselves with to honor who we are.

This is going to be a short story in which I tell you about my (Andrea) experience that I had with wrapping before Shabbat.

I was super inspired by Naomi’s Duchess wrap, and wanted to try it!  I also had found a sari scarf that I really liked… similar to one I gave away ages ago and missed.  I had in my mind a vision of how the Duchess wrap would work with a sari and lace… all lovely, flowy and hippy dippy.

I had a great outfit to match.  I have been trying this year to wear more white/cream on Shabbat and have had a lot of success doing so (when I say this year, I mean since Yom Kippur.)  A long lace skirt, lace top, and berry shell.  Simple, but so me 🙂

I tried to do the wrap… and do it, I did!  It looked AWESOME… seriously epic.  But something felt wrong – I felt like I was wearing a costume.  It was too high on my head, too “hippy” (who thought I’d ever say that?)  I just wasn’t feeling it.  My husband and I had planned an in Shabbat, just our family and no guests, so we could recharge.  This wrap was too extroverted for the internal bonding experience that I hoped to have.

I asked my husband what he thought and he looked at me and said, “Well, by the look on your face, it’s obvious you don’t like it, but the Wrapunzel ladies are going to love it!”  How right he was.  It really was an awesome wrap, but I just wasn’t feeling it.  I made him come outside to snap some photos of me though.

So what’s the conclusion?  Well… I am definitely going to revisit this wrap in the future – perhaps for a wedding or some sort of event where I want to reveal my exuberant hippy side.  But as soon as Yonatan was done snapping photos, I hastily ripped it off my head and did another wrap.

Here’s what I did:

Much better!  But guess what… I STILL wasn’t feeling it!  While I would wear this most other days, I really was feeling introverted and introspective, and this wrap was still a little ‘undone’ for how I was feeling.  I needed to feel held and stabilized by my wrap.  So after snapping these photos, I decided to redo it AGAIN!

(Can you tell that we ready for Shabbat early this week?  This is not normal for us, but definitely left some room for me to think about and experiment with this train of thought.)

So here is what I ended up with!  I wanted to wear this sari scarf, but I didn’t want tails.  I decided to forgo the lace (I had enough of it in my outfit).  I wanted comforting, neat, warm, and stable.  As soon as I wrapped it I felt immediate relief, like I had found myself.

So are you going to have time to do this process every day?  No, certainly not.  And keep in mind that I was rigidly excited to try something new, even though my mood was not appropriate for the original wrap.   But as soon as I tried on that first wrap and felt that whole “this isn’t me” feeling, I knew I had to explore this idea and share the experience with you.

Sometimes it’s good if your wrap feels somewhat like a costume, especially on days when you are going to need to do things that you might not be in the mood for.  In this way, a wrap can help you do what you need to do, step into different shoes, and reveal aspects of your personality that you may not even know existed!

Other times, your wrap should feel like stepping into a warm bath – comforting, warm, and reflective.  It should feel like you have become more YOU.

All in all, wrapping should be a process of self revelation, discovery, joy, and most of all, should honor the beautiful soul that resides within you.

It’s an honor to be on this journey with you – I can’t wait to hear your thoughts an experiences!

Wishing you all much happy wrapping!
Love, Andrea