Hey Wrapunzelistas! This challenge really brought out the courage in you. You tried new styles, new colors, new bling – all types of things! For some of you it was like dipping your toe into a chilly creek. Before, you may have pulled that toe back in with all the speed and might you could muster, but this time? None of that! You threw yourself into the great ‘beyond’ with courage and gusto and strength. And your fellow Wrapunzelistas were made all the better by seeing the products of that fortitude. All strength to you, sweet Wrapunzelistas, for taking the plunge!
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Hey Wrapunzelistas – We asked you to BLING us your most ‘dudded up’ wraps – and you really, really BROUGHT IT! From Sari Strips and Sashes to baubles, bangles and beads – and even EARS!, showing up in this challenge were your most incredible accessories – pins, necklaces, headbands and more. Accessories galore by the score! It was so great to see you draw attention to your wraps with extra OOMPH. We hope you had as much fun with this one as we had dreaming it up for you.
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Here you are in all your radiant glory! All of our sweet Wrapunzelistas who took time out of their busy shopping schedules (ahem…can we say Black Friday 2021?) to strut their stuff in the shiniest and most sparkling style! Look how they GLOW! Perhaps you’ll see something to inspire you to embrace the glimmer any day of the week. Who knows? 🙂
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Wrap your pretty little heads with all the colors – rainbow, (red/orange/yellow/green/blue/indigo/violet.) Celadon, vermillion, verdegris, azure, chartreuse – whatEVER!
Take them all, twist them, tie them, tease them, turn them into all of your incredible wrapping creations. You had the opportunity with this challenge to really show us what you’ve got – and man, oh man, did you deliver 🙂
Here are just a few of your amazing examples – a painter’s palette for the ages!
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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 🙂
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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
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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!
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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 🙂
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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
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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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.
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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.
Meira in Brown Print Scarf with Red Wrapunzel Sari Scarf
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.
Meira in a Turquoise Green Layering Top and Layered Wrap
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.
Meira in lovely outfit of Light Blues, and a Sari Turban
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.
Meira in Light Greens plus Print Scarves
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.
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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.
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Here’s our worksheet summary for you to refer to while reading the following article and use for yourself afterward.
Whether you suffer headaches chronically or occasionally, it’s very wise to have as much information at your fingertips which you can then access in making informed decisions regarding your head wrapping. This blog article is meant to provide the essential information you’ll need to answer some of the questions below. All personal testimonials have been shared with permission, and this article is not intended for use in diagnosis, treatment or cure of any medical ailment:
What is a headache, and what actually is happening to my body when I have one? Are there different types of headaches?
Could wearing a headwrap bring on a headache?
Can wrapping my head provide headache relief? Can headwrap factors such as overall weight, fabric texture and breathability make a difference for headache prone wrappers?
Are there certain wrap-traps that I can avoid if I am prone to headaches?
What does a Neurologist have to say about all of this and how do I wrap my head around all this information?
Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, yourdictionary.com defines a headache as a ‘pain in the head, or something, such as a problem, that causes annoyance or trouble.’ Certainly, headaches are a problem! They’re painful and bothersome, and can even put a person completely out of commission for up to a few days, as in the case of migraines. Medically, the Mayo Clinic, on their website, mayoclinic.org gives a more detailed definition. They define a headache as pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a vise-like quality. A headache may appear as a sharp pain, a throbbing sensation or a dull ache. Headaches can develop gradually or suddenly, and may last from less than an hour to several days.
The Mayo Clinic goes on to classify headaches in two categories; primary and secondary. A primary headache carries its own diagnosis, and doesn’t come about from a pre-existing illness or other possible medical cause. It is simply brought on by overactivity of, or issues with, pain sensing structures in the head. Brain chemistry, nerve endings, blood veins and vessels around your head and neck, or a combination thereof, can play a role in the primary headache. Genetic tendencies may also signal a predisposition to primary headaches. The most common types of primary headaches are the cluster headache, the tension headache, and the migraine headache (with or without the experience of seeing ‘auras’). Less common types of primary headaches may include specific features, such as an unusual length of time with pain, pain caused by certain activities, or pain brought on from lifestyle factors, such as stress level, drinking alcohol, or improper nutrition.
Secondary headaches signal an underlying illness, allergy or disease and trigger these same pain receptors in the head and/or neck. They vary greatly in severity and length. A secondary headache, for example, may be caused by anything as medically treatable as dehydration or a sinus infection, to more medically catastrophic illnesses such as meningitis, stroke, brain aneurysm or tumor, G-d forbid. The more common types of secondary headaches include, but aren’t limited to, sinus headaches, spinal headaches (from receiving a spinal tap or epidural), the dreaded “brain freeze” that many experience when enjoying their favorite frozen delights, or, and this is where things get interesting, external compression headaches, brought about from headgear causing pressure around the head or neck areas.
Yes, head wrappers may be setting themselves up for a headache simply by donning their daily ‘do,’ whereas others may find relief from previously diagnosed medical conditions. Certainly if one wraps too loosely, their wraps are doomed to slip, and if they wrap too tightly, they do chance an external compression headache. In a video interview entitled “How Head wrapping Relieved My Medical Condition,” Dani, who suffers from a medical condition causing regular bouts of ‘non-headache’ head pain that she describes as an ‘internal pressure or pounding,’ together with Andrea Grinberg, Owner and Founder of Wrapunzel, LLC, explore head wrapping as a possible treatment for headache associated with a medical condition. Dani describes to Andrea a certain style of tight headwrap that she has found to alleviate the annoying head pressure that she experiences on almost a daily basis. To help other women experiencing the same, or similar, medical issues, Dani has made her own video tutorial demonstrating exactly how to create this style that she has found so soothing. Please note that Dani’s condition is not a ‘regular’ headache, and that tight headwraps are counter-indicated for most headache sufferers.
Of course, Dani’s wrapping techniques and suggestions could be helpful for some wrappers with headache issues, but let’s take some time to explore more headache-specific tips and tricks from actual headache sufferers who wrap.
Andrea Grinberg, Owner and Founder of Wrapunzel, LLC, has been asked innumerable questions through the years regarding the ins and out of head wrapping. Questions regarding head wrapping and headaches – for new wrappers and more seasoned wrappers – were prevalent, as well as questions regarding how to wrap (or not) if these symptoms occur, or while they’re occurring. When she was a teenager, Andrea suffered from horrifically painful, debilitating migraines and thank goodness, with her ‘miracle’ cure of Vitamin B2, a treatment mentioned in the National Headache Foundation Blog, these subsided as she entered adulthood. Needless to say, the memories of the pain and knowledge of how migraines can affect people stay with her to this day. Surprisingly, Andrea found that her migraines were less frequent when she started wrapping, so when she was approached by wrappers who suffered from headaches more frequently when wrapping, she set out to clarify the reasons why this might occur.
Andrea found that the most obvious reason this occurs is due to wrapping or securing either one’s hair or scarf too tightly. To pull one’s hair back into a tight ponytail or bun and fasten it with a tight elastic can only lead to headache symptoms. A velvet scrunchie, when secured loosely, alleviates hair loss from pulling, and also lessens tugging on the hair due to the scrunchie’s soft, yet secure hold. A Wrapunzel exclusive product, the No-Slip Headband, should also not be worn too tightly on the head. It needs to fit snugly, like a gentle hug, but not too tight. Just recently, in October of 2019, Wrapunzel released a tutorial video on how to correctly measure one’s head circumference in order to ensure purchasing the correct size of No-Slip Headband and related products.
And even after securing one’s hair comfortably with one of Wrapunzel’s velvet scrunchies and a properly-sized No-Slip Headband , one may still be tying one’s scarves too tightly, causing headache issues. There’s no need to do this. One must also be concerned about possible ‘pulling back on the head’ or heaviness caused by certain wrapping techniques. Andrea finds that a way to alleviate this is to, while wrapping, hold the hands palm-up more often and to feel a more ‘forward’ momentum towards the face. Do not pull downwards or backwards, as this can only cause your wrap to pull in that direction later, causing symptoms. Wrappers who employ these techniques may actually find their symptoms to improve, as did Andrea.
Another wrapping technique that Andrea found may exacerbate headache symptoms is how one ties one’s knots (check out the great video from Naomi Rose below). Firmly tied double or even single knots at the middle back of the neck can cause an instant, banging, tension headache for some. First of all, as we’ve already mentioned, there is no need to tie so tightly, and it’s so important to remember this as rule number one. For some, not even tying a knot, but rather doing a simple criss-cross of scarf ends could provide just the relief you’re looking for in those tension-headache prone locations.
Yet another potential cause of pain is where and how your ends are tucked in. If you bunch your scarf up and simply tuck it under at the nape of your neck, you’re asking for trouble. Rather, you should try figuring out how to position your scarf ends so that you may tuck them into the scarf itself, perhaps at the top or side of the head, nice and smooth and not bunched.
Perhaps the most obvious obstacle to pain-free wrapping is undergarment, scarf and hair weight on the head. Obviously, you don’t want to put on two or three pashmina weight scarves if you have headache issues and it would benefit you greatly, if you’re a multiple scarf wearer, to opt for lighter weight scarves for comfort. However, a lot about weight on the head actually lies with how your ponytail/bun is positioned, and this can vary from person to person. Many say that securing their hair in a low bun is best to avoid headaches or lessen the pain, but for Andrea, she prefers her pony to sit medium high. Some may even feel that a ‘pixie pony’ way up top and center on the head is the best for them. To figure out what is best for you, you must experiment with this until you find the right place for the weight of your hair to lie.
Lastly, one should experiment with different undergarment options, wrap styles and varying levels of ‘wrap heat.’ For example, a style where a scarf wraps around the head fully, with merely a criss-cross in the back, which provides an overall ‘head hug,’ can provide relief of head pain symptoms for some, while sticking to lightweight, breathable coverings of natural fibers may be just the thing for others, such as Rachel Weintraub Stein, a thirty-three year old wrapper of almost six years from Silver Spring, MD, finds that ‘using simple, one hundred percent cotton “Israeli”-style tichels helps her to avoid headaches due to their light weight and cool feel and breathability.’ Some prefer the comforting snugness of a fabric with stretch, whereas others prefer fabrics that lie flat on the head with no stretch.
Numerous ladies from the Wrapunzel Community have commented regarding a variety of options. Kelly O., a forty-something newbie wrapper of approximately ten months from West Virginia shared that:
..when I’m feeling a headache coming on or already have one, I prefer a Wrapunzel Regal Wrap (a simple, around-the-head style that distributes scarf weight evenly around the head) or other similar style that puts an even pressure over my entire head.
–Kelly O.
Kelly also shared with Wrapunzel that her husband has also found relief from headaches by donning a lightweight scarf in an around-the-head style.
Cynthia Al-zageruri, a thirty-one year old residing in New York with her husband and children has been covering hijab-style for eight years, since marriage. A very regular presence on the Wrapunzel Community Group, Cynthia shared with Wrapunzel that most of her headache issues come from the length of time she wears her hijab, how tightly she wraps it, and how she wears her hair in a cap underneath. She isn’t able to wear her hair in a tight ponytail under the cap without having symptoms, so she leaves it loose or in a low, extremely loose ponytail. If her hijab is wrapped too tightly, she will loosen it when pain symptoms strike, but she doesn’t feel any need to change her actual hijab style – which she wears to cover her head and neck/collarbone area simultaneously in accordance with Muslim religious law. Cindy has found the head and neck covering hijab style to provide even balance and weight to her wraps. In this style, wrap weight doesn’t pull backwards or forwards, and therefore lessons headache symptoms.
Heather Fullerton, who is in her mid-thirties and resides in Tennessee, has been covering full-time for almost two years. Heather suffered from occasional migraines as a teenager, and after the birth of her second child, was diagnosed with an endocrine disorder which only made her migraines worse. She now has migraines at least one to three times per week. Heather remarks:
As far as alleviating symptoms, I’ve noticed that not only does the ‘no knot’ technique help, but also the way you wear your hair under your shaper. Unfortunately, some shapers make my headaches worse, especially those with a band of grippy velvet that’s wider at the top of the head and tapered at the back of the head. I’ll wear that shaper only for special occasions, or when I know I won’t be wearing it for long. In general, wearing any kind of velvet tightly around my head feels like a vice squeezing my head.
I also tend to wear my hair in a loose bun and wrap scrunchies very loosely. The bun is under the wrap, so it doesn’t have to be perfect. Any type of wrap that causes pressure points makes my headaches worse, so not only do I not tie knots at the back, but I don’t tuck ends between my shaper and scarf. The only time I will tie an actual knot is if it’s a slippery scarf. If I do tie a knot, I try to make it as loose as possible, while still trying to make the wrap secure. I believe most people think that if they don’t tie a tight knot, their wrap will fall off. That’s just not the case, and I’ve had ‘no knot’ wraps last for more than eighteen hours without budging.
I’ve also noticed, for me anyway, that lighter scarves and scarves made of t-shirt material work best. They are forgiving and you don’t have to tie them tightly to get them to stay put. Cotton ‘Israeli” style scarves and printed viscose scarves are great for summertime. Wearing too much bulk or weight on the head makes things worse, but I’ve noticed I can get the look of a two or three scarf wrap with a simple ombre scarf, if it’s pleated the right way. Less is more. The more weight I have on my head, the worse the headaches. I also stretch out any headbands before wearing, stretching them out using a shoebox, otherwise I get the vice grip feeling again. For adding embellishment, therefore, I tend to stick to pins. Also, a good scalp massage before wrapping is helpful. If anyone is like me and sometimes wakes up with a migraine, pre-tieds, slip-on turbans and berets are also a great option. And, as always, if your headaches persist after trying all of these tips and tricks, see your doctor. Also, Stephanie Halapija’s video on headaches was a real game-changer for me when I was still new to wrapping and I highly recommend it.
To sum it up, no knots, no tight shapers or velvet headbands, keep embellished headbands to a minimum, and always aim for lightweight scarves and one-scarf wraps to reduce bulk.
-Heather Fullerton
Lisa R., a 50-something wrapper of several years, shared the following with Wrapunzel:
I have discovered that when I get migraines, which I haven’t had in a long time, but have begun to return, if I put my shaper on in one way it helps the pain, and if I try it another way, it doesn’t. Also, I have discovered that if wrap my tichel in certain ways, it will help, but in other ways it just aggravates the migraine or headache…whichever I am having that day. On the days with no migraines or headaches, I can wear my tichel any way I want and I am fine. Something else I have noticed that affects my headache symptoms is how and where I place my shaper on my head. I have both Signature and a Cloud9 shapers.
All these things make a difference for me. On headache days I make sure I have a dark, solid scarf with no pattern other than the weave of the fabric. Usually I choose an even weave instead of textured so my eyes do not wander to points where the light might hit the texture of the scarf. I usually choose a heavy weight, such as a Solid Pashmina, although at times I will choose a lightweight scarf, such as the Cornerstone. The material plays a big part in helping me through my headaches. There are times where I will wear both a Cornerstone and a Solid Pashmina scarf. Why two? Doesn’t it weigh on my head? Actually, no. Not if wrapped properly. If wrapped according to the size and shape of your head, and the pressure points, it will help greatly. There is much relief which can be gained just by relaxing your shoulders, and tilting your head back a little bit and letting the scarf or scarves do the work to begin to help alleviate the pressure. Also, for me, wearing them together provides for wonderful comfort and natural “air conditioning.”
I usually like to wrap my head a little tighter or more snug than a gentle hug on headache/migraine days. For me, putting pressure on my head from the outside, takes pressure off it on the inside. For instance, think of a dot inside a circle. Think of the dot as the headache or migraine, and the circle as the outside of your head. When we get headaches or migraines usually they are localized, although sometimes they can be in more than one place or travel. In order to fight that, everything tenses up and goes to fighting that at that location. When we put pressure on the outside of our heads, then it feels as if our nerves go into overdrive to figure out what that pressure is, and how to get it off. Little by little they leave the localized headache and spread themselves out around the perimeter of the scalp.
All of a sudden, we put pressure, just a little bit, but all of a sudden some of the pain goes away. Why? because the nerves have gone to see what they can do about getting this pressure off so they can go back to work of being stressed in one location. Some stay and try to hang on, but depending on the conditions and situation, sometimes it takes just a little bit to work their way out, and other times, it takes a bit longer. Yes, mine have hung on longer while using these tips, however, during the time I had the headaches and migraines, I was able to get a bit of relief here or there…before they came back.
I do have migraines again, but I am so thankful that they are not nearly as bad as they used to be. At times they are still debilitating, but now I know I can do something about them. When I was younger I would try to pull my hair out, or touch my fingers together from either side of the temples of my head. That was how hard I was pushing. No, it never happened, and I cried and cried that I couldn’t make the pain go away. Now, I don’t have to, as I have different techniques for different times or parts of a headache or migraine.
-Lisa R.
We asked a Board Certified Neurologist and Headache Specialist, Sara Crystal, M.D. who practices in Manhattan, New York and resides in New Jersey, for her medical expertise and input regarding how head wrapping may bring on a headache, exacerbate one, or even relieve one. Here’s what we learned in speaking with her. Headache triggers are caused by compressing of the nerves that travel over the skull (see Diagram – nerves are in yellow).
As to why so many wrappers are prone to tension headaches from triggers along the several sensitive areas in the back of the head, this is caused by the location of the occipital nerve. The occipital nerve travels over the back of the skull. Pressure over this nerve, particularly along the bony ridge at the back of the skull, can cause pain that may radiate to the back of the eye on the same side. Also, irritation of the nerve branches of the upper cervical spinal cord can contribute to headaches. What may be interesting to many wrappers is that in the scalp itself there are few muscles (there are no muscles at all over the ‘crown’ of the head, but rather tendons and ligaments securing the forehead muscles), but many nerve endings.
Certainly, making sure to keep wrapping undergarments and scarves loose, as well as giving yourself a thorough scalp massage before wrapping and after removing your wrap can be quite therapeutic, stimulating blood flow and easing tension. One should focus on the forehead, temples, and back of the neck from the occipital skull ridge downward. In addition, one should avoid their known headache pressure/trigger points, and stop massaging that or any other area entirely if there is pain of any kind.
Extremely common are headaches from seasonal allergy symptoms, and migraine headaches tend to be more common in people with seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis (inflammation of nasal tissues due to allergic symptoms). Allergies can also trigger more frequent headaches as well. The reason for allergies contributing so often to headaches may be the inflammation they cause, or nerve irritation.
To determine whether you are experiencing migraine headaches, ask yourself the following questions:
Has a headache limited your activities for a day or more in the last three months?
Are you nauseated or sick to your stomach when you have a headache?
Does light bother you when you have a headache?
An answer of “yes” to two of the three questions above suggests a ninety-three percent chance that migraines are the cause of symptoms, and if things are getting difficult, you should consider seeing a doctor. Otherwise, your headaches are likely tension-type headaches, and if they are occasional and respond to over the counter treatment, they may not require a doctor’s visit. Should anyone ever experience any type of headache that has sudden, severe onset, or a ‘thunder-clap sound,’ it could very well benefit the sufferer to visit a hospital emergency room immediately.
Dr. Crystal stressed that headache sufferers who cover should always strive to wrap loosely, alternate the position of their ponytail or the style of their wrap often, and avoid pulling on the hair using any type of clips to secure one’s wrap to their head. For bad headache days, wrappers should avoid any and all accoutrements that may cause excess pulling, weight and pressure on the head, such as extra headbands for ornamentation.
So where does this leave us head wrappers? Here is the bottom, or rather the top, line. If you’re afraid that wrapping is going to cause or worsen your headaches, you must take the time to experiment with ways to secure your hair under your wraps, new wrap styles and techniques and fabrics to find what works best for you. In incredibly rare situations, a person may find themselves (gasp!) absolutely unable to wrap without it causing pain, and we feel so badly for them that their finding joy in head wrapping may simply not be possible. For women who know they’ll be starting to wrap soon (as in a Kallah [bride] or G-d forbid, a cancer patient), now is the time to open your ‘wrap lab.’ For seasoned wrappers who may have only recently started experiencing headache issues, take some time behind closed doors to identify your pressure/trigger points and learn how to wrap in order to avoid them. Wrapping isn’t rocket science. Rather, it’s all about ‘live and learn.’ And of course, it’s really NOT a headache!
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Wrapunzel Community “Groupies” – your FANDOM WRAPS gave you the chance to put on your thinking caps (lol!) and create colorful, crazy, and yes some quite creepy headwraps to sing the praises of whatever “tichels” your fancy! Be it a book, movie or television series, fictional character, sports team, college or university, favorite color, whatever, your heads carried the message of your unfaltering devotion to your fandoms. You can read more about fandom below, but NOW, Wrapunzel sings YOUR praises! GO WRAPUNZELISTAS!
What is a “fandom?” Well, back in the ‘olden’ days, people
with fandoms were called “groupies.” Groupies would usually show up at every
concert a particular music band had to offer, no matter its geographic location.
Some would take their “groupiness” on the road, traveling from coast to coast to
see their faves perform their biggest hits night after night. The crowds would
go wild – and the groupies would end one show waiting for the next time when
they could eagerly worship their ‘heroes.’
Offhand, Deadheads (The Grateful Dead), Parrotheads (Jimmy Buffet) and
Metalheads (Heavy Metal Music) come to mind, and they’re still roaming the
globe today in hot pursuit of their beloved celebrity.
Today, “fandom” seems to have
taken on a broader scope. Wikipedia
defines a “fandom” as a subculture composed of fans characterized
by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others
who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor
details of the object(s) of their fandom and spend a significant portion of
their time and energy involved with their interest, often as a part of a social network with
particular practices (a fandom); this is what differentiates
“fannish” (fandom-affiliated) fans from those with only a casual
interest.
A fandom can grow around any area of human interest or
activity. The subject of fan interest can be narrowly defined, focused on
something like an individual celebrity, or more widely defined, encompassing entire hobbies, genres or fashions. While it is now
used to apply to groups of people fascinated with any subject, the term has its
roots in those with an enthusiastic appreciation for sports. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary traces the usage of the term back as far as 1903.[1]
Fandom as a term can also be used in a broad sense
to refer to the interconnectedsocial networks of
individual fandoms,[vague] many of which
overlap. There are a number of large conventions that cater to fandom in this
broad sense, catering to interests in film, comics, anime, television shows,
cosplay, and the opportunity to buy and sell related merchandise. Annual
conventions such as Comic Con International, Wondercon, Dragon Con and New York Comic Con are some of the more well known and highly attended events
that cater to overlapping fandoms.
Regardless of its definition, fandom is a mindset of celebration, an opportunity to let your creative juices flow. A way for one to express love for anything at all. A way to let others know a little of what YOU are all about, and each and every one of you is beautiful inside and out – others just can’t wait to know you. OUR Favorite Fandom is YOU, Sweet Wrapunzelista! Keep that in mind, and on your HEAD, each and every time you wrap!
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