It’s everyone’s favorite color! And you came out in droves for this challenge – the color BLUE looked great on you! And just look at all of these smiling faces. We couldn’t have thought of a better way to bring you all out of your shells during the hot, hot summer of 2023. You really brought it – and we’re so glad. Check you out, Sweet Wrapunzelistas!

Whether it’s a simple ride in the car or international exploring, we often leave the comfort of our home – and our scarf collection – to experience the world around us. This article is here to discuss some of the most common issues that come up regarding wrapping while traveling. Hopefully it will help you next time you venture away, or help you prepare yourself and your suitcase for the task.

PACKING

Everyone loves variety, but it’s virtually impossible to pack all of your scarves and accessories for a trip. Space is limited, and so is the time involved to ‘leaf through’ each scarf that you bring with you each morning, trying to find the best match. I recently traveled to visit my family, and actually had a very pleasant experience packing for the trip. I chose two colors in my wardrobe and had them be the ‘center’ of all things scarf-related. I went with the colors coral and light grey. I happened to have a top that combined both of those colors and paired it with a black skirt as one outfit. Then I packed another grey top to go with the black skirt for another day of the trip.

For the other days, I packed a denim skirt and chose a solid coral top, as well as a black top, to go with it. From there, choosing my scarves was easy. I simply stayed in the same coral and light grey color groups and everything came together in a flash. I packed two solid scarves and one print scarf and I was all set! My preparation while packing lead to having more time to enjoy my family, rather than having to go ‘scarf hunting’ each morning.

When I surveyed other Wrapunzelistas in the Community Group, I found their packing habits to be very similar. The fewer scarves the better. Those scarves should, preferably, coordinate with each other to allow for more options. Leslie from our Community Group commented that she packed very few scarves because she knew she’d be tempted to purchase other scarves along her way. How’s that for happy optimism?

PASSPORTS

What to wear on your head for your passport photo? This can be a challenge. While head coverings have become more of a normal thing these days, sometimes wrappers do wonder whether or not they’re what the passport agencies want to see. We must remember that the most important feature of passport photos is someone’s face. Wraps, wigs and hats all show someone’s face clearly. Hats aren’t generally seen in passport photos, most likely because their brims cast shadow on the face. Many choose to wear wigs to appear as ‘unassuming’ as possible. And many also wrap and have no problems at all with passport agencies. Other than hats, wig or wrap, your choice!

TRAINS

I haven’t traveled by train for longer distances since college, way before I started covering. However, I would imagine that when one wraps for the day, they would need to allow for the slight ‘forward head push’ that train seats can give. It’s rather easy to forget this phenomenon, and if you wear an ample shaper, it can be very uncomfortable to sit in those seats without your ‘pouf’ getting in the way! A good way to avoid this problem is to stick with either no shaper (just a No-Slip Headband) or one with a smaller pouf (Signature Shaper) for your train travel. This way you’ll be able to comfortably hold your head up high and enjoy the views!

PLANES

There is one part of plane travel that seems to make wrappers jittery – will I get pulled aside at Security because I wrap? This question has been asked innumerable times and it seems as if the answers we’re aware of have mostly involved positive experiences. Truly, getting pulled aside at Security is a random occurrence, even though we wrappers do ‘stand out’ a little. If you are pulled aside, it is best to stay calm and collected and to allow the process to go smoothly. Do not feel intimidated. Be strong. If you are asked to take off your wrap, you may feel free to ask to be taken to a private room and seen by a same-gender TSA guard – you do not have to comply with an opposite-gender guard’s request.

When we surveyed the ladies of the Community Group, all commented that their encounters with TSA (Transportation Safety Authority) employees went smoothly. At the most, the TSA workers ‘squeezed’ the wrap, and then ran a wand around it to check the area. The ladies may have felt the need to re-wrap afterwards, but felt only slightly inconvenienced by the interaction. Kara from the Wrapunzel Community mentioned that using accessories or hijab magnets in wraps while going through Security is really not a wise idea – they will cause the machinery to beep – and we don’t want to experience those consequences!

Once you’re on the plane, the wrap obstacles are about the same as when you ride a train. The headrests do come forward a bit, so wearing a large shaper is not necessarily a good choice – unless you like the feeling of your chin on your chest! Also, your fellow passengers may include small children, who may simply reach out and grab your pouf, thinking it’s a toy. This would not be good. It’s probably best to, again, stick with just a No-Slip Headband and scarf, or a Signature Shaper and scarf. These both will skim the closest to your head and make for fewer ‘forward push’ issues.

AUTOMOBILES

Ok, we’ve said it a few times in this article alone – a seat’s headrest is NOT a wrapper’s friend! This is especially true when you’re in the driver’s seat. Not only is it uncomfortable to have to bend your neck down to allow for the ‘push forward’ design of headrests, it’s simply dangerous! When you drive, you need to have your eyes forward and looking at the road ahead of you – not looking at the blouse that you decided to wear that morning. You are in traffic – and the safety of your passengers (and other drivers and their passengers) is literally in your hands.

A Community Group Wrapunzelista, Caitlin, mentioned that she loves her Mini Bobo Shaper for driving. Terrific idea, Caitlin! The open back design of the Mini Bobo will prevent the forward push of the headrest and wrappers will be able to keep their heads up straight with no problem at all.

And yes, it’s also possible to travel by horse! 🙂 Thanks for this pic, Devia!

Wow, AMAZING Wrapunzelistas! You really came out in droves for this challenge! It’s so nice to see all of you wrapping away with more than one scarf. Whether to show off two of your finds at once, to contrast textures or colors or to match colors with an outfit you really brought it. And such a variety of wrap styles too! We posed the challenge and you delivered….INCREDIBLY! Check you all out in these pictures…absolutely STUNNING!

Hi Wrapunzelistas! So, with inflation on the rise and the ongoing quest for the Almighty Dollar, most of us head wrappers find ourselves in the workplace for one third of our day! I would like to take this opportunity to talk about all of the successes, mysteries and yes, sometimes awkwardness of head covering in the workplace. Not all of us are blessed with working at Wrapunzel Headquarters, where we cover our heads regularly and happily, and always earn a compliment or two in the process! After all, it’s what we DO! But out in the ‘real’ world, many of us struggle each morning with what to wear on our heads with a work uniform or as part of a work dress ensemble. Does your workplace have uniform requirements that may warrant certain types of head coverings? How do your coworkers react to your headwraps? How do you feel when covering on the job? This article is meant to answer these questions and more, and to flush out many possible workplace situations, making covering at work less daunting of a task.

In a recent post on the Wrapunzel Community Group Page, we gathered a lot of information from women who head wrap on the job. Interestingly, most were nurses – one of the careers where those involved inherently cover due to the requirements and germ-conscious environment of the healthcare field. Historically wearing nurse hats and nowadays wearing workplace-issued scrub covers and elasticized ‘caps’ to contain their hair, most of the women who posted their experiences spoke of wearing headscarves and the amazingly uplifting effect that head wrapping has had on the doctors, fellow nurses and even patients that they encounter on a regular basis. Always making sure to wrap neatly with a No-Slip Headband or Shaper with a grippy velvet band and in a contained fashion – no tails here – these wrappers reported only positive reactions from those with whom they worked. Some of them even mentioned choosing their headwraps daily based upon what they felt would make patients smile and feel brighter.

Everyone wants to, ultimately, feel their best and most confident during their work day. Choosing colors or patterns that ‘represent’ ones personality is the goal. This helps us put our best foot forward – we feel great, those around us will feel great too. We feel productive and professional and so will our coworkers. Our clients will feel as if they are well cared for. We will exude an aura of strength and knowledge. We wind up being a positive example to ourselves and others.

Here is an indispensable video from our own Naomi Rose about Haircovering in the Professional World. Naomi Rose discusses a bunch of tips and tricks to help you feel rock solid and confident as you navigate wrapped job interviews and days on the job in different types of workplaces. And in this video, Andrea also gives some amazing suggestions on how to present yourself professionally while wearing a headwrap.

If you work in an office in Health or Legal, Administrative or Corporate professions, there is an unsaid ‘policy’ of how one should dress – and therefore cover their heads as well. It seems intuitive to wear neutral and subtle colors, to shy away from too much sparkle and to create a neat and subtle look that will put others at ease. Your entire being should make your coworkers and clients feel safe and well cared for.

Just imagine you’re headed out on an interview for your dream job. You recently started covering and you’re just not sure what to wear – on your head – to go along with your ‘power suit.’ First of all, most power suits will be made in a color that is from a softer, more neutral palette. Bold and bright colors that make you stand out are not necessarily a good choice here. Black, navy blue, shades of brown, grey, tan all can work well. You should strive to match your head covering to your suit, dress or outfit. It should homogenize with your entire look and not draw too much attention. A little bit of texture, sparkle or gentle color to complete the look (so that it won’t seem too uniform) will give you success. You will feel strong, self-assured and ready for the tasks at hand. You will feel “put together,” and this is the most important. A complete, complementary look that showcases you and not necessarily your outfit is what to shoot for. You’re going to be great!

And how should your headwrap be tied? It should be neat and clean, with simple lines. Not too many knots, twists or bows for this – something more plain and workplace appropriate. For example, if you’re working in a preschool setting, a wrap with tails isn’t a good choice when there are cute little hands on you all the time! Something smooth and all tucked in like a Regal Wrap or Fan Wrap is a perfect choice for any professional situation.

Here are some stories from members of our Wrapunzel Community about their wrapping at work. Melissa Laurel tells us “as far as my wraps, my boss is all for it. I’ve posted here before that he even says he likes when I wear sparkly ones.  I wear pretty much whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want, in regards to how I cover my hair. I haven’t tried really big super turban wraps. I think that would probably be pushing it for a Front Desk position, but Regal Wraps, low buns, veils, Beginner’s Luck, and snood/beanie slouchy type hats have been perfectly fine. I wear a variety of prints and colors, and I try to coordinate that with the clothing I wear each day.” Again, the theme of coordinating your workplace wraps with your outfits. Seems the best way to go!

And Sarah Jo says, “I work in large financial services in their Compliance department where the dress code is dress professional, suits and ties, that kind if thing. I haven’t received any negative feedback, but I did get respectful questions when I started. My answer was always the same, “It’s a matter of self care for me.” When I started to wrap in the office, I tried to keep it somewhat simple and not do big wraps. Every once in a while I’ll do tails. Another compromise is using a false hair piece over a bun and doing half wraps. The more it became part of who I am, the less of an issue it was. It’s just part of how Sarah Jo presents herself to the world.”

So in summary of things, wrapping in the workplace is, for a good part, dictated by your type of work and the people you encounter on a daily basis. Presenting in a ‘put together’ way is foremost and will give you a confident, strong and secure outlook to face your day, leaving those around you less concerned about your wrap and most concerned about you and how you do your job. Have a great work day every day, Wrapunzelistas!

Quite a few of our Sweet Wrapunzelistas rose to this special occasion to “Design-Your-Own Kit!” You wove textures and colors and glitter and shine together into amazing groupings that could be worn in so many different ways. Basically, you all ACED it! Meira even took the opportunity to go through her wardrobe for her favorite colors and designed a kit for each hue! Wrappers, you’re all simply amazing!

Take a look at this amazing Kit designed by Sarah! She started with the butterfly Pashmina from our Freefalling Kit and went from there – adding an Eggplant Petalsoft Scarf, a complementary Striped Delights Scarf, and an (exclusive to the Winter Carnival Kit) Pumpkin Shiny-licious Scarf, along with a cute little heart pin! She wrapped them all up in a bunch of different ways. Sarah, you look fantastic!

Here’s a dramatic look by our Wrapunzelista Stephanie. Her Winter Queen Kit is big, bold and (Brown Mini) Bobo’ed! Starting with a Red Cranberry Scarf, and a Dark Olive Golden Israeli and adding gold and clear stoned starburst pin, Stephanie, you’re simply striking!

Next come two incredible Kit looks from Nikki! The first combines an exclusive Yellow Sparkle-licious and a Royal Blue Petalsoft. She then adds in a Dark Blue New York Brights Scarf for added options and tops them all off with a clear and blue pin on silver for added punch. And for added fun, Nikki throws in a Bright Rainbow Road Scarf to add some more possibilities. Nikki, you ROCK!

Here Nikki does it again! What she picked for this Kit was a Dark Brown and Cream Cranberry, a Black/Gold Shimmery, an exclusive Champagne Shiny-licious from the Freefalling Kit, an Amazing Lace also in Champagne and to top it all off, the Pyrotechnics Pin in Amber. Nikki, you’ve done it again!

Sweet Sarah starts her Kit with a Blue/Orange Leaves them Guessing Scarf. She then added an Exotic Spice Sparkle-licious, an Israeli tichel in Royal Blue (Gold Threads) and a Sari Sash in Green, as well as an Infinity Clasp in Gold. Wowee, Sarah – you look smashing!

And Meira, you never cease to amaze us with your dedication to our Wrapunzel Community and the Wrap Challenges! You came up with such a bunch of incredible scarf medleys!

For this first one – Green and Blue – containing Navy and Olive Tuff 2-n-1s Scarves and an Olive New York Brights Scarf. Simply awesome!

Then a Light Blues Kit. Playing so beautifully together are a Turquoise/Green/Orange Watercolor 2-in-1s, an Aqua Tuff 2-n-1s, and a Teal New York Brights Scarf. Perfection!

Next, Meira combines a Maroon New York Brights, a Purple Tuff 2 in 1s and a Teal/Burgundy/Blue Watercolor 2 in 1s. Delightful!

Here’s the Meira Kit in Brown. A Watercolor 2-n-1s plus dark brown Tuff 2-n-1s and a Brown with Color New York Brights. Subdued and sassy at the same time!

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Meira’s Dark Green Kit. How could she not do a kit with her favorite greens?

Here Meira mingles Olive & Teal Tuff 2-n-1s plus an Olive New York Brights Scarf.

Here’s Meira’s Dark Blue Kit- Teal & Navy Tuff 2 in 1s plus an ‘oldie but goodie’ Bohemian Dreams Scarf. Wowza!

Meira’s Red Kit – Dark Red and Wine Tuff 2 in 1s plus a dark Red Sari. Meira’s on FIRE!

And last but not least – since it’s her favorite color (Green) – here’s Meira’s Light Green Kit. A Green Miami Samba Scarf, Lime Original 2 in 1s and Lime New York Brights. Whew – how DOES she do it? 🙂

Food, glorious food! You buy it, you cook it and you eat it…and now you can WEAR it and not be ashamed of stains on your shirt! Instead, you can layer your head wraps in colors that emulate the delicious offerings on your tables! Spaghetti and sauce, Nachos and cheese, we’ve seen quite the menu of delectables! Here are just a few of the amazing ‘edible’ creations that you, our incredible Wrapunzelistas have whipped up! ALL WE CAN SAY IS…..YUM!

There are some Sweet Wrapunzelistas that suffer from sensory processing challenges. This means that they experience trouble making sense of or managing information that comes to their brain through the senses – sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. For example, a bright burst of light or a sudden blast of sound, an acrid smell or sharp taste, or even something like a child’s toy block getting underfoot may upset them greatly.

You may find yourself wondering, “Well, what does this have to do with scarves?” At Wrapunzel, we carry so many different types of scarves, each with their own sensory properties. While many are soft, others may have a rougher feel. While some are smooth, others may be more textured. Some may feel itchy or ‘tight’ to someone with sensory processing challenges, whereas one who doesn’t have these challenges will find it feeling much the same as others. The question is, which of Wrapunzel’s scarves are devoid of extra challenges for the sweet, sensory-challenged Wrapunzelista? Here we will help you discover 10 scarves that will sooth the senses with their sublime qualities.

1. The Petalsoft Scarf – This supersoft, billowy and lightweight scarf came to mind for us faster than any other. It’s got a gauzy texture, with little ripples that ‘give’ to the touch (these ripples will not prove too stimulating). The Petalsoft Scarf comes in a wide variety of colors, including some ‘dustier’ shades that won’t prove overpowering in brightness. This scarf is solid-colored, very easy to wrap and has a gently frayed edge that doesn’t unfurl. Grab this one first – you’ll love it!
2. The Soft Pashmina – This scarf’s name says it all. SOFT! Especially soft to the touch, this midweight scarf has an almost ‘brushed’ feel. It’s got a subtle stretch that hugs the head and wraps like a dream. Its solid-color ’embossed’ pattern lends it to so many styles and matching possibilities. Try this scarf – it will wow you!
3. The Lakeshore Bliss Scarf – Yes, this scarf is blissful. A sister scarf to the Soft Pashmina, the midweight Lakeshore Bliss Scarf also has a pattern – this time in two colors – all through the scarf. The fabric is soft and malleable, gives your head a gentle hug and is very easily wrappable. The Lakeshore Bliss is a favorite among all wrappers and is one of our Wrapunzel ‘faves.’
4. The Favorite T-Shirt and Extra-Long Favorite T-Shirt Scarf – The incredibly soft, lightweight jersey knit of these scarves furnish your sweet head with the gentlest of hugs. Available in two lengths, they’re just the right scarf for smoothness and ‘hand-feel.’ Easily wrappable and a standard to all that try them, these scarves reminiscent of your favorite t-shirt (that’s how they got their name) will quickly become your go-tos for almost any look.
5. Wrapunzel Israeli Tichels (with Gold or Silver Threads) – Our 100% cotton, oversized Israeli Tichels are perhaps the coolest scarves Wrapunzel offers. The smooth, soft and lightweight cotton fabric is so comfortable on the head and allows maximum breathability for those sensitive to ‘head heat.’ Easily folded into a triangle and wrapped ‘bandana style,’ these scarves are simple in design, but greatly versatile in look.
6. The Wrapunzel Melody Scarf – Seven strips of wonderful, silky-feel recycled and ultra-lightweight Sari fabrics join together without overlapping to bring you one soft scarf that’s cool to the touch. Don’t let the silkiness scare you – these beauties are easy to wrap and won’t slip from a No-Velcro No-Slip Headband or pull-on style Cloud9 Shaper. Their color ways can be a bit bold, so depending on what you receive in your order (each one is unique unto itself!), this scarf may be for the more daring sensory challenged wrapper. Be sure to add order notes if you have color or pattern preferences.
7. The 2 in 1s Scarves (Original, Watercolor and Tuff) – These amazingly versatile, lightweigh scarves have a smooth texture and are easily tied. They have a great ‘color vocabulary,’ and you’ll be able to match one of them to almost anything you own. The Original 2 in 1s and Watercolor 2 in 1s have a silkier feel to them than does the Tuff. The Tuff’s more open weave gives it a very slight rougher feel than the other two.
8. The Wrapunzel Signature Scarf – Our exclusive Wrapunzel Signature Scarf is a lightweight, extremely wrappable pashmina-style scarf. It is very smooth, soft feeling and midweight. The first of our rainbow colored sensory scarves, the Wrapunzel Signature Scarf has a complex ‘underwoven’ pattern and tassels. You choose the color Signature Scarf you want based upon the color of underwoven pattern you desire.
9. The Rainbow Road Scarf – Another pashmina-style scarf with an extremely smooth feel is our Rainbow Road Scarf. Like the Wrapunzel Signature Scarf, it features overall rainbow colors and tassels. Its rainbow coloring has a darker colored underweaving which makes the colors pop even brighter.
10. The Layers of Love Scarf – Our Layers of Love Scarf is a pashmina-style scarf with tassels and incredible softness. Its smooth feel makes it incredibly delicious to wrap. The Layers of Love Scarf has ‘levels’ of differing heart patterns and tassels as well. The ‘levels’ of patterns make for incredible pleating options – it takes on a different look each time you wear it.

Amazing Wrapunzelistas, you did it again! You gave us amazing photo examples of how your wrapping style (and expertise!) has developed over the years. You ‘graduated’ from simple wrap styles like “Beginner’s Luck” to more intricate creations containing zig zags and flowers. Oh how you grew! We loved seeing these transformations and we know that our blog-reading public will as well. Congratulations on your great wrapping achievements!

And look at the rest of your transformations….you all look A-MA-ZING!

Shalom, y’all! My name is Jessie, and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m blessed to work as a Jewish educator at a local synagogue as their Religious School Director. This is my passion- providing meaningful, engaging Jewish learning experiences to kids and their families. It is a LOT of work, but I absolutely love it. My wife and I have two amazing children- Helena, age 7 and Leon, age 3- who are a handful but the greatest joys of my life. 

I’m a huge nerd. When I’m not working or being with my family, I can often be found playing board and card games or playing Pathfinder (a Dungeons and Dragons-esque role playing game) with a group of dear friends. I enjoy cooking, and even after my long days, I will (most of the time) still try and make my family dinner. Watching them enjoy what I make makes me happy. I’m a prolific baker, especially challah. Perfecting my challah recipe was my big pandemic project and I am close!

I love science fiction and fantasy shows, especially Star Trek. My wife and I have a hard time agreeing on things to watch. In general, I am squeamish when it comes to action and horror, but for some reason we can agree on True Crime documentaries. I listen to lots of podcasts. My favorite right now is Torah Smash! which is an exploration of Torah and Jewish life through the lens of something nerdy or geeky. Right up my alley!

I started covering in December of 2020. My wife and I were going through a lot, and I needed something with me at all times to remind myself of the value of our relationship. I usually wore a kippah but was becoming less and less attuned to God. I found that when I covered, I could more deeply feel God’s presence. The weighty, physical reminder of God being in my life and a force that connects my family together really helped pull me from a dark place. 

At first, I was only covering at home. I am a proud Reform Jew and it is very uncommon in my community to cover. At the time, I was working at a pluralistic Jewish day school as a Jewish Studies teacher, and it felt appropriative in a way. Going to work started feeling more and more uncomfortable without my tichel; it had become integral to my connection to God and myself. 

Wrapping my tichel each morning is sometimes the highlight of my day. As a working mom, I have very little time and energy to reflect. Wrapping gives me that moment to do something just for me. I pray, I send healing thoughts to others, I contemplate my day; it’s purely for me. I also love being creative every morning and having this time for unique expression.

I discovered Wrapunzel because I asked a friend of mine in the Orthodox Jewish community where I should go to start. She called Wrapunzel the gold standard and boy was she right! 

My headwraps are inspired by so many things! My outfit, what I’ll be doing that day, a particular scarf, my mood… lots of things! I love the Wrapunzel online community because I’ll often see something and think that I need to try it, or something like it!

My tichel is often reflective of my mood. I’ve always been a creative person and I’ve found that, like my artwork, so much of my wrapping is dependent on mood. When I’m down, it’s usually a lot more simple. I do sometimes use my wrap as a way to boost myself when I am down. A sari is something I’ll often use for that because they are so beautiful and fun to play with!

I love colors, especially because I will wear lots of black or white or grey. Reds, purples, blues, and greens are my favorite color palette, specifically jewel tones of those. I love to add sparkle, texture, and pattern in ways that are unexpected.

My go-to style is a fan wrap, especially on a busy day. It’s quick and easy but looks beautiful. It can also be tied in a bunch of ways. I love an angled regal wrap as well, because it is so versatile and can be modified to do many things. 

I have a lot of favorite Wrapunzel scarves! For winter I love the Lakeshore Bliss, Signature Scarf, Cranberry Scarf, and pashminas. In summer, Arizona is brutally hot, and I’ll often wear a Petalsoft, New York Brights, Sari, or 2-in-1. I recently purchased a Can’t Catch Me, and it is quickly becoming a top favorite. My go-to shaper is a Wendy, but when I want to feel more regal, I’ll use a Bobo or the Uber.

Here’s my tichel philosophy – don’t be afraid to try new things and wear something that you may not be immediately drawn to! The worst thing that happens is you retie it later. Also, experiment a lot and try to get out of your comfort zone sometimes. Many of my favorite tichels I’ve done I discovered through trial and LOTS of error. 

When I started covering was the first time in my life that I’ve felt beautiful. I’ve struggled with my self esteem, but wearing a tichel I feel like a Queen. I look in the mirror and see who I truly am. My hair has always been a source of immense anxiety for me; I have polycystic ovary syndrome which has made my hair brutally thin and brittle which, combined with my hair being frizzy, always made me uncomfortable. Feeling like I am crowned with beauty has been life changing. I finally feel like me. 

When you’re just beginning to wrap, ask questions, look at tutorials, and above all else, make it your own. A wrap doesn’t have to be an “official” type of wrap with a tutorial on YouTube to be beautiful and feel like you. 

Always make your wrap journey a reflection of you. We all do this for different reasons and gain different meanings from it. Your journey is yours. 

Now and always, I am grateful for my family. Being with them is the greatest thing. My children, and the fact that they love each other so much. Rest! Chances to keep learning. Community.

It’s HOT outside, Sweet Wrapunzelistas! 🙂

We gave you the challenge to create wraps that keep you cool and comfortable during these steamy months – and you delivered! From half-wraps to veiled styles to shade from the sun, you had fun inventing all sorts of ways to beat the heat. Take a look at what you did…then grab a slushie and chill!

We love it when the seasons change. We leave the cold, dreary days of Winter behind us and they make way for the sunny, warmer and verdant times of Spring. Wrapunzelistas, you were truly in bloom with this challenge! In sync with the merry month of May, flowers, vines and all things green appeared on your wraps. Flower accessories and flower shapes too – all were YOU! Who doesn’t love a bunch or bouquet? 🙂

If you live in a region where hot weather is the norm, or in a region where heat approaches with a vengeance during the summer months, there are simply times when one does not want to have anything on their head. Alas, we steadfast wrappers persevere. Through intense heat, humidity, desert climates, we’ve always got ourselves covered! How, though, do we begin to examine the many, many ways that we can cool off a little during these extremely hot times?

Let’s start by making a list of all of the ways (we’ll discuss each one in more detail later) that we’ve come across in our Wrapunzel Community, and by speaking with Wrapunzelistas like YOU, who are always keeping cool. Some may seem quite obvious, others not so much. And by no means are we medical professionals – this is merely practical advice. Please seek the help of a medical professional whenever you experience any symptoms associated with (excess) heat exposure:

1. Lighter weight/weave fabrics – switch out your heavy, thick winter pashminas for lighter, cooler fabrics that are more breathable. 100% cotton, silks, and even viscose are great choices. Wrap with only one thickness (ply) of fabric.
2. Cold Pack – if you wear a larger style of shaper and have some room in the cap, try inserting a flexible cold pack on those steamy days.
3. Shade/Screen – find respite from the scorch in the shade of a large umbrella or parasol. Or even find a nice leafy tree to rest under and refresh. Make sure to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn at your hairline and nape of your neck!
4. Dress Airy – trade in warmer clothing for breezy outfits preferably constructed of natural fabrics for breathability.
5. Hydrate – Drink, drink, DRINK! This will cool and replenish your body.
6. Lightly and Spicily – Eating lighter foods in extreme heat will help you feel cooler. And if you dare, try spicy foods – they make you perspire, which cools the body.
7. Pay Attention – change your wrap to something lighter if you’re starting to feel overly hot.
8. Abandon Shaper – try just a No-Slip Headband and/or volumizing scrunchie under your scarf.
9. Unstuff / Restuff – try filling your shaper with a different type of stuffing that will allow for more air circulation and result in a cooler feel
10. Shpritz – carry a small spray bottle with you filled with oil of peppermint and water. Keep this in the fridge when you’re not out. When it’s schmoiling outside, just shpritz your schvitz away (schvitz is Yiddish for sweat)!
11. Raise the Bar – go a smidge higher above the nape of your neck with your first knot

OK, so here we go with a bit more detail!

1. Lighter weight/weave fabrics. How simple is this? Like you change your clothes for the seasons, it’s time to change your scarves too. Warm, tighter weave scarves like pashminas take leave of your storage to make room for open and airy scarves and natural fabrics. Try a Wrapunzel 100% cotton Israeli Tichel, Petalsoft or Cornerstone Scarf for cool breathability. Also, strive for lighter colors that don’t absorb the sunlight in the way darker ones do.
2. Cold Pack. This may seem ridiculous to some, but actually inserting a small flexible cold pack between your head and your shaper or in with your shaper’s stuffing can make you feel like you’re in the arctic tundra! Sounds silly, works wonders.
3. Shade/Screen. This is important. Carry an ‘ultra compact’ large umbrella in your bag when you’re out on a hot day. It will create a barrier between you and Mr. Golden Sun, creating your own little cool climate bubble underneath. Also, you can try a veil-style wrap that drapes over the nape of your neck! And make sure to slather on the sunscreen, especially near your hairline and the nape of your neck to prevent dreaded “scarf lines!” Sunburns wreak havoc on body temperature….ain’t nobody got time for that!
4. Dress Airy. Imagine a bright, sunny day and you, running across a flowery field in a parka and snowpants, NOT! Break out your coolest fashions as the weather heats. Think skirts and button down blouses in flowing styles. Stay light and loosey, goosey.
5. Hydrate. Perhaps the most important on this list for your hot weather health. We lose so much water during the summer months that it’s paramount to replenish it – large quantities and often. Simply put, drink as much as you can and as often as you can. And the water’s temperature isn’t as important as you think. Drink whatever temperature water you can most easily ingest, and try electrolyte drinks for added hydration. And if you’re a coffee drinker, make sure to drink 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of coffee you drink, ounce for ounce. Coffee is a diuretic (it will make your body lose water!).
6. Lightly and Spicily. Changing your diet in the blast of the heat will prove comforting and hydrating. Think salads and juicy fruits for dessert. All of those water-full vegetables and fruits will hydrate your body while not making you feel weighed down. And if you’re adventurous and can tolerate them, spicy foods are a great bet. Residents of hot climate countries such as Mexico and India have got this down pat. Strive for chili-peppery spices – the capsaicin in the peppers (ever heard of Scoville Units? look it up!) will heat up your body from the inside, making you perspire, activating nature’s own body-cooling method!
7. Pay Attention. If you’re feeling any symptoms of overheating, change your wrap, or if you’re able, remove it altogether. Don’t wait. Don’t let things develop into a medical situation. Adjust your wrap, stop, sit, and see #5! Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
8. Abandon Shaper. Shapers…you know they make your wraps, and you, look incredible. But the blasting heat of summer isn’t the time to be overly concerned with your look – it’s most important to be concerned with your health. Take OFF that shaper and opt for a Wrapunzel No-Slip Headband and/or Featherlight Scrunchie instead! If you’re too much of a shaper fan, you can try Wrapunzel’s Bobo Shaper this summer. It’s a long band of pouf that ties with fabric ties and is open in the back so you can catch a breeze!
9. Unstuff/Restuff. Sometimes, there’s just too much polyester on your head and it’s stifling. Try taking the poly-fill stuffing out of your Wrapunzel Shaper through the intentional ‘hole’ in the cap and re-stuffing it with a more breathable, lighter media. We’ve heard of everything – lamb’s wool, nylon shower puffs and yes, even old pantyhose! Your results will be just as much loft at a lesser heat price!
10. Shpritz. Yes. Put a small spray bottle of water with a few drops of peppermint essential oil into your fridge at night and grab it and go in the morning. Spraying your (close your eyes!) face with this concoction will cool and sooth you when it’s searing out!
11. Raise the Bar. This is pretty self-explanatory. If you bring your first knot up in the back, you’ll have a bit more neck/skin exposed to the air. Just be sure to sunscreen because it will be exposed to the sun too!

Change is good. Turn over a new leaf. Take a step out of your comfort zone. There are so many little sayings about the act of change. Change is an action, it’s movement. It’s putting a new view on life into place and leaving the past behind. Some find it fearsome, others find it fabulous. But no matter how you slice it, it’s something different. It’s leaving the present and stepping into the unknown future. Change is exciting and new and filled with wonder.

So take a looksie, Wrapunzelistas! We missed a lot of you on this challenge, but we certainly understand it was a busy time of year! Well, those of you below were able to take one wrap and make it into numerous changing looks – from the front, from the side…you all brought it! Here’s a glimpse of the many looks that transpired during this lovely season!

In memory of our dear Charlene Smith-Stewart, who was not only a fierce Wrapunzel advocate and community member, but also an administrator of the Community Group.

Sweet Wrapunzelistas, you really shined your light with this challenge. You turned those frowns upside down to memorialize Charlene Smith-Stewart in the way that best represented her true essence – JOY! Smiles, her favorite color of orange, all melded together in one big happy moment to reflect on the incredible impact that this special lady had on our Community. Take a look at all of your radiant faces and remember Charlene’s soulful self. We will miss her dearly.