I wore a skirt for the last day of Passover (a holiday in which we celebrate the splitting of the sea) that was mostly neutral colours with a touch of army green. It took a while for me to figure out what to wear on my head to match – usually I match my outfit to my hair covering – but I was very happy with the result!
You can check out a tutorial on how to do this wrap here.
I bought this scarf (I think it is actually half of a shawl that must have been damaged) in the East Indian area of Chicago a while back, but never wore it because I couldn’t decide whether or not it was casual or formal. Well, I finally pulled it out, and here is the result! The shape is almost a square (aka a very wide rectangle) so I just folded the front in to make it fit my head, and tied one knot at the side. The headband and contrasting colour at the bottom made it so nothing else was needed!
For those of you celebrating religious holidays, I hope you are having a joyous and meaningful time, and to everyone else, hope you are having a lovely weekend!
I am still experimenting and perfecting this new wrap! I think it’s now mastered, so you can look forward to a video on how to do it soon! This one was done with two cotton scarves instead of the shimmery gold and yellow ones from before. And my beaded bobby pin was the perfect contrasting accessory 🙂
I am really starting to look forward to opening my mail box. There are so many artistic ladies on this site! My friend, Stephanie, who is a Lady Wrap Star (see her post here) is also starting to make her own scarf wrapping accessories! They are gorgeous, and work very well because they are specifically made for those of us that cover with scarves. I am loving this pretty gift of a yellow flower clip/headband – I can’t seem to stop wearing it!
I hope that one day I can start being crafty like some of the ladies on here… but for now, I can just get excited about opening my mail box! Here is the flower headband/clip on a different wrap:
Stephanie is also making hair clip holders (basically, a pretty ribbon – or two – attached to a loop that can be hung on your wall) and sent me one. It holds my flower clips beautifully and is very practical for storage. You can see it on the left side of this photo. (On the right is how I store my pins.) Yay no more crushed flowers!
I am not sure, but I do think she is selling her creations and since everything is made by hand, will do special requests. I will let her clarify that! Thank you Stephanie!
(and FYI – she did not ask me to make this post… but how could I not? ❤ )
In keeping with my discovery that I can indeed wear all kinds of yellow-inspired hues on my head, here is today’s wrap!
After last week’s surprise success with the colour yellow, I was encouraged by a special reader to try wrapping with a gold scarf. The funny (and amazing) thing is that within a few hours of receiving her suggestion, I was waiting for a friend who was running late and decided to duck into a gift shop. All their “winter” scarves were on a huge sale, and I put winter in quotes because included was a beautiful, sheer, woven gold scarf. This is the wrap that I created with it… and YES, I will make a video tutorial on how to do the twist part, because I just figured it out!
I took these photos with a faulty camera in a room with inadequate light, so I had to play with the settings on my computer to make them look acceptable… yay artsy!
This wrap is such a classic… and always gets a lot of “wow”s and questions. It’s easy! You can be a little less careful with it (ie leave scarf fringe hanging out, don’t line up layers perfectly) and it still looks put together. This one is exactly the same wrap that I show in this video, except minus one scarf.
Hope you are all doing well! Happy wrapping 🙂
A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a lovely woman’s scarf “shop” on etsy.com. For those of you that don’t know, Etsy is a site that allows artistic people to sell their handmade creations via the internet. I love this concept, because it allows you to buy beautiful creations directly from the creator. Most of the prices are very reasonable, but even if some things cost a few dollars more, I will gladly pay that to support small businesses and be able to forge a relationship with the person that makes the products. For me, that relationship is so important and something that my generation is often lacking. Anyway, I messaged the woman, talked a bit, picked a scarf, and just received it in the mail! It’s beautiful, colourful, and light. I love the paneling and that it’s the perfect size to wrap around my head. Anyway, her name is Norma, and you should check out her creations here.
Here is the scarf I ordered:
The first wrap that I did, I used a purple israeli scarf to bring out the purple hues in the green one:
The second wrap (which I’m wearing today) is my father’s influence. He spoke to me recently, telling me about a woman that he saw on the subway wearing a really cool headwrap. He tried to describe it as best he could, telling me that the ends were hanging down on both sides like hair, and this is my attempt at recreating what he told me!
I am excited to feature Cynthia as this week’s Lady Wrap Star! Cynthia contributes so much to this community, with her lovely comments and ideas, as well as her photos that she shows us on the facebook group to give inspiration. I love her use of different shades and soft colours, and was not surprised to hear that her thoughts on hair covering are just as beautiful as the wraps she wears! Read on…
Lady Wrap Star known as:
Cynthia Doniger
How do spend your time?
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist (18 years) and a Certified Aromatherapist—After a long full career, I now see a few private clients, do consultations and teach continuing education workshops with Cross County Education. When on a teaching tour I am in 3 cities in three days. Lots of travel!
How long have you been covering your hair?
Since I married my best friend in the world!
Have you changed how you cover over time?
I began covering my hair at shul after marriage by wearing hats…I had an extensive collection which I only wore once a week. I was hat shopping and having a conversation one day with a very liberal Jewish friend—we were both trying on hats and she put on one that was gorgeous for her. I told her so and her reply was that since she normally wears a kipah & tallis, she would feel hypocritical wearing a hat or covering her hair. This chance remark began some significant soul searching on my part. I decided to cover my hair all the time, I gave away my hats because I felt like putting on a scarf (or two) was similar to my husband putting on a tallit…it was an opportunity for me to grow closer to Hashem. BTW-the friend who started all this later tried to apologized for her remark, but I wouldn’t let her because she spoke the truth as I needed to hear it,
What is your favourite scarf and/or accessory?
I have shared the pictures of my collection….I love them all! I discovered that I like volume and invested in a volumizing cotton cap for under the scarves…best accessory EVER!
What are you wearing on your head today?
Today is a lazy day wrap a heavy square gold & black square folded in a triangle just tied & tucked. I have this scarf in black & red also black & teal.
How has covering your hair affected your professional life?
It may sound crazy but I feel authentic. Because it is obvious that something is different, my students & clients all know that I am Jewish. I seems that somehow this actually gives them permission to be authentic too. So far, professionally it has been a good thing.
How did your family and friends react to your covering?
Most of the family said nothing. Either it didn’t matter or they were following the old adage –“if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” There were a few whispered remarks from liberal relatives & friends- “Well, that’s just ridiculous!” and “Where do you think you are…in the shetel?” Some Jewish friends who had not seen us in awhile took my husband aside to ask if I had a “medical condition”?!?
Any funny or inspirational covering stories you would like to share?
What I want to share (especially after that last question) is the JOY I get when I am out and encounter another woman who cover. I have to travel 2 hours to buy kosher meat. When I first got to Detroit this last time I pulled up to fill the gas tank at Costco. As I was standing there the woman at the car behind me peeked around her open car door, our eyes met (after taking in the mutual head coverings & skirts) and we shared the secret smile!
Any recommendations to someone that has a similar face shape and/or colouring?
Don’t assume that you can’t wear a particular style until you try it. I was stuck in a simple wrap style until I met Andrea and her awesome videos—now I have a wonderful time trying new wraps!
What are some of your hair covering tips/tricks/secrets?
Allow yourself some “play time” to experiment—not all wraps will be sucessful….but the more you do the more you learn.
How do you store your scarves?
My wonderful husband made a rack for me out of a wooden strip with cup hooks and I use binder clips to hold the scarves!
What is your favourite colour?
I tend to really like to match my head wrap to my outfit and so my tendency is to gravitate towards black, ivory, gold and other neutrals, but Andrea’s artistry has got me experimenting with more colour.
What are you grateful for right now?
I am grateful for finding this group of women. The Jewish community in Grand Rapids, Michigan is small. The observant Jewish community here is even smaller. Sometimes it gets a little lonely….it’s nice to connect to so many beautiful women!
Here is what was on my head today! I was inspired by the lady that commented, metioning how she likes to mix pale blue/green/purple hues with brown. I had a little trouble with the slippery fabric of the scarf so… easy solution: tie the ends together with a hair elastic! (in lieu of knots, which can come undone!) Of course, the pin on top hides this, so no one will know that you cheated 🙂
I am so happy to introduce you to this wonderful woman. Stephanie and I found each other over the internet when she was searching for hair covering resources, and recently we got to meet in person when she made a 4 hour drive to my hair covering workshop! You can see some pictures of her at the workshop here. Anyway, we talked for hours before and afterward, and I am so grateful to now call her a good friend. She is hilarious, wise, warm, giving, and tells great stories! Her journey and reasons for covering her hair are quite compelling, as you will read, and she does so beautifully!
Hi Stephanie, do you have any nicknames?
I do, Steph, Stephers, Step-on-me (when the kids – church or family – wanna rough house), sweetie, hon, hey you, and on it goes. 🙂 The newest reference of me that I’ve heard was some little kids who couldn’t remember my name from church calling me “the lady who covers her head”. I like that one.
How long have you been covering your hair?
I have been covering since approximately Nov of 2011, and I only cover part-time (we’ll get to the why).
What led to your decision to cover?
Well for me it’s an obedience thing. I felt as though I was being led to do it after praying and studying on it for about 6 months.
When people ask you why you cover, what do you say? Do you have a long and short version of what you tell people?
Yes there is a long and short version depending on how interested someone is.
Short version: I choose to cover because I believe it has been asked of me in the Bible and i want to obey.
Long version: I wear one because I believe we are held accountable for what we know. In studying the Bible one night I read this: “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head” (the second word ‘head’ is referring to the order- God being head of Christ, Christ head of man, man head of woman- its explained right before that verse) 1 Corth 11:5. I certainly don’t want to dishonor my husband or God so I cover. Now there is a lot more to the verse (so please take a look at 1 Corinthians 11:3-16) but that specific part struck me. So I prayed about it for about 6 months and in that time I felt like God really wanted me to obey. I kept having “just obey Me in this” going thru my head. I did and I have felt like God has really blessed me for doing so. I wear them in church or anytime I’m in leadership or going to be publicly praying (and I let my husband define “public” for me). I have gotten to the point that if I am without my husband in public I will typically wear one (I go bare headed with him [unless we’re praying] since he loves my hair and I wish to respect him). I have tried many styles of covering but this one just fits me best. 😀
How has your community responded to your covering?
I live in a small town and to my knowledge I am the only non-muslim that covers in about a 50 mile radius (maybe more). That being said I do occasionally get the odd stare but typically no one seems to notice or care much, either way not a lot of attention is drawn to it, except for in church- I get ALOT of nice comments about it then – just this last week I had one of the older ladies look at my tichel and exclaim “you have GOT to show me how you tie those.” Needless to say that made my day.
Any cool experiences/realizations you have had since starting to cover?
I’ve realized just how much I wish to be more modest- not that I wasn’t considered modest by general standards but I desired modesty more. I realized that modesty does NOT have to be drab and boring black – but about how wonderful the things are, big or small, that you share with just that one person that makes you whole.
What are your favourite scarves and accessories?
Oohhh thats a toughie!! I think for me my favorite scarves are the variegated ones (I have a brown, blue and pink variegated ones) the wonderful thing about them is you don’t have to exactly match the color since all shades are included. My favorite accessories hummm I have too many to decide!! I strongly suggest a silver and gold thin scarf since these make wonderful additions in color, I make my own flowers and often pin them in on the side or back on my bun. Stick pins are terrific!! They are getting harder to find, so again I started making my own, then I make matching earrings so I have a nice cohesive look. Regular pins/brooches work – they just can be a bit harder to get in, however any pin will help hold together your layers to keep from slipping!
What do you find is the best way for you to tie your scarves when you consider your colouring and face shape?
I like height in the back, the BIG bun look. I don’t like height so much on the front half of my head – it seems to make my face MUCH rounder looking (so I stay away from the crown/dutch crown look). I also do a lot of the hanging tails (braided or not), I find that style helped me get used to not having my hair down to play with since I’m a hair twirler.
Any secret tips or tricks that you have?
ABSOLUTELY!! 3 big ones! 2 smaller one.
1) It sounds odd I know, but honestly I never use an undercap, headband or wig grip (my head is too round they slip right off), I use a pair of pantyhose!! You can leave the legs on or off- your choice (if you leave them on you can make a bun of them). When I use that I have to work pretty hard to get it to slip off.
2) You can make it or buy it, but if you have thin or short hair and want it to look nice and bigger at the back get a ‘bun enhancer’ (I bought mine at icing by claires’- and they come in multi colors and sizes) I have heard of others making theirs from a bath scrubs and even socks, so the choice is yours!
3) I know you have heard this from many sources (including our dear Andrea) but really don’t forget to wear earrings (and maybe a necklace) they REALLY help finish off a look! Personally for my round face I find teardrop or dangles work best (I try to stay away from hoops, loops and studs) if you don’t have dangle earrings you can find a great set of gold,silver and black teardrops at target for $5 and it will go with ANYTHING! (love mine they were a present from my father-in-law.)
4) If you wear glasses and you keep your ears ‘in’ then make sure you don’t tie it too tight or you will end up w/ pain from the glasses digging in above your ears.
5) If you want your hair to look pretty decent when u take off your wrap DO NOT wrap while your hair is still wet. You will end up with weird frizziness and VERY flat hair.
Do you match your head scarf to your outfit or the other way around?
Well it depends I suppose. usually match the outfit to the scarf but if I get something new then I work the scarf around the outfit. Usually I go by mood – if I’m feeling pink or purple I’ll assemble an outfit and scarf around that.
What are you grateful for today?
I am grateful for new friends, for my WONDERFUL husband, and a good day. 🙂
This hat is pretty kooky, but I get compliments whenever I wear it… perhaps others are just humouring me? Either way, *I* like it!
The rainy weather today called for a simple regal wrap turban. This is by far my most worn style – it’s so easy once you get the knack of it, and everyone always asks how it is done! There are no limits to how casual or fancy it can be, especially when you factor in accessories 🙂
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