Tag: life

I Wrap Just Because … Part Three

On By Shari RosenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Sure, many head wrappers wrap for religious obligation, modesty, hair loss, headaches, other medical reasons, fashion, or whatnot. But what about those that wrap ‘just because.’ Here are some quotes from some who wrap for reasons that may seem more ‘out of the box,’ but they’re just plain ‘real.’ The bottom line is that one doesn’t need a reason to wrap! It’s just an excellent method of self-expression that brings nothing but joy to those who choose to do it – for whatever may be their fancy! In responding to the thread, some Wrapunzelistas may have talked about their wrapping for the more ‘obvious’ reasons stated above, but we just couldn’t help but to hear everyone’s reasons for wrapping! Check out all of these comments from some of our Facebook Wrapunzel Community Group!

Ray S. – ‘I have always felt a call to wrap but never took the plunge until last year. I do have thinning hair, but that isn’t the reason I wrap. I wrap for religious reasons and because it is so beautiful. It is also a way for me to express myself.’

Grace E. – ‘I am a Christian, from a church background that mandated head covering for women. I wrap partly because of my heritage, but also due to my adopted heritage as I moved to central Africa as a missionary three years ago. Indeed, I am blessed to call the continent my home. Head wrapping is a common part of the culture(s) of this beautiful continent. I also wrap because it keeps my hair tidy and healthier. Most of all, I feel beautiful and confident in a wrap. My nickname is Last Born, Queen of Africa.🀣‘

Rachel R. – ‘Just because…I want to feel as beautiful as the women on this Wrapunzel FB page look!’

Hattush R. – ‘I wrap for religious reasons (I’m Christian) but I also love how happy the scarves make me. πŸ˜œ I feel confident, comfortable around people, and even a bit pretty. None of that happened before. I hated my hair before, so covering it has been a relief. It feels more sacred, because it is something that only my immediate family gets to see. It’s also been a great conversation starter! ‘

Amanda M. – ‘About 10 years ago I thought my hair was thinning. It very well may have been, I have PCOS, and that was around the time I got diagnosed and started managing it, though that is no longer a concern.

But I thought hair wrapping was beautiful. I do historical costuming and saw hair coverings from that angle as well. I realized how recent it was that women no longer covered their hair, even just in terms of practical aspects (not religious). I came across the wrapunzel blog and read the article stating hair wrapping was for everyone who wanted to do it. And with my hair seeming to thin, I nervously took the plunge.

I loved it, still do. It felt very me. It surprisingly calmed anxiety. I did it for years every day, until I moved to a far more conservative area and wasn’t sure how it would be received (and it was not for relgion so I had no religious conviction to back it up and ended up in a job where it was not allowed due safety concerns). I’ve recently restarted. Most of it is still packed away, unfortunately. But the nice part is that I’m now postpartum and covering again has made me feel human, put together, and not like I’m totally sleep deprived haha.’

Cassandra W. – ‘I started covering my head at least 15 years ago. i lost several family members in close succession and the grief made it hard to deal with things, like my hair, so wearing a beanie made me less self conscious and I could at least look like I was doing ok. it just became a part of who I am. it evolved a few years ago now when I stumbled upon wrapunzel and the blog posts and I started reading and found out I could cover like all the other women. so I did. and it has been wonderful. I have more confidence and can be as big or as small as I want to be that day. I don’t have to worry about if my now curly hair is going to behave, or if i’m going to have a sensory meltdown because of gnats. I get to feel beautiful and seen for my face, not just my hair.’

Tanja M. – ‘I started wrapping my hair because I think it looks pretty. Since my hair is so thin and soft, it makes me feel pretty and confident. I live in a small German town where I’m the only one with these wraps.’

Carrie M. – ‘I recently started wrapping for religious reasons. Its a sign of my covenant relationship with Χ™Χ©Χ•Χ’. I havnt been wrapping daily as this is all very new, my spiritual relationship included but im trying to get more consistent with it just as my spiritual walk and journey is daily.’

Myriam D. – ‘I’ve just started wrapping a couple of weeks ago as my Faith is deepening. It’s part of my spiritual journey. I also find it refreshing as it is easy and fast compared to doing my hair in the morning. I find it so elegant and versatile. Game changer physicaly and spiritually.’

Linni T. – ‘I have wanted to do something to cover my hair for the last few years. I had a massive hair loss due to out of control blood sugars (650 and above), and my hair is so thin now! Then I found Wrapunzel! I love seeing the beautiful wraps you all do! I bought 2 of the pre-tieds, and wore my first one on 05 June! I really want to learn some of these beautiful wraps you all do! Need to get my confidence up!πŸ’œ‘

Karen F. – ‘Like others, I began wrapping continuously due to chemo hair loss, although I already used scarves more than many. After months of baldness, my hair grew back curly and wayward. Continuing to wrap or half wrap helps control it and keep it out of my eyes. It helped a lot during a recent trip my daughter and I took to get a break from thinking about illness. I don’t want to cut it as soon chemo is starting again and I will be again fully wrapping due to hair loss.’

Mariann F. – ‘Religious reasons (Christian) and also practical. Was cleaning my basement the other day. Covered my hair to avoid dust getting on it. I don’t cover full time but every time I go to church and when it’s practical.’

Theo K. – ‘I wrap first for fashion, I like how it looks, second because I’m self conscious about my hair line/hair loss, and third for the religious feeling behind it. I don’t wrap all the time tho, just as I want, so I say fashion 1st. I am a pagan.’

CK L. – ‘I wrap for a variety of reasons, but mostly for volume because my head and hair (my hair especially) feel too small for my body. πŸ˜‚ πŸ’—‘

Susanne M. – ‘I wrap because… i love it! Im not jewish but when i visited israel i became facsinated by the female, creative and queenlike way they wore their mitpachpot. Why not follow their lead? I feel pretty in it and love the way i can create and play with colours and materials.’

Maja K. – ‘Thanks to you, I was able to look in the mirror again. My hair fell out for health reasons in the middle of the pandemic. There was no one I could turn to for help since there were no wraps in my country. So I found you online. Here there were nice ladies who helped me to keep my Wraps in place. I learned a lot and was later able to help others. Today, my hair is back. It’s enough for a short hair look. I still wear my scarves with joy and pride. I like being a part of us here.’

Rowen H. – ‘I began covering when I embraced the path of a Sufi Muslim. The emphasis was less on modesty (although that was part of it) and more on covering being a form of spiritual protection and as a gesture of ‘going within’. I am no longer as devoutly active in that tradition as I was then, but my primary focus in life continues to be walking a sacred path, and I still cover for the same reasons. I love the feeling of having my head covered. It helps me feel perpetually ready to dive into prayer at any time, as well as serve as a reminder that every act I commit can be sacred and a form of living prayer as I go about my day.’

Lisa W. – ‘I started wrapping because I decided to grow out my very short hair and don’t want to deal with the in-between stages. Now, I love it so much that I doubt I’ll quit wrapping when I do get my hair to the length I want.’

Kathy M. – ‘I wrap because I love the way they look and feel. It makes me happy. I started many years ago after a discussion on a long hair forum. People were posting pictures of beautiful wraps and I wanted to try it. When I became a Christian, I stopped for a while because I didn’t want people to think I was weird. It was silly to even worry about it. Eventually, I realized that there was no reason to stop doing something that brings me so much joy.’

I Wrap Just Because … Part Two

On By Shari RosenIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Sure, many head wrappers wrap for religious obligation, modesty, hair loss, headaches, other medical reasons, fashion, or whatnot. But what about those that wrap ‘just because.’ Here are some quotes from some who wrap for reasons that may seem more ‘out of the box,’ but they’re just plain ‘real.’ The bottom line is that one doesn’t need a reason to wrap! It’s just an excellent method of self-expression that brings nothing but joy to those who choose to do it – for whatever may be their fancy! In responding to the thread, some Wrapunzelistas may have talked about their wrapping for the more ‘obvious’ reasons stated above, but we just couldn’t help but to hear everyone’s reasons for wrapping! Check out all of these comments from some of our Facebook Wrapunzel Community Group!

Donna S. – ‘I decided to wrap my hair when my husband was placed in hospice. He passed 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I am now learning how to wrap some beautiful styles for which some of you have created tutorials. I needed to define myself without my person and wrapping is part of that.’

Aubri L. – ‘I wrap because I don’t owe anyone my naked hair! I choose when and how my hair is visible and it helps with my confidence and sense of grounding. I choose Jewish wrap styles for cultural connection.’

Holly N. – ‘I started because I liked the styles and patterns and thought those would be a great way for me to accessorize. But as it turns out, I don’t less for that and more for sensory purposes. I never realized it, but the sensation of hair down my neck and in my face is apparently far more bothersome to me than I ever knew. When I started covering, I noticed a distinct difference for me sensory wise and for me that is the biggest reason I continue. I admit, I do still like it as a fashion accessory for better than jewelry.’

Chelsea M. – ‘I initially started wrapping because I think it is beautiful, however, as I have developed my spiritual path, it just…feels right…to wrap/veil.’

Meira E. – ‘I was unsure of wrapping my hair fully until I got married- planned to only wrap half my hair (headband style), because I thought it was one of those things that men decided for women, and also felt I wasn’t religious enough for it. Then I discovered that it was way deeper than that, and found out that a full wrap looks incredible and powerful.’

Renee R. – ‘My wraps are like an energy barrier. As an empath, I’ve always felt overwhelmed by my and everyone else’s feelings and energies. My scarves help me contain my energy, ease anxiety, and help block out negative energies. It’s kind of like a security blanket. This time last year I was completely incapacitated from depression and anxiety. I read a post about veiling, and Wrapunzel was mentioned in one of the comments. I had always liked scarves and headbands, but never realized that when I was wearing them, I was actually responding to my body’s sensory needs without realizing it. I found a few blogs and realized wrapping could be for me. I ordered a few scarves, and I never felt more beautiful from the first day I put one on. I have been wrapping for almost a year now, and have gone from barely being able to leave my home due to the overwhelming anxiety, to volunteering at my daughter’s school, going out with friends again, being able to do daily chores, and even joining a softball team. Most of all, I like who I see in the mirror now.’

Magdi T. – ‘I started as an addition to historical reenactment. It became a research passion and a regular non-event practice. My research gave me a totally renewed respect for the strength our women who wrap as a religious observation have to set themselves apart in the eyes of the masses. It renewed my endeavors to be active in support of our women who wra because of health issues to push for better women’s health care. Much love to us all.’

Here’s a beautiful video by Sonja K. summarizing her personal reasons for wrapping!

Lily F. – ‘I wrap because I love it. I love that it makes me feel both soft and feminine, and very powerful at the same time. No religious reason… but I do wrap, regularly. My pashminas are my fave.’

Danielle S. – ‘I started wrapping in April 2025. It has helped me feel closer to God, but I have also enjoyed the benefits of a head hug. It has been an exercise in humility and yet a new way to express myself. I feel beautiful and protected at the same time.’

Andria G. – ‘I wrap sometimes purely because I need the headhug & enjoy the feeling of solidarity with women of other cultures & from history.’

Julia R. – ‘Although I started wrapping for health reasons, I intended to do wraps that I would be pleased to wear regardless of the state of my hair or scalp. It’s my aesthetic now, and hair regrowth will not change that (although I may do more half wraps or leave my hair uncovered occasionally).’

Valerie M. – ‘For me, wrapping my hair is about comfort, confidence, and connection. I’ve found that it helps with sensory regulationβ€”on days when I wrap, I tend to experience fewer headaches and feel more grounded. I also deal with occasional hair loss due to a medical condition, and wrapping provides a sense of ease and protection.

When I attend temple, I choose to wrap as a personal expression of reverence and identity. It’s not something I do out of obligation, but because it feels meaningful to me.’

Natasha M. – ‘I wrap for various reasons. Mostly just because. It makes me feel pretty and because I am a fluffy girl it kind of balance me out.’

Kate D. – ‘I wrap for a few reasons: I am a couple generations removed from cultures which wrapped after marriage (Ukrainian), I have curly hair and wrapping allows me to not have to style it often, and I have some physical disabilities which limit my ability to style my hair. Wrapping gives me the ability to look “put together” without an hour long process.

I continue to wrap because it helps me concentrate, helps control sensory issues from the feeling of hair on my neck, and because I love the solidarity I feel with others in my community who wrap. β€‘

Christine B. – ‘I am Jewish, but wrapping is not a common practice in my community. I am no longer married, so it isn’t a religious obligation. I wrap because it helps me focus my life. It helps me feel closer to HaShem. It also helps me to shut out a lot of noise and distractions.’

Jess B. – ‘I wrap for what feels like a million reasons! I wrap because I’ve felt drawn to do so for years, but I couldnt while I was active duty military. Work was really the final reason, though. Ok, maybe it was just the excuse i used. My hair wouldn’t stay up, no matter what ties I used. Also, I started shedding for no apparent reason. I work around electronics, so both of these things aren’t good. I love how creative I can be with the scarves, and how much my confidence has soared since beginning wrapping. Its also like a hug on my head all day, as long as I don’t get it too tight. I haven’t worried about how others perceive me, or the looks I get. I don’t mind anymore. My husband supports me, I love it, and I love who I’ve become lately.’

Lydia L. – ‘I’m converting Reform, so there is no obligation to wrap (or follow most of halacha); the idea is to follow the mitzvot that are most meaningful to you. Personally, I came at it slowly; I started with a kippah at services and prayer, then full-time, then moved to a bandana for the extra coverage. Finally, I took the plunge and started wrapping. It makes me feel spiritually protected. Since I moved from bandanas to wraps, I have been having much fewer spiritual-themed nightmares and I generally feel safer and more confident.’

I Wrap Just Because … Part One

On By Shari RosenIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Sure, many head wrappers wrap for religious obligation, modesty, hair loss, headaches, other medical reasons, fashion, or whatnot. But what about those that wrap ‘just because.’ Here are some quotes from some who wrap for reasons that may seem more ‘out of the box,’ but they’re just plain ‘real.’ The bottom line is that one doesn’t need a reason to wrap! It’s just an excellent method of self-expression that brings nothing but joy to those who choose to do it – for whatever may be their fancy! In responding to the thread, some Wrapunzelistas may have talked about their wrapping for the more ‘obvious’ reasons stated above, but we just couldn’t help but to hear everyone’s reasons for wrapping! Check out all of these comments from some of our Facebook Wrapunzel Community Group!

Cathie W. – ‘I wrap simply because I think it’s pretty and because it allows me to have 100% of my hair out of my face and off my neck. It’s prettier and looks more put together than a ponytail while providing me with the same “out of my face” relief. The lightweight nature of the Original, Tuff and Watercolor 2-in-1s is absolutely perfect for this.

Thank you for being such a lovely group of women. I am heartened every time I see the same enthusiasm toward a woman who wraps for fun as someone who is wrapping as a part of a religious practice or because she’s lost her hair, or for whatever reason. The space [the Wrapunzel Community Group] is so warm and welcoming. I just adore it. It’s like a big exhale in a group of friends.

Bridget M. – ‘I wrap just because! I find the effect to be beautiful, certainly, but I love the space for intentionality that choosing a wrap for the day gives me. I love the slight separation from mass society that I experience when my hair is wrapped. I feel that when I make this choice to be outside the norm of mainstream society and culture, I am more myself, more personally powerful. When I choose to wrap, I do feel more sovereign, more self-possessed, and self-contained. Wrapping for me adds a degree of rigor and strength to my bearing. I admire the long, long history of wrapping across cultures and spiritual and religious traditions. I like the way strangers respond to me when my head is wrapped- more respectful in some ways. At this time in my life, I appreciate that but if it’s distance that wrapping affords me, it gives me the chance to feel my way into myself.’

Maria L. – ‘I’ve been drawn to wrapping for at least a decade, but it never turned into action outside of the occasional playing around in front of a mirror because I had the idea in my head that you were only “allowed” to wrap if you were obligated to in some way, whether through religion, occupation or personal modesty.

Then about 3 years ago, postpartum changes turned my hairline into something quite unmanageable. My hair had once been a place of fun and creativity with various kinds of braids and styles, but no everyday I was just thinking to myself, how can I hide the weird looking spots? Fortunately for me, at this point I had already been silently following along with the Wrapunzel Facebook group, and had learned that in fact, people wrap for all sorts of reasons, difficulties with their hair being a common one. So I gave it a try! Nearly two and a half years later, I haven’t looked back, even though my hair is now in much better shape again. I just so enjoy the variety of things I can do on my head with scarves, the way I can express myself with different fabrics and styles, the fact that my little kids can’t pull on my hair! Also, at this point I have a great big stash of scarves, so what else am I going to do with them?! Wrapping has become a part of who I am, and I’m in no hurry to take it off.’

Marie L. – ‘My old lady hair has thinned. No style or length satisfies me. Hair on my neck bothers me, yet I hate very short hair. Wrapping restores comfort and style. It looks and feels so much better than my hair! Also, it sets me apart— no woman in my community wraps, for any reason. I get looks, but that is OK. Perhaps I inspire other women who are frustrated with not being able to make their hair attractive or comfortable. Let’s face it, we do want to present an appearance that is both comfortable for us and pleasing to others.’

Nicole B. – ‘I wrap for cultural connection, spiritual protection and stylish beauty!’

Leslie C. – ‘I started out wrapping due to alopecia. I fell in love with it, though, and still wrap occasionally. The bigger aspect is that through learning to wrap, I met many Jewish women locally, encouraging me to pursue Jewish conversion. I’d wanted it for decades but never thought it was possible. So, I lost my hair, gained a beautiful practice, and found my spiritual home.’

Michaela O. – ‘I wrap because wrapping is “me.” Wrapping revealed a deep and essential part of myself that I never knew existed until I started doing it.’

Ann S. – ‘Yes. I wrap mostly because I don’t like my hair. My hair is stick straight, won’t hold a curl, and lays very flat to my head, and I never cared for it. I decided to try wrapping once I discovered shapers to help give volume and grip (thanks Wrapunzel!) and never looked back! I adore the variety i can achieve with wrapping, the addition of color and “flair” to my daily uniform of scrubs, and the individuality I can express. It just feels more like me than my hair ever did.’

Kelli C. – ‘I started wrapping during chemotherapy. Now I wrap because my hair is coming back and it’s a weird length right now. It’s more for comfort now than anything else really. But the tails of those scarves have dried so many of my tears over the last year.’

Janna L. – ‘I wrap because as a massage therapist and reiki master, I believe that covering my crown chakra protects my personal energy. The covering acts as a filter, allowing me to β€œsee” the existence of the negative energy, while preventing the negative energy from entering the crown chakra.’

Sarah D. – ‘I wrap because I enjoy it mainly. I’ve wanted to wrap since I was a young child, my mother can attest to that, but we didn’t have the resources to learn how, as we weren’t in a Jewish household or any other kind of community that did wrapping. In church, it actually almost feels discouraged to be wrapping, like because we don’t HAVE to do it, we SHOULDN’T be doing it. Now, as a married woman and mother, my hair actually annoys me when it gains any length, especially during the summer months. I’m very active with our kids, farm, and garden. I started wrapping more just in the last few weeks, and I love it! There are so many resources for styling and securing the wraps on my head! My family is very supportive, although my hubby is a little leery of it as it’s new to him and he just wants me to be myself. I actually feel freer to be myself when I’m wrapping right now. Will I always wrap every day? I don’t know, honestly, I’m just having fun with it right now and seeing where it takes me.’

Beth T-R. – ‘I have always been interested in wrapping and played around a few times, but when I decided to grow out my grey naturally I decided to start wrapping every day to cover the transition!

What I didn’t expect was how empowering it feels, how much my hair looked affected how I felt about my reflection, and when it was no longer on display, my confidence rose. I’m now one haircut away from being entirely grey (before 40!), but I’m not sure I’ll ever stop wrapping, not entirely anyway β˜ΊοΈ.’

Lizzie R. – ‘I wrap because I don’t like my hair, and my hair has started to thin. And it’s a wonderful way to express myself!’

Yvonne G. – ‘Hello. I’ve been wrapping for about a year or so now. As I am getting older the texture of my hair is changing & I do not like it but that’s not the main reason for my wrapping. I’ve developed a stress coping thing and began pulling out my hair strand by strand. The rougher/coarser textured ones mostly. Even though my hair is cut fairly short, having it wrapped & under a shaper or velvet headband prevents me from being able to pull out my hair. I searched for ways to wrap and where to purchase accessories & that’s where I found the lovely Wrapunzel Community!’

Amanda M. – ‘Just because + yogic spiritual hygiene.’

Gloria C-M. – ‘I wrap to feel pretty during chemo.’

Julie B. – ‘Been wrapping since ’17. Lost my (long) hair to chemo. I don’t care for hats. My wig was itchy and really bothered me. So I tried wrapping. Was hooked. Worked through it. Was respected and admired for it by men & women. My hair grew back very sparsely. I’ve got walls of beautiful scarves. It has become my ‘trademark’ or ‘signature’, so to speak. People recognize me and compliment me on it. In turn, if I see a woman with a lovely wrap or a Sikh gentleman, I always compliment them. It costs nothing to lift another’s soul even if it’s just for a few minutes.’

Lorna V. – ‘I started by buzzing my hair off during Covid lockdowns, then when it started growing back, I started wearing wide headbands and dying my hair bright colors. I realized I don’t like my hair touching my neck and back or getting in my face, but I still want to grow it out, even though it is thin. So I decided to sometimes wrap because it keeps my hair off my neck and out of my face, I like how it looks, and I have started to enjoy the feel of it. The rest of the time I wear wide headbands or bandannas.’

Shahnjayla C. – ‘I wrap in between trips to the hair salon and because I love how they look and feel! And I can’t wear a baseball cap to church!’

Rebecca W. – ‘I’m Jewish, but not very observant. I wrap occasionally because it helps me feel connected to my people and my heritage.’

Lady Wrap Star Molly – Part One!

On By Shari RosenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Check out our latest Lady Wrap Star, Molly! For pictures of Molly’s wrapping evolution, just scroll down and take a look!

Hi! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?  Some interesting facts, where you’re from,
how you spend your time, hobbies, etc.?

I’m a professor at University of Maryland Baltimore County here in Baltimore, and I love my job! I teach Ancient Greek, Latin, and courses in the cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean, then I also research the professional lives of Roman physicians (many of whom were immigrant non-citizens) and the
contributions of African thinkers to ancient medical science. My students are my pride and joy; they’re dynamic and bright and hopeful – they’ve taught me so much about bravery and
resilience over the past few years.

I’m from West Virginia originally, and I’ve been married to my husband, who was also my high
school bestie, for 19 years. We have a son in kindergarten who aspires to run a dinosaur farm
and three cats who are in charge of us. I play recorder with a few local chamber ensembles and
spin, weave, and knit with historical tools. I didn’t see a stoplight until I was 3, and my first
memory is watching a radio telescope from my backyard in Greenbank. My favorite way to
unwind is to use text-to-speech software to read books to me while I make things with wool. I’m
trying to get out of the house more, though – this summer I’m co-teaching a course in
experimental archaeology (how to reverse engineer lost trade skills from the past) and will be
foraging, gardening, and trying to make clay pots from scratch.

I like old stuff, as you’ve probably already figured out.

What led you to start covering your hair with tichels and when did you start doing so?
-How did you feel about it when you first started?
-How do you feel about it now?
-Can you share a memorable hair-covering moment?
-How did you find Wrapunzel?

I always wanted to cover, but I couldn’t tell you exactly why. It sits somewhere between meeting
a physical need for comfort and security and a spiritual need to pray with my clothing choices.
I have a memory from high school that’s been very much on my mind this past year of full-time
wrapping, and I think it explains why it took me so long to decide to cover my hair full-time – 30
years! One day at the fabric store, I got the idea to buy a bunch of cute fabrics and make some
kerchiefs, then I wore my favorite green gingham wrap to school. They told me to take it off
because it was a dress code violation and a gang symbol! What self-respecting gang wears
gingham? I’d really like to meet them and ask. But, although I knew that Christian women
traditionally covered their hair, my church didn’t encourage it, my family didn’t practice it, and so
I had no way to claim it was a religious exception to the dress code.

I was mortified to be in trouble for something so utterly benign, but that sort of thing happens to
me a lot. I now know that I’m autistic, which meant that things I found natural and harmless were
often treated as embarrassing and wrong. I faced a lot of rejection for being myself on a day-to-
day basis, and this taught me to ignore what my body and soul wanted in order to make other
people happy. It taught me that I had to change parts of myself to be lovable. It was the wrong lesson, and I’m so happy that younger autistic women are gaining the acceptance that wasn’t
available to me as a teen.

But in college, I had more freedom to make my first adult choices, and that’s when I tried again.
I also became Catholic, which is a Christian tradition that encourages you to use actions, dress
choices, and physical objects to pursue a relationship with God. I had just begun to experience
the chronic headaches I live with, and I needed a way to feel like I was safe and acceptable in
my own body. Wearing a cover helped me to heal my relationship with my body and come to
terms with God not answering my prayers for healing. It felt like a way of saying my body is
good, I’m thankful for it, and I will take care of it because it’s holy even if it’s not perfect. One
time, my Greek Orthodox friend and I were in the mall, and a group of women asked us if we
were Amish. It was funny! But it also impressed on me that we looked visibly religious and odd,
and I was still afraid it would cost me acceptance in my adult life.

After college I wanted to go to grad school and become a professor, but to do that, I would have
to have supportive peers and colleagues willing to hire me. I felt like I had to pick and choose
which parts of myself I could keep, and which I had to hide. On my first day of grad school, I
wasn’t wearing my kerchief. When I went looking for a job, I cut my hip-length hair, parted it to
the side, and tried to dress like all the other academic women. I spent hours reading advice
articles for aspiring academics, watching β€œWhat Not to Wear,” and poking around department
stores for a look I called my β€œprofessor costume.” It took me a decade and seven different jobs
in seven different states to finally get a permanent job; that’s actually a good outcome in my line
of work!

Life kept happening, and after my son was born, I started revisiting the ways that denying my
needs had cost me a sense of peace and wholeness. I saw my young adult students dressing to
please themselves and openly discussing their neurodivergence, and they were so much more
grounded and empowered than I had been at their age. I became more aware of the ways
autism presents in women and, eventually, a diagnostician concluded I meet the criteria for
autism level 1. The word for why I hadn’t worn a headscarf is called β€œmasking,” and doing it had
been slowly killing my soul. I had been using my clothing and hair to beg people to accept me,
and it had only made me feel that my real self was unacceptable.

I found I couldn’t act day after day like how God made me is wrong without harming myself. And
I felt more secure about my job and my community than I ever had before. It was the right time
to try again.

Here began the part-time covering; kerchiefs on some days, and every now and then I’d have
my hair out to throw people off the scent. Then, as Lent 2024 approached, I decided it was time
to test the waters. Wrapunzel had been on my radar for a while because a Facebook friend
wears tichels and I quietly bookmarked the blog as soon as I saw it about a decade ago. I didn’t
feel ready for a whole shaper (eek! A pouf!), but I dipped my toes in the water with some
inexpensive pre-ties. And then, I decided to try wrapping for Lent. 40 days – I couldn’t destroy
my whole social life in 40 days, surely? Hopefully,my student evaluations wouldn’t take a
sudden dive because my students felt I looked too eccentric or religious.

It was fine, actually! I was right to trust my community, and I was right to trust what my body and
soul needed. My days now started with a choice of beautiful fabrics and the ritual of wrapping
my head until I felt pretty and secure. I walked into my classroom with a light head-hug
reminding me that God loves me and made me on purpose, and I am here right now to serve the other people He made. I felt self-conscious as the only person in most rooms with a head
covering, but I didn’t feel like I was hiding from the possibility of rejection. It really does make a
difference!

Wrapunzel’s community became a valued source of affirmation and validation as 40 days turned
into a whole year. I had wise, kind people willing to give advice and encouragement that didn’t
feel at all judgmental or unsafe. That is so rare! Connecting with other people with very different
lived experiences over a shared love of artistic expression was exactly what I needed. It’s
turned a solitary practice into a source of community and learning. My favorite posts are the
ones where people discuss their reasons for wrapping and I get to see the true range of what
the same practice means to different people.

Seeing is believing, so here is a year in review, starting with one of the last pictures of me
before I decided to wear a tichel.

The ‘professor costume’ in its final days. Funky asymmetrical bob, fit and flare dress, jaunty ribbon. I thought at the time this was a pretty good picture of me.

Already things are looking up. It’s just another kerchief with barettes, but that stupid long dangle of hair is out of my nostril!

Ah yes, here we are trying to do a bun wrap without a bun or a shaper and feeling like we might have a defective skull. But I already look happier; this might be my first head hug.

My first go-to tichel! Rainbow threaded Green Israeli tichel. I was struggling to get the long tails/ tucked back look with a DIY shaper. I was so sure I could craft my way to victory.

Our heroine’s boss is about to see her in a tichel for the first time. She looks nervous, but it’ll be fine.

Here I am on the Athenian Akropolis with a bunch of students! The older donors were mildly curious about the scarves but satisfied with the ‘hair jail’ explanation. It’s windy in Greece. I broke down and saved up for a Cloud 9, and it changed my life.

The marigold crossroads and I meet for the first time! I had thought that rectangular scarves weren’t for me. Marigold had other plans.

This ended up replacing my older headshots when I give talks and workshops. That was the first day the wrap I’d go on to call β€œlunatic fringe” makes an appearance. I’m still delighted and floored that other people want to imitate it! Middle School Molly would be shocked anyone would dress like her.

It’s a mediocre tichel. Not bad, but not what I imagined. Just fine! And seeing the ‘good enough’ wraps is important because at a certain point, good enough is perfect!

I had worn tichels to teach, give speeches, meet with various campus administrators. It was time to face the final boss: Baltimore Outdoor Summer! Friends, life without hair on your neck is very sweet, and you can see how gleeful I am about it.

This was a bad tichel day! I wanted a tidy twist crown with tucked ends. I got a pouffy, slithery eldritch horror trying to make me look like an Italian renaissance painting about lazy nobles and their bad turbans. All I need is a derpy pet ermine. I never did get this one to work.

When I got my first Wendy, I put her on, freaked out, then put her away. I’d take her out every few days but couldn’t get her to work for me. One last try, Wendy. Wendy delivered! We’re inseparable now.

Here I am about to go to a meeting with my university leadership, including the president! I am dressed like an enchanted forest peasant, and very happy about it. People still treated me like a smart professional with important things to say, then chatted with me on the way back to the parking lot.

Stay tuned for part 2, where I talk a little more about my artistic process, tips, tricks, and general life advice.