Chemo Head Scarves

Cotton Pre-tied with Height – Great for Chemo!

By B. Levi

Many women purchase headcoverings to help them deal with hair loss following chemotherepy treatments.

Why does Chemo cause hair loss?

Chemotherapy is currently the main tool used to battle cancer. It is usually a drug which destroys the cancerous cells in the body. Unfortunately it also destroys “good” cells, thereby damaging the hair follicles making hair loss an inevitable side effect of this treatment. There are a great many options available for women in this situation and each women is encouraged to make sure she finds the one that is best for her and makes her feel most comfortable. If a woman chooses to use head scarves or headwraps during chemo there are some important things to keep in mind.

There are two major problems with scarves, one is “slickness” the other is itch. Let’s tackle slickness. Scarves made from satin or silk or any material with a slick texture will usually have a difficult time staying in place on one’s head. Either avoid them completely or use a “wigrip” or cotton undercover – 2 different products that eliminate “slippage”.

The next thing to bear in ming is comfort. Many wool fabrics will itch and unnatural polyesters in in many cases are not “breathable” and will cause excessive uncomfort. In light of these facts, it is usually best for women undergoing chemo to purchase headscarves made from natural fibers such as linen or cotton that will allow the scalp to breathe. If the place you are buying your headscarf from does not list the fabric type, don’t hesitate to call them up and inquire before buying.

In closing, we hope all who purchase headscarves due to hair loss from chemo only have to use them very temporarily and get their hair and healthy bodies back as quick as possible!

(Sources include articlesnatch, american cancer society, and others)

Babushka Headscarves

Babushkas Head Scarves

Headscarves have tons of different names and one of the most interesting ones is the term Babushka.

What is a babushka? Typically, a Babushka is a 3 foot long head scarf that is folded into a triangle and then tied under the chin.

How did Babushka’s get their name?

Well the term Babushka is really the Russian word used for Grandmother and it is still quite typical for elderly women in Russia to cover ther hair with a headscarf in this manner.

However don’t think for a minute that giving head scarves the name Babushka means that headscarves can’t be cool ‘cause not cool “Babushka’s are sooo yesterday.

In June of 2011 NPR ran a story of some very very cool Babushkas. A group of elderly Russian women all widowed from the village of Buranovo in the Udmurt Republic formed a band that was pretty good. They became somewhat of a sensation in Russia started giving concerts around the country. Eventually they scored an invite to the Eurovision contest and they showed up on the flashy Eurovision set clad in their taditional Urdmurt clothing, Long dresses, and yup, Babushka headscarves.

No they didn’t win that year’s Eurovision contest but they did prove that headscarves - especially Babushka Headscarves – are really cool!

Very Multi-Functional Head Scarves!

Head Scarves

My headscarf doubled as a pot holder today. No, not the one on my head… The one my toddler pulled out of the headscarves drawer!

Did you know that head scarves are multi functional? I didn’t either - that is till I had kids. Kids find the most unique uses for the most ordinary objects. Apparently my pot holder ended up serving some more IMPORTANT use in the playroom, (where I found it  later in the evening) so the head scarf that was doubling as a doll blanket served the purpose of pot holder as well.

All kidding aside, headscarves and Tichels can be used for a variety of uses for adults as well. A Tichel can accessorize an outfit when tied as a neck scarf, shawl or belt. Take it along on an outing where it can serve as a makeshift table cloth. Or even around the house it can serve the purpose of temporary curtains, or an accent table runner for a party.

So next time you see a head scarf in a pattern that catches your fancy, think of all the wonderful ways you can use it, and if all else fails…give it to the kids!

How To Tie A Tichel – Butterfly Style

The “butterfly” tie a great and original way to tie a headscarf. It’s light weight and very comfortable to wear. It gives a great spring or summery look and brings tying headscarves to a different level. It’s a style using two head scarves to create one custom head covering giving it a more fashionable look.

1.    When tying our headscarf butterfly style we experimented using a fringed headscarf over a simple, not fringed head scarf. Our model is wearing the Israeli Tichel with Flower Design in peach as the head scarf on the bottom.  Take your square headscarf and fold it into a triangle. Gently put it over your head. You should have a tail hanging on either side of your head and a tail hanging down by your neck.

2.    Our model is wearing the Basic Israeli Tichel with Lurex and Fringes in white as the second head scarf. Take your square headscarf and fold it into a triangle. Gently put it over your head the same way as the first one however, place it about one inch further back than the first scarf.

3.    Now, take the one inch part from the first headscarf that is sticking out and slowly and carefully fold it over the second head scarf forming a band with height.

4.    Finally, take all four tails (two from each side) and tie them tightly in the back of your neck to ensure your head scarf is strong and secure.

Head Scarves and Spring Cleaning!

The month of March brings back memories of 3rd grade when my teacher taught us “March comes in like a Lion and leaves like a Lamb.” I find warmth in the cold beginnings of March knowing that spring is just around the corner. And once spring arrives, all I want to do is just get out of the house and revel in the delicious spring weather. But there’s work for me at home, too. Being cooped up all winter has taken its toll on the house. The window need to be washed, the curtains and comforters aired and the dust attacked. Time to roll up my sleeves, turn on the music, get out the cleansers and scrub!

So first thing I’ll do is tie up my hair and reach for my favorite head covering. I hate the feeling of sticky hair on my neck, and trust me, we’re gonna be workin up a sweat. My favorite head covering is a pre-tied bandana headscarf made of cotton fabric. It is stretchy, breathable, keeps the hair away from my neck and is a fabulous floral print – just what I feel like wearing in this spring cleaning season!

I like to clean with natural ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar. Lemon juice I definitely want to keep outta my hair – I’m just fine with the color, thank you… And vinegar – I don’t even want to think about what would happen if that got in my hair! Plus, when I’m dusting where do you think most of the dust ends up? On me…Thank you pre-tied bandana!

Like I mentioned earlier, I do work up a sweat cleaning away on those beautiful first days of spring so I have other replacement head covers to change into when the need arises. There is my comfy cotton beret, cotton paisley headscarves and other assorted hats and caps I’ve picked up over the years. So this spring when you reach for the cleansers, take my advice and reach for a head scarf as well!