Resident Scarf Expert

Last week after I accessorized with a sash as hair scarf, a reader asked how I got the scarf to stay in my hair. Therefore, I've decided to blog about neck and hair scarves, combining the two, and how you tie one so it doesn't slip out of your hair.

1. From Left to Right, in Order of Acquisition:
A. Lime Silk - Las Vegas Boutique
B. & C. Pashminas (cranberry & light blue) - London Street Vendor
D. chenille & ribbon stripes - Gifted/Made by friend
E. Striped yellow, green, and orange - Santiago Street Vendor
F. Aqua faux silk - H & M
G. Pink French Dot cotton - Gap
H. Light green wool - H & M
I. Cable knit wool - Gap (gifted)
J. Maroon multi-colored ruffle silk - Boutique

These are all of my scarves minus K., a black ruffled one from H & M that I left at a bar in Baltimore in October but a family member fortunately picked up for me (the scarf and I will be reunited over Christmas).

2. Doubling Up
Scarves A & C.
Sweater - Moth/Anthro
Cami - Eloise/Anthro (remixed)
Trousers - Talbots

On any given day, it is likely that I'm wearing earrings and a scarf around my neck. Most of the year, between the breeze, the actual cold, or air conditioning, I'm cold. Keeping the neck covered, obviously, keeps one warmer. Neck scarves are both a beloved accessory and a functional necessity for me. SME sometimes teases me that my superstitious Mediterranean-ness is showing: Romans (meaning those who live in and around Rome) cover their necks and keep the windows closed to protect the liver. Yes, you read that right. Say, you're in a classroom and it's 65 degrees outside, a bit stuffy inside, and the windows are open: Chances are a Roman will close the window, mutter about the breeze and "the liver." We'll get to the Evil Eye later...

3. Those worn mostly on the head, In order of Acquisition
L. Pink/Black Floral Think Silk (square) - Mommed
M. Black burnout floral polyester - New York & Co.?
N. Green floral silk - Tie Rack (now defunct)
O. Blue paisley - Tie Rack (now defunct)
P. Pink floral silk (square) - Recycle Bin in Friend's Dorm (junior year)
Q. Artist's Palette Silk - Gifted/painted by aunt
R. Navy block color silk - Gifted/Eastern Market, DC
S. Blue and orange rough silk - Gifted/Eastern Market, DC
T. Paisley turquoise cotton (square) - Gifted/Eastern Market, DC
U. Silk cream and black - Sash from Anthro dress
V. Fine cotton green, yellow, pink - Boutique in Salem, Mass., gifted
[Not pictured: Normal paisley white + one color Americana bandanas]

The easiest scarves to tie on the head are N. and U. That is, lightweight or matte silk scarves that is not too wide and can wrap around the head twice.

4. Tying N. [ SFE is aware of the hole in the sweater and doesn't wear outside her flat]

Here's how I tie: Under first, then crisscross, turn head over (this is necessary) and tie a snug double knot underneath. Flip head up and arrange hair from there. If you want to put your hair up, I suggest tying the scarf first and then putting hair up. Scarves L. & T. are the hardest to stay in the hair, as they are squares of thick silk and cotton, respectively. R. & V. are also hard, but as long as they are wrapped snuggly, they will stay in. R. has to be folded length-wise in half.

5. Bringing L. into the Fold

When tying a kerchief/square scarf I've found that how and where you fold to make a smaller triangle is the key. I tend to show the fold rather than hide--it binds the hair better. If I have just washed my hair, wear it wavy, and without Aveda Brilliant Finishing Gloss or Bumble & Bumble Brillantine, scarves stay better than when my hair is straight, glossy, and going on 48 hours without shampoo (like today).

6. V is for Crunchy

In high school, I generally wore thinner scarves twice around my neck, scarves like M, N, O, R, and V, but in college I began to wear this type exclusively on my head almost on a daily basis. And I preferred ones that were thicker and more obvious. Like V [pictured immediately above], and which is actually (like M. and R.) intended to be a neck scarf. Unlike, a simple thin headband scarf (which a commenter said looked Jackie O-ish) the thicker sort can read as granola.

6. H and T in solidarity

I still wore a headscarf a few times a week when I started grad school, but when I began teaching in the second year of my M.A. I think I started to do this less and less. And since I began to work on the Ph.D. at a university where undergrads are more likely to sport Tory Burch flats and an Anthro cardigan than they are Birkenstalks and a paisley bandana (which might be a sign of the times as much as class), the kerchief style has almost completely faded from my repertoire, although I don't feel out of the ordinary if I do wear it. It does, however, get noticed more. Less commentary occurs from a regular headband scarf and neck scarf combo, although this look did earn me the nickname Gypsy from a colleague's husband who likes to give nicknames.

7. Gypsy Hagiographer, J. and M (hard to see against hair)

I am curious, though, about the associations with scarves on the head, especially. As I mentioned before, I find that the kerchief-style, which covers more hair, garners more comments (also see the Dissertating Yogini on this). Do you wear headscarves or kerchiefs? And if you're an educator, do you do so in the classroom?