I have recently grown more and more convicted about covering my head, but making a shift like that meant I needed some additions to my wardrobe. Since once I decided I had to begin immediately, I spent the next few days alternating between a regular old red bandana tied over my head, and a navy blue open-weave snood that I had worn at Renaissance Faires (like this reddish one):

I checked out several places online, read reviews on other blogs, and decided to give CoverYourHair.com a try. I ordered three different items, and had somewhat varied results. Luckily, at least, the order arrived very quickly, to relieve my wardrobe crisis!

Product images below are from the CoverYourHair site, and are used with their permission.

Light Brown Five Star Tichel. This was just what I expected – a lightweight fabric square (with little fringes). I have experimented with tying it in various different ways, on several occasions…

I have yet to get it on my head in a secure and reasonably competent manner that would permit me to actually wear it. This is certainly no fault of coveryourhair.com. They actually provide a simple instructional lesson on the website, as well as a video. For me, though, certain things just don’t seem to work out (how do you keep from pulling it off your head as it tightens when you wrap the tails around the bun?); maybe it would be easier if someone was helping you learn in person.

White Cotton Paisley Pre Tied Headband – essentially a strip of folded bandana and inch or so wide, made into a headband with elastic. This one gave me trouble from the get-go.

When I took this headband out of the package, I pulled it open in my hands… and it fell apart. Apparently it was not constructed or sewn properly, and the fabric pulled away from the elastic entirely on one side.

The good news is that I now know coveryourhair.com has terrific customer service. They responded promptly and politely to my email, and quickly shipped out a replacement.

The new item was not defective… But was not a good fit, either. I’m 6′2″ tall, so this is pretty common for me in general, but a headband? Indeed, it is just “that much” too small. I guess I’m a classic example of the fact that “one size fits all” doesn’t.

I can put it on and wear it, but it doesn’t lay quite right, and tends to pull off. I ended up giving it to my four year old daughter, but it’s really not her style…

Navy All Around Wide Pre-Tied Headband. For me, clearly the best of the bunch.

This looks just like the picture, and seems to me like an ideal style for an everyday head covering. It is thick enough not to look “cheap,” but lightweight enough to breathe and feel comfortable (even in hot Florida weather). Since receiving this order, this was my “go to” daily cover for a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, it is also the tiniest bit too small. With the forgiving gathered styling, this headband stays on well and seems fine – but it is slowly but surely ripping apart at the seams joining the headband section to the elastic section.

So, while it’s a great idea, I am still left with nothing to wear on my head!

Overall?

Being quite tall, I presumably have a large head; I do not imagine most women would experience these fit problems. It would be great if some of the products came in a “large” size, though – just as I’m sure some folks would appreciate a “petite” version.

I sent feedback to the company about this issue, and a lively discussion ensued. They suggested I try either the “Untied Headbands” or the “Headbands With Tails”, both of which can be adjusted to fit.

In the case of untied, I do not feel justified paying for what is then just a strip of fabric to tie around my head. In the case of the tails, I have to consider several issues including the undesirability of the tails themselves (with small children), the lack of selection of fabrics/patterns, and the relative difficulty of adjustment (apparently it involves cutting out and replacing the elastic, although they assure me it is simple!).

So far I have not taken either of these routes; coveryourhair.com was also gracious enough to refund the price of those two items.

It seems my options are limited, as other online sites focusing on head coverings seem to carry largely the same assortment of merchandise. I guess if I don’t want to stick with regular bandanas and the “veil” type coverings, I’m going to have to break out the sewing machine…

Post-Script: Most of the items in the “Headbands” section of the coveryourhair.com website proudly claim “One Size Fits All”. After this go-round, I noticed that they have changed the product description for the Cotton Paisley Pre-Tied Headbands to instead say, “Not for a Large Head.” The All Around Wide Pre-Tied Headband, though, still proudly has an emphasis that “One Size Fits ALL.” Oh, well…

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