How to Tie a Headscarf - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Watch WCVB TV reporter Kelley Tuthill, a breast cancer survivor treated at Dana- Farber, share her tips for headscarf tying. Kelley demonstrates three different ways to tie a headscarf: the basic bandana; an oblong scarf over a turban; and a large headscarf with a twisted rosette detail.
Find more resources to help combat the physical effects of cancer treatment at Dana-Farber's Friends Place: www.dana-farber...
Transcription:
Hi. I’m Kelley Tuthill, reporter at WCVB TV Channel 5 here in Boston. I’m also a breast cancer survivor who was treated here at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to lose your hair and have so many changes to your appearance as a result of chemotherapy. But I’m also here to tell you that if I can go on TV despite all that, you can figure out how to go out and face the world as well and still enjoy life.
One option that I think is great is scarves. You can play around with them. But I also encourage you to try out hats and wigs and find the look that works for you and then go with it. If you feel good about the way you look, everybody around you is going to be very comfortable with it as well. So, let’s today figure out how to tie scarves. I’m no expert, and if I can figure this out-trust me-so can you.
We’re going to start with a basic 30-inch cotton scarf. That’s a good size and will give you great coverage. You want to start by folding it into a triangle. Then you simply put it on your head. Then you’re going to tie it in the back kind of midway through your head here, just before it kind of scoops in in the back. And then to create a natural look as if you had hair, kind of fluff it out a little bit. There’s no right way or wrong way to do this. You’re going to play around with it and see what look works for you. You can either leave these hanging down, maybe hide the tag. Or you can tuck everything in. It’s easy enough to do. It’s really a simple look, just like a bandana that you might have worn anyway.
Another look is to wear a turban like this one. This is cotton. It’s very soft against a bald head. It can keep you warm at night, because it can get awfully chilly. Or you can wear it around the house or out for doing errands. If you want it to look a little fancier, we have a suggestion: take an oblong scarf and twist it. It’s like this-very easy to do. Then you can put it on top of the turban, tie it in the back like so, and that gives you a different look. It just makes it look a little fancier to go out and meet friends or do whatever. If you want to keep going with this, you can also twist it further like this, go back around to the top of your head, tie it in a knot, and then just tuck in the ends underneath the rest of the scarf. Hide that tag. And then you’ve got another great look to wear out with your friends.
I’ll admit, I was a little intimidated by the thought of attempting the rosette scarf tying, but after a little practice, I can do it-and I’m sure you can, too. You want to start with a big oblong scarf-a long one like this one. This one is rayon, which seems to be a little easier than trying with a silk scarf. You’ll want to put it over your head like this, so that the back is hanging down. And then the challenging part is that you want to get both ends with each hand and tie them. That takes a little practice, because this is a longer scarf than what you might be used to tying. If you have an extra set of hands, great! If not, like I said, with a little practice, you’ll figure it out. I’ve got the first one tied, and then I’m going to go back and tie it in a second knot. So, then you can play with the top here. The key is to have it secure-you don’t want to worry about the scarf all day long. Then take the two ends, shift the scarf over a little bit, take the two ends, and start twisting. I’m finding that it works well to twist about halfway down and then start to make the rows. So, you want to go back up toward your ear and start going around. What I find works is that you can hold the rosette with one hand while twisting with your other hand. You can see that there. Keep twisting around. I’m switching hands here to get the look that works for me. Again, see-I’m twisting this and going around. It just takes a little playing. I’ve tried it different ways to get the way that works best for me and the look that I like. I’m still twisting the end, and then what you have left at the end, you’re going to tuck in like so. Not bad, huh? With a little practice, you can do it, too.

[@moniquelavigne724]

I want to thank you so much for the video. My daughter's babysitter has breast cancer and I wanted to find a scarf and show her the techniques that she can use to help her in her "journey"

[@gordanazakula5669]

Thank you!!! My hair is thin, would love to wear a scarf!!!

[@StrainSop]

I just slid onto your video, and I think this is great!! I wear scarves because I'm Muslim, but I think you give cancer survivors and women with alopecia many options for protecting their scalps from the elements and yet making them look like a complete woman. CONGRATS on beating your cancer!!! :-)

[@wandah9468]

This is great! If tying knots is too hard, try elastic ponytail hair bands wrapped a couple times. Easy on you and the fabric, adjustable, stays put. Wrap as usual. If it works on chiffon it will work on any fabric!

[@cynrab]

Hi Kelly, firstly I like 2 compliment u looking great. I really enjoyed your tutorial on head scarf.. My good friend has recently been diagnosed 2nd stage of breast cancer. Then I search on headscarf n I found you. . The 3 looks u showed here is simple n easy to understand yet looking extremely great. Thank you n continue posting more videos like this to help other cancer patient.

[@SandyCeeSpiritConnections]

Thanks for sharing this video. I have tried your rosette with a square scarf in a triangle. It worked - not as big as the long scarf, though it DID work! You are inspirational in the way you look. I hope I come out as good as you when I finish my treatment. God Bless.

[@sounddesignsforyou998]

You have critics wherever you go. you did a great job, thank you so much.

[@sophia6553]

im 11 and i have leukemia. this helps! thanks!

[@pastelpepe]

Sophie Hamelin I hope you’ve been cured and are alive and well 💓

[@missgennn675]

Stay strong lovely stay

[@jackiesmith8232]

@@pastelpepe L

[@zsmores244]

Thanks for this video!! My friends mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She still has to go through chemo so to support her my friend and I shaved our heads =] im 19 and in college so its nice to have something to wear just when I dont feel like being cold and bald =] THANKS!!!

[@jeeva32]

Thank you. I have to start chemo and I was really down hearten till I watched this. Love you for this. I have done a mastectomy and trying to cope.

[@lyndawhalin4873]

Thank you! I just started loosing my hair a few days ago. It is coming out in lightning speed. I have a few scarfs to play with. I will start practicing! God Bless! So nice to see you looking so healthy!

[@user-cc7uz6td8h]

I feel so much better about helping my friend (going through this following chemo). Thank you so much!

[@rosaspanjol673]

👍love it👍..,also love the way you explain 😘

[@94gdl]

Thank you so much! I learn a little from all you women... I'll be starting my Rad and Chemo soon and want to be prepared. G-d Bless you & good health!!!

[@browneyedfan]

thank you so much. I am a leukemia survivor for 40 years now with very thin hair.

[@jenniferparker3933]

My mom just found out that's she's gonna lose her hair so we practiced with your ideas! They help thnx!

[@SuperBabygirl66]

Thank you! my mom is fighting this deseace, and she has no hair right now, and this is very helpfull for us, thank you very much!!!

[@tammi67able]

Beautiful ¡!you do beautiful things with those beautiful scarfs, God bless, thanks for sharing.

[@loneranger5412]

You are so kind to do this....how helpfull i lost all my hair from a reaction to a metal hip implant and have worn headscarfs for 14 years now .....its a hard blow for anyone

[@bonniecolegrove3865]

thank you.

[@robynmitchell4352]

❤all those styles.Watching from Australia.😊

[@emeraldkimble7602]

I do infinity scarves available at my lical Marshall’s and Ross dress for less I hold it with Bobby pin

[@shetarynitup]

Thank you so much. My sister (and best friend) was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer which has spread to her spine and pelvic bones. I want to help her with her scarves so this will really help me!

[@TinaTina-wt5wu]

I'm so scared for my results from the biopsy.had very thick endometrial linning.doc was super happy she took a biopsy because she does not know why its happening.i experienced abnormal bleeding.

[@SandraGonzalez-yq2bi]

Thanks so much.God bles you!

[@umawinekoon8582]

Thank you so much 😊 🙏🙏🙏

[@MusicChick228]

💜💜THANK~YOU💜💜DANA💜💜ME HAIR IS NATURALLY EXTREMELY LONG SINCE CHILDHOOD AND AM IN THE THIRD WEEK AFTER FIRST CHEMO💜💜ALL SEEMED WELL AND LUMP SHRUNK💜💜👍🏻👍🏻💜💜AND NOT NOTICED MUCH HAIR LOSS AND THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO STEPS ME BEEN TAKIN TO PREVENT💜💜THEN LAST NIGHT WHEN GETTIN PREPARED FOR BED CLUMPS AND CLUMPS JUST CAME OUT AND ME SCALP FEELS SORE💜💜ALREADY HAVE WIGS AND MANY SCARVES AND ALSO WILL BE GETTIN OTHER HEAD~DRESSES SUCH AS BEADS💜💜HAVE REALLY CRIED ME HEART OUT ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT BUT AM DEFINITELY NOT GOIN TO LET IT STOP ME FROM FACING THE WORLD💜💜WE ARE ALL💜💜BEAUTIFUL💜💜HAIR OR NO HAIR💜💜THANK~YOU💜💜AGAIN💜💜SHARON(SHERI)💜💜GOD&ANGELS💜💜BLESS💜💜

[@nemoryer]

Please help me find the cotton turban (pink) that you showed on the video? I will lose my hair soon, I start chemo next week. Thank you.

[@Its_Faith_617]

nemoryer I hope you feel better soon

[@nty449]

Honestly I got some off of the app called wish. Very cheap but a long wait

[@rosrychaplet]

thank you very much.

[@anaHernandez-ox7nu]

Nice.thanks u

[@FitriLing]

Do you do tutorials on wearing hats and scarfs? I have one hat similar to your middle manequinn. You look very pretty in the pink + orange headscarf. You look beautiful WITH headscarf.

[@Drmrfordancing]

You might find my video "Alternatives to Wearing a Wig" helpful. I'm permanently bald due to Alopecia Areata, and my video explains how to tie a scarf.

[@dianepekow1684]

I didn't hear that part. I still feel that the video would be much more useful & effective, if you would have used a model without hair.

[@AntayaS]

+Diane Pekow Stop being such a Debbie Downer

[@sounddesignsforyou998]

Creep

[@dianepekow1684]

Also, this reply is a little late!

[@MaryJane4and20th]

look number 2 is not good

[@patriciareed3446]

I'm not going to need one this time around.

[@michelebauersachs1559]

How awful that a woman with hair displayed scarf wearing.

[@dianepekow1684]

Why is the model demonstrating scarf tying for cancer patients when she has hair? Very insensitive & unhelpful for those of us who are currently bald.

[@yanni-dori]

It's not insensitive or unhelpful when she tells you at the beginning that she's a breast cancer survivor and used these methods. I'd hope that all of us who recover would help others along their journey.

[@mpb1954]

get a life