Review - The Wrapter

[acalliste]

I got a chance to test out a new product: The Wrapter, helpful for keeping your hair under control while riding, playing sports, exercising, or anywhere that your hair can blow all over the place and drive you crazy. I got three to try out, two unpackaged prototypes and one in retail packaging. The design is still being developed however, and is not perfected yet.

My first impression was that I like it. I actually first wore one of the prototypes at my desk at work on Friday when I received the package. It stayed put all day, as well as during exercise on the elliptical that evening.

Getting it on was a bit tricky at first, but by the third time putting it on I pretty much had it down. The instructions on the back of the package are clear and very helpful. At first I found it easier to put a second elastic band around the end of my ponytail to hold it together will getting it through the Wrapter, but by the third time I didn't need that anymore.

The first time I wore it with my helmet, I wore a higher ponytail because I was afraid the Wrapter would fly off (see picture below), so I wanted the helmet to hold it in place. After riding for a couple of hours, it hurt a little bit (not much), so I decided after the next stop (which was at lunch) I would make a lower ponytail to see if that would help. However, when that happened I don’t think I got it low enough. That time it actually caused my helmet to be pushed back and I got a splitting headache from the helmet being pulled back on my forehead. The answer might be to place the ponytail low enough where it comes down under the back of my helmet, but I don’t know if it will stay in place if I do that. More experimentation is needed. The designer, Andrea, states that wearing it low is the best way.

I gave the other two to my friends (Lauren and Jenn). Lauren wore hers below the back of the helmet, but it flew off as were riding (probably about 55-60mph). However she doesn’t have very long hair so it’s possible the Wrapter didn’t have much to hold on to. Jenn made it home with hers in place. She was wearing one of those big cloth scrunchie ponytail holders, so the Wrapter had a solid base to hold on to. She also said she experienced no pain or discomfort with hers, so again perhaps I need to experiment more with mine.


The first time I wore it under my helmet with a higher placement


Jenn with hers placed lower



Overall, I really like it. It does work wonders for keeping your hair clean and tangle-free. If there were fun patterns and designs, I'd probably have several, so I'd always have one to match my mood. How about a Na'vi Braid design?

There are plans to have them in retail stores at some point in the future for around $7.00 a piece, or if you can’t wait you can order by going to their website at wrapter.com

[Joe]

what's the pink and silverthingy with the tube coming out of it?

[Whymista]

Damn!

The easier to pull your hair my dear.................

[acalliste]

Originally Posted by Joe

what's the pink and silverthingy with the tube coming out of it?

That is a camera, but the image is blurred.

[Whymista]

All I saw was the luscious white flesh of two lovely ladies with which I wish I could ride with and follow their "lines" both on and off the track.

[bumblebee]

Originally Posted by Joe

what's the pink and silverthingy with the tube coming out of it?

Looks like my daughter taking pics with Jenn's camera

[Alawicious]

Thats different

[Builtgypsy]

Wait...I think I've seen something like that before.

[LaurenOE]

I like the design. It's a solid alternative to using a bunch of elastic bands. However, the diameter of the tube, could be smaller. The reason mine flew off, was that I used too much material to fully cover the length of my hair. In doing so, I had less "rolled tension" at the top, in the "rolled bun" where the anchor point is to hold the Wrapter in place. I think it worked on Jenn because she had a scunchie, which is larger, and I had an elastic band which is smaller. Jenn's hair is about the same length as mine. Tam, has thick, long, blonde hair (Beeotch), so the tube diameter along with the "rolled bun" diameter worked for her.

So I think if the Wrapter tube diameter was a little smaller, less material would be needed to form the rolled bun at the top to hold tension, and the smaller diameter of the tube would increase the tension along the length of the hair to hold things in place.

As it is now, all the holding of the Wrapter relies on the rolled bun at the top, and if that doesn't have enough friction, you'll loose the device.

So...

Make the tube a smaller diameter. Less material will be needed to form an effective "holding bun" at the top, along with increasing the friction along the length of the hair to hold it in place. Aesthically, having a smaller "Holding Bun" would look better and offer less obstruction to the back of the helmet or under it.

[kat9908]

I would love to try one of these but from reading Laurens post I don't think it would work well for me. I have long hair but its very very thin and scrunchies doesn't hold it most of the time. So unless they do decide to make different sizes I don't think it would work for me and that bites cos I like the idea.