How To Wear a Headband
Natasa Vukmirovic
Table of Contents
A headband is a neat statement accessory that you can add to your outfit on any given day— except maybe on the day that it feels like everyone else has figured out how to wear a headband stylishly—but not you.
After much overthinking, you might opt to just wear a beanie instead, because deciding how to wear a headband is a worry you’d rather save for another day and another you!
Headbands seem intentional, not like something you casually throw on, but an item you’ve carefully handpicked. And this seems to be the case even if you’re going for a more simple look.
But, what if it doesn’t sit right on your head or frame your face well? Even the slightest feeling that something’s off can make you fling your headband off instantly.
So we’re here to help. This post will give you a clearer idea of how to wear a headband in a flattering and stylish way. After reading our helpful tips, you’ll know how to choose the one that feels like it naturally belongs on your head, so that you can wear it whenever you feel like it.
What is a Headband?
Truly functional, a headband is a hair accessory you can count on to hold your hair back and absorb sweat. Also multi-use, it can be worn on many occasions for different reasons.
You might’ve noticed that athletes, specifically tennis players, often wear them on the court. For instance, Naomi Osaka and Roger Federer both wear one when they play big tournaments.
Super convenient, headbands are easy to carry with you anywhere. You can pack a headband in your travel bag (not just one but as many as you like), and include as many colors and styles as you need to match your wardrobe.
Or maybe you’ll throw a headband into your gym bag, so you can take it with you to your yoga class or soccer practice. That way, you’ll exercise and be stylish at the same time—go you!
History of Headbands
Contrary to popular belief, headbands were not invented in the 2000s, but the Gossip Girl era surely made it feel so. Blair Waldorf had a headband in numerous scenes and wore them with many outfits that were very different from each other. This goes to prove that you can style a headband in lots of ways.
Before Gossip Girl re-introduced the headband to the mainstream, decades earlier, there were the roaring 20s. Flapper girls wore them to cocktail parties and their headbands were usually covered in feathers and jewels. At the time, they were extremely trendy and beloved by party-goers!
The pop-art girls of the ‘60s, like Twiggy, made headbands chic and vogue. They popularized the velour headband, as well as the silk version that ties around your head, with long strands of fabric hanging over the shoulders. Headbands were extremely fashionable back then.
Peace and headbands seemed to have guided the planet back in the ‘70s. The long-haired youth all around the world embraced stringy headbands and they looked pretty neat!
People in the ‘80s used the headband in more practical ways, often for workouts and sports. By the time the ‘90s came around, plastic headbands became a thing and everyone asked their mom to buy them one.
When to Wear a Headband
Headbands are appropriate all year round. In wintertime, knit headbands are easy to spot, since the DIY headwear is very popular among those who like to knit every fall and winter.
Since headbands are both fashionable and functional, they’re great to wear when going out and working out. You can wear one to your exercise class, at formal events, and at festivals, to name a few options. But you can also wear a headband while you wash and moisturize your face before bed.
At one point, floral crowns were all over the festival scene and this has continued to be the case every festival season, so wearing a headband to a music festival is still kind of chill!
Headbands, like tiaras, can often be seen on bridal looks. So you can wear it when you get married or if you’re attending a wedding because headbands are handy for styling more formal outfits too.
How to Wear a Headband
Are you wondering how to wear a headband? It can feel like there are only two looks you can create with a headband: the elegant look or the minimalist (or traditional) style. But the options don’t necessarily end there—that just wouldn’t be very fun.
For instance, you can go a totally different route and secure your headband around your big, straw bucket hat and double up on your headwear accessories in that manner.
You can also wear a headband over your bangs like we used to see back in 2010, or with your hair in a bun, or right across your forehead, just like a tennis player would! Basically, you should do what feels natural and good to you.
9 Outfit Ideas with a Headband
This is a pretty and classy summer look, and there’s something Lana Del Rey about it. It’s a fit you can wear to so many places, like summer bbqs, birthday parties, concerts, and more.
You can even add stockings to go with the dress or swap the chunky, velvety headband for a satin one if you’d like. Either look is an example of how to wear a headband in a subtle, but not dull way.
Paired up with a V neck top, a headband can create a pretty soft and powerful look. It’s a great option if you’re going to a cocktail party or drinks after work.
The band can be delicate, narrow, or wide, and you can also have your hair slicked back if you’re going for a classier look. You can always match your headband to your top as Bella has done here.
This outfit is a pretty cool example of how to wear a headband and blend it in with athleisure. We’ve already mentioned that headbands are big in the tennis world, but you don’t have to be an athlete or play tennis to wear one.
You can still pull off a tennis dress, styled with a headband accessory, through the power of athleisure! The bodycon dress and headband are a pretty timeless look that’s perfect for everyday wear.
This is a great example of how to wear a headband with other accessories, like gold jewelry. It’s not just the color of the headband that pops out here—the big earrings and the chunky necklace also stand out and make a statement.
You can add a denim jacket to this look or it could also go without. Either way, you’ll be ready to go dancing or get drinks at a rooftop bar (that’s chill, too).
For colder seasons, you can always opt for a knitted headband and a scarf to match. The twisted headband is the most common one, but I’m not sure how easy it is to knit. If you ever feel like starting a knitting project, a handmade headband could be a great place to start, by the way.
You could style a knitted headband in so many different ways, but this scarf and coat outfit is a step in the right direction.
What would this list be if we didn’t pay tribute to Blair Waldorf? A headband with a button-up shirt does create this sort of a preppy look, but it also proves that dressing up is something you don’t need an occasion for.
You can wear this outfit to work or at a dinner party and it wouldn’t be standoffish—or maybe it would be—but that would be okay because it’s so very quaint!
It’s spa time! The plush headband, also known as the spa headband, is great for self-care days. This soft headband goes with loungewear best!
A self-care day for you might look like this: putting a face mask on and relaxing on your couch in your PJs. It might also look like a day relaxing at the pool. Luckily, you can match your headband with your bikini on beach or pool days!
The braided headband is definitely one of the looks that take a bit of time to style since you have to pay more attention to how you’d like to style your hair. This look is quite formal as well with the hair parted down the middle.
The braid doesn’t have to match your hair color! Try to experiment with colors that compliment your hair tone or try neutral, earthy hues.
You can also pair it with a blazer, as seen here, and you’ve got an outfit planned for the next time you get a wedding or a dinner party invite.
This headband is a great option for when you’re working out and can be purchased from any sports brand (Nike always has a great selection for both men and women).
You can also wear it with your hair up. Sport headbands are usually made out of terry cotton, so the grip is pretty firm on your head. That way, even with your hair in a ponytail, your headband won’t slide right off.
This look is also great for the gym, morning run, or any casual occasion. It’s a pretty simple style and you can match your sports bra or tank top to your headband.
But, as seen here, you can have as much fun as you want with your look. Maybe you feel like you’re in your own ‘80s music video when you’re on the treadmill—so you might as well look the part—go for bright colors!
What Type of Headbands Can You get?
Headbands are mostly made out of plastic, fabric, and metal. Fabric headbands come in a variety of materials (satin, wool, lace, and cotton are the most common ones).
Cotton headbands are the most long-lasting, especially because they can be washed with your laundry. They also have quite a bit of stretch, so finding one that fits you won’t be a big nuisance, but the stretch might lose its power over time.
Headbands can be stretchy, bendy, or sturdy (like the ones made out of metal). The more athletic headbands are made of terry cotton, which is very absorbent.
How to Choose The Best Headbands
What’s the best way to choose a headband? First, consider how to wear a headband that works well with your hairstyle. It depends on whether you like to wear your hair slicked back, in a ponytail, or maybe you prefer it completely down (especially if you have short hair).
Headbands come at a very affordable price, so you could own more than one. It’s a good idea to buy a couple that can be worn on more than one occasion, which will allow you to experiment with styles more. If you’re wondering which style would look best on you, you can’t know unless you try it.
Plastic hair clips are back in style, and so are resin headbands. These accessories are pretty charming and come in different shapes and multiple colors. So, if you’d prefer a more laid-back look, classic resin headbands are a fun way to try something new.
How to Style a Headband
When wearing this accessory, positioning and adjusting your headband are key. Of course, how you style your headband depends on how you style your hair.
When creating your look you can also pair your headband with other accessories, such as glasses, jewelry, or earrings. But the earrings don’t have to match the headband perfectly for your outfit to look fabulous.
A wide, velvet headband with gold or silver hoops is a cool vintage look— and a subtle nod to the ‘60s cover girl. It’s also a great combo for an everyday glam look.
If you’d like to take a different route fashion-wise, focus on color. If you’ve ever wondered how to wear a headband when you’re out of inspiration, going through the color wheel might inspire some new ideas.
Fashion Tips to Avoid With a Headband
The one factor to consider when shopping for a headband is this: make sure it fits your head properly (which means it’s not too tight or too loose).
A headband that’s too tight can feel uncomfortable and be a distraction. A headband that keeps falling off your head is no good either because, well, it keeps falling off of your head!
Positioning the headband all the way back is also cool in moderation.
How To Take Care Of a Headband
You can hand wash the fabric headband or simply throw it in the washer. How often you clean it will depend on how frequently you wear the headband. But it’s a given that the ones you wear a lot will probably require more regular washes.
Clean the plastic and metal headbands with wipes or give them a polish once in a while. The metal ones might start to get rusty with time, in which case you might have to purchase a new one eventually.
Best Places to Buy a Headband
Anthropologie’s accessory section has a wide variety of stylish headbands, and they differ in style, color, and design. Some of them even feature pearls and rhinestones.
But, overall, their selection is pretty dandy! If you feel like you’re in your Gatsby era, head on over to Anthropologie right now, but be ready to splurge a little.
If you’d rather be more modest with your spending, then H&M is for you. Their selection isn’t as wide as Anthropologie’s, but they have lots of classic and traditional headbands you can purchase at affordable prices (like a black leather one). This is great if you’re just getting started with headbands.
Lululemon is an awesome option as well, especially if you’re looking for a headband you can wear with loungewear or athleisure. What’s so good about Lululemon’s headbands is that they are adjustable and they come in so many bright colors—which reminds us of the 80s!
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, the headband has been around for a very long time and has evolved through many eras. The types of headbands you can wear nowadays often reflect these older styles, or feature a classic look with a modern twist.
The headband is a fascinating accessory because, with all the styles available, you can surf through different decades with just one hair accessory.
We’ve also seen that you don’t have to be a member of the royal family to feel regal in your headband. A headband that suits your hairstyle and clothing style can easily become your favorite, go-to accessory, and enhance any of your outfits.
There are a few different styles you could opt for: classic, functional, boho, and a combination of all three. Which one you choose will depend on the type of look you’re going for (or not going for if you just want a basic headband).
The classic type of headband can sometimes feel like a mixed bag. There are many variations of this style that would be considered classic. They usually come in one color and sometimes include patterns. They also come as tiaras, so how to wear a headband becomes a matter of how dressy you want your accessories to be.
Of course, functional headbands, like the terry cloth ones, are great for the gym but also for just hanging out at home in your robe.
Boho headbands tend to be more occasion-focused, and are a perfect option when you need to dress up. Flower crowns are a good example of this, but so are the resin headbands we’ve already mentioned.
Keep in mind that you always have the option to make your headband completely your own, based on your personal style, so you can wear a flower crown to somewhere other than a music festival. Just as long as it feels like it fits comfortably, a headband is an everyday accessory!
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