How To Wear a Headband: 19 Hairstyles

If there’s one thing we love, it’s the way a hair accessory can instantly upgrade your hairstyle with minimal effort. And one of our go-to accessories is none other than a headband, of course! Headband hairstyles work in your favor to camouflage hair color in need of a touch-up and oily roots—not to mention they’re super cute for day-to-day wear. If you aren't sure how to rock this OG hair accessory, you’ve come to the right place. Here, learn how to wear a headband with the following 19 headband styles.

#1: SOCK BUN

Shape your hair into a perfect donut with the help of a sock bun. After you’ve created your bun, slip on your headband of choice, which will upgrade your ‘do while simultaneously disguising any flyaways and baby hairs.

#2: PRETZEL BUN WITH PIECE-Y STRANDS

If you love the idea of revamping the classic bun, we have just the right style in mind. The pretzel bun with piece-y strands will surely meet your standards. It’s equal parts flirty and elegant and works in your favor to check all of the style boxes.

Start by gathering your strands into a high ponytail and twist the length of your hair. Next, you want to wrap the twisted length around the base of the ponytail to form a bun. Secure with bobby pins. Spritz some shine spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Precious Oil Satin Hairspray, over your mane, place a bedazzled headband on top, and you’re all set.

#3: LOOSE WAVES

Amp up your bohemian vibes by pairing loose waves with a lace headband. Get the look with the help of a large hair waver. To start, spritz your strands with a heat protectant, like the  L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Straight Iron Heatspray Part your hair into sections that are two to three inches in size. Take one section and sandwich your locks between the hair waver plates to create your desired texture. Next, fluff your strands, slip on your headband, and rock your boho ‘do.

#4: TOUSLED WAVES

For those looking to take a sultry approach to headband hairstyles, consider giving timeless tousled waves a try. It’s a fabulous option for almost any occasion on your agenda that will turn heads with ease. How to wear a headband with waves is easy. First, spritz damp hair with a texturizing spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT High Lift Creation Spray. Then, reach for a hair pomade or paste, like the L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Overworked Putty. Take a small amount of the hair putty and work it through your mane, shaping your strands in different directions. Place your headband and finish up with a touch of shine spray to complete your look.

#5: FISHTAIL BRAID

There’s almost no better way to step outside-of-the-box than with an intricate fishtail braid. Once your woven pattern is in place, take the look up a notch by throwing on a headband of your choice (perhaps a braided one to complement the hairstyle). If you’re rusty on your braiding skills, check out How To Do a Fishtail Braid.

#6: BEEHIVE

If retro headband hairstyles are your forte, the beehive will not disappoint. This look offers the perfect dose of ‘60s nostalgia; it’s all about adding volume to your hair to score major height. Here’s how to get the look.

STEP #1: START WITH FRESHLY WASHED HAIR

When it comes to achieving beautiful volume, you want to start with a clean mane. Cleanse and condition your strands with a volumizing hair-care system like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Volume Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Volume Conditioner. Rinse thoroughly and towel-dry your strands.

STEP #2: REACH FOR HEAT PROTECTANT

Once you’ve finished washing your hair, it’s time to prep your strands for heat-styling with a heat protectant. We love the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BLOW DRY IT Thermal Smoother Cream, which works to smooth hair and protect your strands from heat damage. Apply a quarter-sized amount to your hair before reaching for your blow-dryer.

STEP #3: PUMP UP THE VOLUME

Now that your hair is dry, it’s time to amp up the volume. Grab a rattail comb and create a medium-sized, horizontal part at the top of your head. Clip the bottom section of your hair away. Using the comb, tease the underneath of the top section of hair and smooth that section over the rest of your strands to create your beehive. Use a few bobby pins to secure your hair, then release the bottom layer. Place a thin headband over your head, being careful to keep your volume intact.

STEP #4: USE A STRONG-HOLD SPRAY

To ensure that your teased beehive stays in place, pick up a strong-hold hairspray, like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold. Shake the hairspray and mist evenly over your mane.

#7: DUTCH PIGTAILS

Dutch pigtails may seem like a blast from the past, but they are trendy in a whole new light nowadays—especially when paired with a beautiful headband.

#8: DUTCH BRAID

Speaking of Dutch braids, you can totally make a statement without opting for pigtails. That’s right; a classic straight back braid is a great way to rock a beautifully woven pattern that doesn’t require much fuss. Not to mention, adding a headband into the mix will up the ante.

#9: SLEEK AND STRAIGHT

If polished and put-together hairstyles are what you’re after, sleek strands with a headband are just the ticket. This hairstyle will keep flyaways at bay while allowing your sleek, straight hair to cascade down your back. Consider it a win-win. Head on over to our article, Super-Straight Strands Are In: Here's How To Get Straight Hair, for a step-by-step routine.

#10: MESSY BUN

Picture this: You run out the door and throw your hair into a messy bun. We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve overslept or simply can’t be bothered to spend extra time on your hair, putting on a headband can take your messy bun from rushed to looking planned in less than a minute. Now, that’s what we call smart hair-styling.

#11: LOW TEXTURED BUN

Take your bun style to the next level by flaunting your natural texture with a low textured bun. A low bun with a headband will work in your favor since it’s a foolproof option that keeps your strands stylishly tucked away.

STEP #1: REACH FOR CURL MOUSSE

To get the look, start by working a curl mousse, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle CURVE IT Elastic Curl Mousse evenly through your strands, making sure to scrunch each section to build your curls, then let your hair air dry.

STEP #2: CREATE A PONYTAIL

Once fully dry, gather your strands into a ponytail and secure with a hair elastic.

STEP #3: FORM YOUR BUN

Next, wrap the length of the ponytail around its base to form a bun and secure with bobby pins.

STEP #4: SEAL THE DEAL

Finish up by putting on a headband and giving your hair a mist of hairspray.

#12: LOW CURLY PONYTAIL

Let’s stick with curly hair for a moment. If you love the idea of keeping your hair off of your face but want to flaunt gorgeous spirals, a low curly ponytail will fit the bill. Start by applying curl mousse to damp strands. Once your hair is fully dry, brush it toward the back of your head. Gather your hair in a ponytail, fluff your strands, and put on a headband. Lock your look in place with a strong-hold spray.

#13: HIGH SLEEK PONYTAIL

Classic headband hairstyles are a style win, and the high sleek ponytail will always rise to the occasion. It’s versatile, super easy to style, and will complement your everyday beauty looks perfectly. Best of all, you can pull this look together in little to no time. Head on over to our article, How To Create a Sleek Ponytail, to bring this hairstyle to life.

#14: NATURAL CURLS

If you can’t stop swooning over curly headband styles, natural curls will certainly earn your interest. It’s perfect for all curly textures and will call attention to your mane. All you need to do is wash and condition your hair with a moisturizing hair-care system like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Conditioner. Once complete, add a touch of mousse to damp hair to amp up your texture. Scrunch your strands and let your hair air-dry. Once dry, add your favorite headband into the mix for a flattering finish.

#15: BOHO PIXIE CUT

To spice up short hair with a headband, a boho pixie cut will be your hairstyle match. This look features stunning tousled strands that can easily highlight your texture and frame your face for an unforgettable look. Start off by applying one or two pumps to damp hair, then scrunch and let air-dry.

#16: SIDE PART TWIST OUT

It’s time that we introduce you to the side part twist out. This popular trend gives your mane a gorgeous wavy pattern without the need for any heat tools, making it one of our favorite headband hairstyles for natural hair. Get the look by using a hair gel, like the L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Clean Gel. Start with a side part and use a dime-sized amount of hair gel to smooth the front section of your part. Separate the rest of your twist out mane with oiled fingertips to turn up the volume.

#17: BLOWOUT WITH BANGS

It’s hard to resist a classic blowout, especially when you pair it with a gorgeous fringe and hair accessory. Not to mention, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn’t love shiny and bouncy locks. Check out our article, How To Blow Out Your Hair At Home, for all the details.

#18: HIGH PUFF

Another way to hop on the headband hairstyles wave when you have natural hair is to flaunt a high puff. It’s a trendy option that allows your textured strands to shine while framing your face. All you need to do is add a touch of hair gel to your roots. Brush your hair toward the center of your head, and create a ponytail. Fluff your curls, style your edges, and put a glitzy headband in place.

#19: PIN-UP CURLS

Last but certainly not least, we have gorgeous pin curls to swoon over. A fashionable choice for anyone with a black-tie event on their calendar, pin curls offer a sophisticated and elegant vibe that’s simply unmatched. To start, you’ll want to create sections that are about an inch in size. Take the end of one of the sections, tuck your hair around two of your fingers, and roll up until you reach the roots. Secure with a bobby pin.

Continue the process of rolling and pinning sections of hair until all of your hair is pinned up. Wrap your hair with a silk scarf to help bring these heatless overnight curls to life sans any frizz. Once dry in the morning, remove the scarf and put a thin, sparkly headband in place.

HOW TO MAKE A HEADBAND

Now that you know how to wear a headband, you may be wondering if it’s possible to make one. Spoiler alert: It is! And—bonus—it’s super simple, too. Here are three ways to make a headband in case you don’t have one on hand.

Option #1: Use a ribbon. The ribbon that you have lying around will save the day. A silky strand is the perfect material to make a DIY headband. Cut the strand to an appropriate length and tie it around your head. You can leave a bow on top for a feminine touch or slide your tied ends to the back of your head for a seamless look.

Option #2: Use a scarf. You can also use a scarf as a makeshift headband. Just steer clear of ones with thicker fabric, like wool, and opt for the lighter, slightly shorter in length ones you have in your wardrobe. Wrap the scarf around your head and tie it at the nape of your neck.

Option #3: Use a piece of fabric. If you plan on visiting a craft store, you can easily customize your DIY headband by picking up the fabric of your choice to make your headband. After choosing your favorite pattern, material, and color, get it cut slightly longer than you think you’ll need—it’s always better to have too much to work with than not enough. Wrap the fabric around your head and tie at the nape of your neck.

If you have a sewing machine and a stretchy fabric, you can also place a pin where the ends of the fabric meet, then sew to create a head wrap. Easy, right?

Next up: If you love the idea of hair accessories, we have plenty of ways to play with them in your hair-styling routine. Switch things up with our article, How To Wear a Barrette.