16 Stunning Headband Hairstyles That Look Trendy & Stylish

Close your eyes and think of Blair Waldorf, the evil dictator of taste, and immediately you think of her classic headband look. Headbands can take any hairstyle from a subpar 3 to a flawless 10! In today’s post, we will discuss the best headband hairstyles you should try out.

Licensed hair stylist and owner of Twisted Scissors Salon, Jessica Shults says, “Not only are headbands a fun and trendy accessory, but they serve a multiple of purposes. I grab a headband whenever I don’t want to wash my hair to conceal my dirty hair with a fashion statement! They also keep hair out of my face, which is really helpful. Anybody that loves accessories loves that headbands are trending again!”

So, dial up your hairdos with these stunning headbands. Keep reading to check out the different ways you can wear a headband to add oomph to your hair the Blair Waldorf way!

Before You Get Started

• As stylish as headbands are, they also have a bad reputation for snagging hair and leading to breakage around the hairline.
• If you have curly and coily hair, use only silk or satin headbands. They look stylish and reduce friction and knotting.
• Match your headbands with your outfit for a well-rounded look. If it keeps sliding, secure it with a couple of bobby pins behind the ear.

1. White Pearl Headband With Open Hair

Pearls are simply impossible to resist, especially if you are dressing for an elegant affair. Jessica Alba looked stunning at a gala with her medium-length tresses parted down the middle and pushed back with a pearl headband.

2. Updo With A Thin Headband

Lupita Nyong’o wore a super skinny bejeweled headband on her updo with a gorgeous floor-length gown to the Oscars to create a simple yet glamorous look. She looked ethereal and nothing less than a modern-day goddess!

3. Boho Updo With A Floral Headband

Everyone adores Keira Knightly. And who doesn’t love flowers? Keira added a bright red floral crown to her boho hairstyle for a glamorous movie premiere. The combination of the fun and romantic hairstyle with the bold floral accessory added the perfect touch of sophistication to her look.

4. Messy Hair With A Thin Black Headband

Sarah Chalke’s messy and voluminous hair with a timeless minimalist headband at a fashion event in Hollywood is proof that headbands work for every type of outfit and occasion. It complements her black dress and diamond earrings to create a modern classic look.

5. Woven And Jeweled Headband

Salma Hayek wore a wide open-weave headband with jewels studded all over it, and she finished off the look with a braided faux headband at the crown of her shiny hair. The dazzling addition to her classic bun instantly glammed up her attire.

6. Sleek Bun With Embellished Headband:

For the ultimate princess style, wear a sleek bun with a double-row embellished headband. Perfect for a night out with the girls, a formal occasion or a hot date, all you need to pull this headband off is a Sasha Luss type of a hairstyle and natural makeup.

7. Ponytail With Headband:

Thinking about skipping your brunch because of a bad hair day? There is an easy trick to solve your problem; just grab your hair, pull it into a low ponytail, and add a gold headband to it. Make it trendy like Johanna Klum, who rocks a loose and messy hairstyle with a headband.

8. Full Fringe Bun With Intricate Headband:

If you have fringes, you know headbands were made for you, right? For this sophisticated look, perfect for a festival or a girl’s night out, keep your bun undone and the rest of your bijoux to a minimum. You could side sweep your long bangs, but for that extra impact and romantic look, try rocking the headband behind your fringe à la Dianna Agron.

9. Long Bob With Gold Headband:

Long bob, floral dress, and a distant sun headband—go all edgy and glamorous with this chic look. Take a tip from Alex Smith-Kirk and keep the rest of your look simple; avoid caked-on makeup, flashy clothes, and dangly accessories altogether.

10. Long Hair With Floral Headband:

If your hair is long, the right headband is a no-brainer addition to make it glamorous. In Zara Martin’s case, she chose a big, chunky, floral headband that lies flat against her head. So, if you are looking for headband styles for long hair, make sure the color of the accessory matches the color of your dress or contrasts with your hair color. This will help your look really stand out!

Did You Know?

The first use of headbands can be traced back to approximately 475 BC when Ancient Romans and Greeks wore wreaths made of silver and gold for special or important occasions.

11. Wavy Hair With Boho Head Chain:

Proving that more can be sexy, Sarah Ellen pairs her glittery dress with a sparkling bohemian head chain. Perfect for any occasion, we love how the bedazzled piece contrasts with her tousled waves; a style that adds a certain elegance to a simple hairdo. #BohoStyle

12. Braided Bun With Tiara:

Ah-mazing!

Actress Emmy Rossum matches her simple braided bun, impeccable makeup, subtle eyes and shimmery lips with a gorgeous headpiece. Since the tiara is totally glam, the actress matched it with a simple braided bun to let the jeweled headpiece take the spotlight.

13. Braided Updo With Knotted Headband:

A stretchy knotted headband is perfect for an edgy, downtown girl like Katy Perry. Perfect for straight hair, the singer looks stunning with her braided updo at the 28 Annual Aria Awards. A great style to show off your flawless skin, the headband enhanced the embellished frock giving her hairdo an edgy and chic focal point.

14. Angular Bob With Leather Headband:

Ashlee Simpson’s leather headband is a simple way to infuse a bit of fun into her edgy bob. The black headband is fresh against her blonde hair, and she pairs it with a cute top and leather skirt that never go out of style.

15. Beehive With Fabric Headband:

Use a bandana or dig a fabric to try and create this easy look: Cut a long fabric to wrap around your messy beehive twice. Position it at the back of the head, pull the sides up behind your ears, and tie it at the back. Get inspired by this model at the Lena Hoschek show, who paired the style with natural looking makeup – dewy skin, doe eyes, peachy lips – for a gorgeous finishing touch.

Quick Tip

For summer, you can wear headbands made of bamboo, polyester, terry cloth, or velvet to absorb sweat and keep them light. During winter, you can opt for wool or fleece to keep your ears warm.

Elly Brown, a YouTuber, shares five quick and easy headband tutorials or looks. She provides step-by-step tutorials for each look, emphasizing simplicity and quickness. Elly says, “I have been obsessed with headbands. They are so in, it’s trendy, it’s cute, it helps with not having to wash your hair so much and there are so many different ways to wear them. And I really really really hope that these don’t go out of style so soon because I have too many headbands and it would be such a waste (i).”

16. Dutch Braid With Floral Headband

If you want to give a twist to your regular Dutch braid, add a floral headband to it. This will create an illusion of height while giving life and dimension to your braids. To create this look: Divide your hair into two sections from ear to ear. Put a headband in the middle and start Dutch braiding the front portion. Braid it from one side to the other and pin the ends behind. Braid the second section and put it over the other shoulder. The elegant hairstyle prevents short hair from coming onto your face and effortlessly accessorizes your hairstyle.

Infographic: How To Wear A Headband With Short Hair

Short hair might be cool and fun. However, in order to liven up your image, it may be time to get more creative. You can wear a lovely headband in a variety of ways. Learn about how to wear a headband with short hair in the easiest ways possible. Check out the infographic below.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Do headbands make you look younger?

Yes, hair accessories, such as headbands or hairbands may make you appear younger when styled correctly.

How do you wear headbands with thin hair?

You can wear scarf headbands or boho headbands on thin hair as they can provide coverage for areas where hair is sparse. You can also use them over updos to create an illusion of volume.

Are headbands coming back in style?

Yes, headbands are making a big comeback at fashion shows and on celebrities.

Can headbands be worn with short hair?

Yes, narrow and chic headbands can be worn with short hair without throwing the look out of balance.

Can an older lady wear a headband?

Older women can sport sleek and non-glittery headbands to add glamor and chic to their outfits.

Who started the headband trend?

The headband trend was set by the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly in the 1950s.

Was this article helpful?

The following two tabs change content below.

• Reviewer
• Author
• Editor
• Fact-checker

Jessica ShultsLicensed Hairstylist

   

Jessica is an expert hairstylist with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in all areas of hair color and is exceptionally skilled at balayage and best-in-class gray blending techniques. After two decades of hairstyling, she launched Twisted Scissors Salon, a full-service hair salon. Jessica loves creating elegant, beautiful hairstyles, and she cherishes the friendships she has made with her...more

Jyotsana RaoBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres. When this social media junkie isn't stalking the world of fashion...more

Madhumati ChowdhuryAssociate Editor

Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease. She graduated in English Literature from Jadavpur University, West Bengal. Her educational background lends a critical perspective and depth to her...more

Aparna HarryBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Aparna Harry is a beauty and lifestyle content writer with over three years of experience in writing for different genres. She has a master’s degree in English Literature from The English And Foreign Languages University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Mysore. Her background in teaching in high schools coupled with her passion for storytelling has...more