hairband

Hairband refers primarily to a strip of material worn around the head to hold hair in place. It includes elastic bands that lie flat against the scalp, fabric headbands, and decorative variants made from metal, plastic, or fabric. Common materials are cotton, jersey, velvet, satin, and silicone-coated elastic. Designs range from functional sports bands to ornamental fashion pieces, with some aimed at minimizing hair snagging or reducing pressure on the scalp.

Hairbands serve practical purposes—keeping hair out of the face during work, sport, or daily activities—and are also worn as fashion accessories. They come in many styles, with considerations for comfort, fit, hair type, and activity. Maintenance can involve washing fabrics as directed and avoiding overstretching or overheating of elastic components to prolong usefulness.

The practice of securing hair with bands has ancient antecedents across various cultures, but modern elastic headbands gained prominence in the 20th century and became widespread for sports and fashion. In popular culture, the term hair band is also used to describe a subset of hard rock and heavy metal bands from the 1980s and 1990s, often associated with flamboyant fashion and long hair. Critics have sometimes used the term to distinguish image-driven acts from other subgenres, though musical diversity within the category was broad.

See also: headband, scrunchie, sweatband, hair metal.