All the cool girls are wearing chic headbands right now—as a beauty editor, I'm obsessed with these 10 styles

I'm calling it: headbands are back. Okay, I know they never really went away, but right now they’re everywhere, and I'm telling you they're the single most versatile hair trends out there. 

There are more ways to wear a headband—and more types—than you probably think. Plain black ones, padded ones, embellished ones, bouclé ones and many more, each giving an entirely new feel to an otherwise minimal hairstyle. That’s not the only reason we love them though. Headbands are an incredibly easy way to elevate any hair look, no matter your hair type or style. 

Ahead of the festive season and the New Year, here are 10 ways to incorporate a headband into your next look. Minimal effort, maximum impact (which just so happens to be our 2024 mantra). Need even more inspo? Check out our low-maintenance haircuts.

1. Plain elasticated headband 

Many of us never thought we’d see the return of the plain elastic headband but it’s here and it’s actually kind of great. Apart from looking cute, it’s one of the easiest styles to do, it scrapes hair off the face and it hides greasy roots. This is the ultimate morning-after-a-late-night style that looks chic and minimal, requiring very minimal effort. If black isn't your shade of headband choice, try the equally chic white style. 

2. Padded headband 

A classic that’ll never go out of style is the padded headband, which many of us like to get out for the festive period. There are a bunch of shades to choose from when it comes to padded headbands, as well as materials like velour and satin. You can also go plain or choose one with a bunch of embellishments, depending on how much you want to dial up your hairstyle. 

3. Embellished headband 

If you’re pushing the boat out and want to add some sparkle to a hairstyle, an embellished headband is the way to go. There are endless types of bejewelled styles to go for but we particularly love this green beaded headband Bel Powley wore in September. There are also great sparkly ones for the festive season. 

4. Boucle headband 

And you thought you loved bouclé chairs the most? Nope, this is your new favourite way to wear the material. Fluffy, cosy and an ideal winter accessory. Pair it with your fluffiest jacket and bold pair of earrings. 

5. Plastic headband 

Another classic is the plain plastic headband, which although simple, looks incredibly chic. We particularly love it worn with bright blonde hair in a side parting. 

6. Chain headband 

If you like your hair accessories to be an extension on your jewellery, try a chain headband. We love both a thicker chain and this thinner one in a double headband. The best part is there are a bunch of different affordable chain headbands to experiment with. 

7. Patterned headband 

We love a headband that quite literally is a work of art with various patterns and prints. This takes any simple outside up a notch and is the only accessory you'll need. 

8. Neon headband 

In 2024, we’ll see many more neon headbands as we embrace bigger and better; taking the plain black elastic headband a step further. Anyone else getting Barbie vibes? Either way, we're obsessed. 

9. Double headband 

Why have one headband when you can have two? These looks feature two delicate headbands in one that add double the elegance. We particularly love this pearl headband that's both delicate yet impactful. Oh, and these styles are particularly good for those with thicker hair.

10. Toothcomb headband 

Now this is really taking us back. Yep, toothcomb headbands are back and honestly? We don't remember them looking so good back in the day. This is a perfect headband to use if you want to keep things fairly low-key and don't want to spend ages on your hair. It's another one that's perfect for concealing greasy roots, too.