Inside Allure: Five New Ways to Wear a Headband

Headbands have been a hairstyle for centuries, so it's hard to call them a trend. Their appeal is that they work on all hair types; no one can really mess the look up; and, with a little bit of creativity and styling, a very simple headband can be truly stunning.

Plastic

A plastic headband about an inch and a half to two inches wide is perfect for a bob or hair above shoulder length. Brush hair out smoothly and push the headband straight back without parting your hair. It's a chic '60s-mod look—Brigitte Bardot did it well.

Wire Mesh

Every season, a fashion show introduces a great new headband. One I particularly loved was at Bottega Veneta's spring show (Macy's carries a similar style). It looks like a wiry, handmade mesh headband; it's so interesting, you really don't have to do anything else to your hair—just slip it on. If you want to dress it up a little, twist your hair into a loose bun at the nape of the neck first.
Wrap

Goody makes black wrap headbands that are two inches wide, like the one Janet Jackson wore in her "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" video. That's one of my all-time favorite looks—a teased French twist in back with this headband in front. First, push the headband to just behind the hairline, then pull out any bangs or short layers and push them to one side. Gather the rest of your hair into a big French twist. You can anchor the headband with a bobby pin behind each ear.

Sunglasses

Most women use sunglasses as a headband without thinking, but a little effort makes a big difference. First, get a fluffy blowout with large, loose waves. Part the hair in the middle, and push a pair of big plastic glasses straight back to the middle of the head. If you do it right, it's a sexy '70s look. Plastic glasses work best because the nose bridge won't get tangled in the hair, and the arms won't crease the layers around the face.

Elastic

Push two thin elastic bands onto your head, the first an inch from the hairline and the second an inch behind that. Tease the hair behind the bands and twist it into a bun (à la Jennifer Garner), or wear it down (as Bardot did with one wide band). The smoothness in front balances the roughness in back.

Source: Allure.com (http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_headbands)
Date: December 2008
Author: Chris McMillan