Headbands

Headbands

From boldly colored headbands to brightly painted wood bangles, it is important to find a stylish way to keep your hair under control. Headbands are a fashion accessory with a purpose. A headband is a band of fabric or other material worn around the head as a decoration or to keep the hair or perspiration off the face.

Headbands generally consist of a loop of elastic material or a horseshoe-shaped piece of flexible plastic or metal. They come in assorted shapes and sizes and are used for both fashion and practical/utilitarian purposes. There are many materials used for headbands such as wood, leather, plastic, metal, fabric, hemp, teeth, human and animal hair, bone, and novelty materials. The leather headbands are usually glued onto a harder plastic headband, or they are hand-stitched. Plastic headbands, which are most common, can be wavy, straight or angled and come in many colours. Metal can be used to form and support leather headbands. Metal-only headbands may be plain or decorated, sometimes with precious jewels. Fabric headbands are comfortable because they do not dig into the head. They usually have an elastic band, so that the headband forms to the head. Toothed headbands have comb-like teeth that are connected to the top part of the headband. Their teeth ensure that the hair stays in place.

Headbands, or sweatbands, are worn around the forehead during physical activity to absorb sweat and keep it from reaching the eyes. Sweatbands are often made of a continuous loop of terrycloth, as it is a particularly absorbent fabric. Folded bandanas, usually knotted behind the head, also serve this purpose. Headbands are usually used for sports.

Headbands are a clothing accessory worn in the hair or around the forehead, usually to hold hair away from the face or eyes.

In the UK, Horseshoe-shaped headbands are sometimes called "Alice bands" after the headbands that Alice is often depicted wearing in Through the Looking-Glass.

In the early 20th century, wide headbands known as headache bands were very popular accessories in women's fashion. Their name, of course, results from the belief that the tight pressure they provided around the forehead could relieve or prevent headaches. The French called such a garment a bandeau (bandeaux, plural).

During the 1950s and 1960s, many glamorous young women in Britain and the US wore plastic headbands with the beehive hairstyle, or silk veils when driving.

After the Summer of Love of 1967, hippies wore tie dye and paisley bandanas as headbands.

Deely boppers were a fad in 1982. A deely bobber (also deeley bobber) is a novelty item of headgear comprising a headband to which are affixed two springy protrusions resembling the antennae of insects or of stereotypical little green men. These "antennae" may be topped with simple plastic shapes or more elaborate and fanciful decorations, such as mini pom poms or light emitting diodes.

In Japanese culture, hachimaki headbands may symbolise determination or devotion. Traditionally in Korea, warriors and members of military organizations such as the hwarang wore specialized headbands that kept hair firmly in place.

Novelty headbands can be used for holidays and may have decorations attached such as bunny ears, reindeer ears, Santa Claus hats and others. Headbands are often part of a larger fashion statement — they can be colour-coded and matched accordingly to one's outfit.

For a head to toe athletic look, add a fitness headband to your workout wardrobe. They are often designed with an lightweight & comfortable material to keep your hair in place and the sweat out of your eyes. Look for a sports headband that delivers all-day comfort and performance. Moisture-wicking properties deliver breathability and dryness, while anti-odor technology keeps your gear fresher, longer. Some will have an adjustable knot closure.

If you are looking for fitness tracker headbands be cautious to avoid the ones with the mind control feature.

You may want to also learn about hats and visors.

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