15 Headband Hairstyles for an Effortless and Instantly Elevated Look
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Headbands are here to stay. This year’s rise of quiet luxury—aka elevated minimalism—brought with it a yearning for clean lines and classic touches, the sweet and chic headband among them. One part off-duty staple (think Bella Hadid), one part classic Americana (think Carolyn Bessette Kennedy), and one part red carpet queen (think Lupita Nyong’o), the humble headband is a slide-on signal of sophistication. It’s also accessible and universal, stylishly supplementing virtually any hair texture and style.
Related: 25 Outfits That Look Even Better With a Headband
User-friendliness helps, too. “What I really love about headbands is that they can dress up any look and add a bit of flare to a simple style,” says hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. “If you don’t have the time to do your hair for an event or night out, adding a headband is a fun and chic way to elevate the look.” If Blair Waldorf taught us anything, it’s that a headband is nothing if not a modern crown, and so a reminder to keep your head held high.
Meet Our Expert
Andrew Fitzsimons is a celebrity hairstylist to stars like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez.
Here, 15 celebrity headband hairstyles and the accessories you need to achieve them.
Padded Headband
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Sabrina CarpenterSabrina Carpenter’s trademark banged blonde features enough volume to render accessories superfluous, but this padded black headband lends to her look. “One of my favorite ways to incorporate a headband is to add it to when your hair is down, leaving a few front pieces out for a playful look,” says Fitzsimons. In this case, Carpenter’s swooped and separated bangs are just the ticket. Shop a similar style below.
Cloth Headband
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Whether donned as a fitness accessory or a mark of elevated athleisure, the classic cloth headband is unquestionably cool. Bella Hadid takes the accessory to the next level by pairing it with a slicked-back knot and monochromic accompaniments, satin scruncy, and diamanté details alike. Shop a similar style below.
Barely-There Headband
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Lupita Nyong’o has mastered the art of the occasion-worthy headband—and that of subtlety. This skinny black option is effective because of its minimalist nature, an ideal and seamless addition to any preferred hairstyle. Shop a similar style below.
Leather Headband
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Since the beginning of her recent sartorial renaissance—thanks in part to stylist Jamie Mizrahi—Jennifer Lawrence has relied on various iterations of the classic black headband as a staple accessory. The look lends to her polished appearance. “If you want to wear your hair down but out of your face, the headband is the perfect accessory,” says Fitzsimons. Shop a similar style below.
Black Cloth Headband
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A ‘60-inspired style becomes even more glamorous with the help of a wide fabric headband. Janelle Monae’s swath of black plays up her kittenish liner and helps to break up a tonal honey blonde beehive, the simple addition pulling the entire look together. Shop a similar style below.
Related: 30 Blonde Celebrities to Put on Your Hair Color Mood Board
Gemstone Headband
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Leaning into a saccharine beauty moment can sometimes elicit the most striking results. Sydney Sweeney’s soft springtime look is punctuated by a headband comprised of two rows of sparkling gems, the structural headband serving to keep her blonde lengths in place while delivering welcome shine. Shop a similar style below.
Medallion Headband
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Danai Gurira is a master of the eye-catching mane moment. In this case, her sparkling headband is about form over function, the circlet offering a dose of delicate shimmer to her coiffed curls. Shop a similar style below.
Embellished Padded Headband
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Helen Mirren relies on standout hair looks for the red carpet. A padded, crystal-encrusted headband acts as a modern crown for the Dame’s regal beauty, all while insisting that pretty, playful accessories are a forever thing. Shop a similar style below.
Radiant Crown
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Who said a headband can’t also be a tiara? Channel your inner royal a la Amandla Stenberg with a delicate metallic headband scattered with stars, either worn pushed into lengths or positioned across the forehead to create a celestial crown. Shop a similar style below.
Wide Cloth Headband
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The cloth headband may seem like a humble accessory, but a few styling maneuvers ensure the piece belongs in your evening rotation. Nicola Peltz-Beckham counters the casual nature of the band with sleek lashes, liner, and lengths, the headband worn over ears to keep the moment polished. Shop a similar style below.
Diamanté Headband
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Old World romance benefits from a touch of sparkle. Emily Ratajkowski’s Renaissance-inspired updo featured enough braids and let-loose lengths to stand alone, but a duet of diamanté strands woven through the crown turns the style extra ethereal. Shop a similar style below.
Red Ribbon Headband
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Alexa Chung has always walked the line between cool girl and twee, and her choice in headbands is representative of said balance. A padded crimson sateen band is finished in a structural bow, the accessory a fantastic choice for livening up a holiday party or a particularly dull Monday morning. Shop a similar style below.
Related: Helen Mirren’s Shoes Featured the Darling but Divisive Detail That All the Cool Girls Are Wearing
Bow-Bedecked Headband
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Elle Fanning understands soft, romantic styling, and her pink beribboned headband provides the perfect finishing touch. Make like Fanning and go full ‘60s, or slide a blush-toned band on with a minimalist ensemble for a touch of twee. Shop a similar style below.
Gold Detail Headband
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A black headband adorned in gold emblems and medallions feels sumptuous. Add to that gentle waves, luminous skin, and a rose-pressed lip, and you have a seasonless beauty look that demands day-to-night wear. Shop a similar style below.
Avant-Garde Headband
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Sarah Jessica Parker is never one to shy away from a style statement or a hair accessory (see her collaboration with Lele Sadoughi), and this avant-garde headband is no exception. Though this assemblage of barrettes is truly unique, any headband that strikes a soft yet sculptural chord is sure to steal the spotlight. Shop a similar style below.
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