Headbands are thought to make our hair grow faster and stronger by protecting it and keeping it moisturized.
However, headbands don’t change the rate at which your hair grows. Headbands are best at securing your hair and keeping it out of your face between washing.
Here’s some information on what headbands can do for your hair:
Here’s What Headbands Do for Hair:
Headbands will not help your hair grow faster, but they can help protect your hair and scalp and keep your hair healthy and hydrated. If you’re looking for an easy way to improve the condition of your hair, consider using a headband to keep it moisturized.
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Which Headbands are Best for Your Hair?
If you are looking for a great headband that keeps your growing hair out of your face but does the least damage, find one that is breathable.
Your hair and scalp’s health is directly tied to how much airflow you allow to your head. Cutting off oxygen from your scalp using a tight headband that doesn’t breathe will make your hair break off easier.
My favorite type of headbands that are not only secure but also breathable are the ones made from a combination of fabric and elastic. The elastic will help you to wear the headband comfortably on your head without it being too tight or slipping.
A lightweight fabric, like cotton or spandex, is made from fabric that is not woven together tightly. A looser weave in the fabric means more room for air to flow to your scalp.
Friction:
However, this doesn’t mean you should wear a headband daily. The longer you wear a headband, the more friction you create on top of your head.
This friction is created from the headband moving slightly across the crown of your head; no matter how tight it is, your headband will move no matter what. This is the type of friction that not only causes hair to break but will also stifle the amount of growth you will get.
While we suggest wearing a cloth headband that is flexible for your hair’s health, we strongly recommend limiting the amount of time you are wearing it. While other headbands, like plastic and metal ones, are also safe to wear, harder headbands create more friction and damage to the hair the longer you wear them.
Can Headbands Protect Your Hair?
When used the right way, certain headbands work to protect your hair, but overall, a hairband will not protect your hair from most damage and breakage.
A hairband does the opposite when it comes to protecting your luscious locks. However, certain situations require a headband to protect your hair from further damage.
Most notably, a headband can protect your hair while you are active or playing sports. Playing sports can damage hair, especially if you play a close-contact sport like soccer or lacrosse.
In the case of sports, wearing an elastic-style headband will keep your strands from getting tangled while playing and reduce the amount of sweat your hair absorbs.
Sweat can create build-up in your hair over time which, if not cleaned throughout, can make your hair stop growing in certain spots. This is because that build-up will eventually become a scab-like crust that completely stops the airflow to your scalp.
So, in this case, wearing a headband will defiantly protect your hair. Especially if you invest in a headband that is specially designed for sports that work to wick moisture away from your hair and scalp.
One headband that is specifically designed to protect your hair is a silk-style headband. Silk is one of the best materials for your hair because it is soft.
Since it is smooth, it will not catch or tangle your hair, leading to breakage. This is also the best way to not only protect your scalp but protect your hairstyle altogether.
Over time, using a protective headband for styling will reduce the hot hair styling you need to do, improving your hair’s quality and texture in the long run.
How Do Headbands Benefit Your Hair?
The number one way that a headband will benefit your hair is that it helps increase the time between hair washes.
It may be surprising to know that washing your hair frequently is very bad for your hair’s overall health. Washing your hair with shampoo removes dirt and excess product build-up from your scalp so that your hair can be cleaned and refreshed.
Did you know you shouldn’t wash your hair more than three times weekly?
It may sound gross, but the longer goes in between hair washes, the better your hair health will be. This is because shampoo not only removes dirt but also strips your hair of essential oils it needs.
Without these oils in your hair, your hair will be dull and dry. If you’re like me, your hair can get pretty greasy in between washes, and it can be hard to resist the urge to run to the shower. The solution is to use a headband.
Hair gets the greasiest right at the root, with the ends still feeling dry. A headband can cover your greasy roots, so you can hold off washing for an extra day or two.
Another benefit of a headband is to keep your hair out of your eyes. This is especially true if you are currently growing out bangs.
No matter how much we wash our hands, dirt and oil will always be on them. Wearing a headband to keep those strands in place will reduce the number of times you have to touch your hair. This will also reduce the times you need to wash your hair, so it is a major win-win!
Can Headbands Cause Hair Thinning/Loss?
Wearing a headband often can cause your hair to start thinning and, in severe cases, even hair loss.
As mentioned, this has much to do with the tension and friction on your hair. To know if your headband use is causing your hair to thin and fall out, look for the signs on your scalp.
First, you may notice that you are losing more stands than usual. This will be most notable on hair-washing days or when you detangle your hair. Next, you may notice thinning spots on the crown of your head where a headband would naturally sit.
Some early signs of hair thinning will show up right on your hairline. This is from your hair being pulled back constantly under the tension of an elastic headband.
If you worry that your sudden hair thinning is due to your headband, try giving your headband a rest for a couple of weeks. If you notice that your hair is starting to fill in again after giving the headband a rest, chances are it is indeed the headband causing damage.
Do Headbands Help Your Hair Grow Faster?
Because of the strong tension and pressure created on your scalp while using a headband, a headband will not make your hair grow faster. Even if you wear the headband as a protective style, your hair will grow slower if you frequently use one.
If your main hair goal is to grow your hair healthier and faster but still don’t want to give up on wearing a headband, there are some things you can do to reduce damage.
Once you reduce the damage done to your hair and scalp, it will grow much faster than before. The first thing to do is to limit the time you wear the headband. I would suggest limiting it to only a couple of times a week for a few hours at a time.
Secondly, you should also ensure to add as much moisture and health back into your hair once you remove the headband. Let your hair and scalp breathe and elevate your health using hair oil drops.
Some hair oils, like rosemary oil, actually work to not only nourish your scalp but also will make your hair grow fast.
A headband isn’t great for your hair doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy wearing one. Just make sure that you are checking in with the health of your hair and following its lead when it comes to knowing when to give the headbands a rest. Your hair will thank you for it.