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The Workout Hair Dilemma: Stay-in-Place Headbands and Hair Ties That Stick

Unless you have a shaved head (in which case, rock it, girl!), you probably have at one time or another cursed your hair during a workout. From bangs that get in your face to headbands that slide (or, in my case, fly) right off to a ponytail that just will not stay tight, these are the problems we girls face. Problems that, let’s face it, totally distract us from what we should be doing: enjoying the heck out of our workouts and feeling awesome. So, to help with this, we decided to try a couple new products that promise to fix the workout-hair dilemma. Seeing that I have a freakishly small and difficult head to fit, it’s a tough order to fill. Here’s how she goes though…

bani-bandsBani Bands

As mentioned, I have a small head that workout headbands do not like. In fact, they fly off in protest after about three minutes of wear. (Yeah, I’ve timed it.) So when Bani Bands emailed us saying that its headbands don’t slip, are cute and have an adjustable length to fit both a child or an adult, I had, had, had to try them. Bani Bands sent us a headband from its Wideband Collection, and I quickly put it to the test.

First, I wore it around the house, which is normally enough to get one to slip. But this one? It stayed put! So I upped the slippage ante: I took it on a run. I had to adjust it a bit after 15 minutes, but it did not—I repeat did not—slip entirely off my head. And the inner velvet lining helped to absorb sweat. Nice little bonus there. Third, I put the Bani Band to the ultimate test: burpees and box jumps. And again, it performed well. I made it a good 10 minutes without having to adjust it. Ten minutes may not seem like a long time to people who don’t struggle with keeping workout headbands on, but for me and my oddly shaped head, it’s an eternity. (Workout headband minutes are kind of like dog years that way.)

From about $10 to $18, Bani Bands may not have totally solved my workout-headband-slippage problem, but they’re about the closest I’ve found without having my head ache from a headband that squeezed my noggin too tightly. Or deciding to just shave my head altogether. So, I’m declaring this one a victory. If you have a normal head, you should have no slipping issues!

fly-tiesFly Ties

I have to admit that I’m A-okay with the usual hair ties. The cloth-covered rubber ones that you have to buy in a pack of, like, 100 because you end up leaving them in bags, bathrooms, the gym and all rooms of your house. However, I get that they stretch pretty easily, can break (nothing worse than that happening at the gym!) and generally aren’t the cutest. And this is where Fly Ties come in. Fine Featherheads sent us a few of its wide elastic bands to try that are made of a softer material that doesn’t tug or damage your hair.

On first look at them, they were cute, for sure. But I wondered how well they’d stand up during a workout. But I was pleasantly surprised! I thought the material would be too slippery to hold a solid ponytail, but I was wrong. The Fly Ties held it up high and proud. They do stretch out a bit over time, but you simply just wrap the band around your hair another time or two—and even though I’ve stretched it probably to its max, I haven’t had a broken one yet. These come in super fun colors, look cute around your wrist and for about $8 for a four-pack, they’re an option to go more fashionable with your hair ties. And they work!

Now, I also tried the company’s Fly Bands. While they may work for some in yoga class or during workouts, they wouldn’t even stay on my head for five minutes when I was walking around my house. So, if you have headband slippage issues, these are not for you. But if you have the kind of head that headbands love (lucky!), they sure are cute.

Any other hard-to-fit heads out there? Do you wear workout headbands or other specific hair ties or products for workouts? Give us the hairy (or not so) truth! —Jenn

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Comments

8 Comments
  1. Beth says:

    Most headbands slip right off my head when I work out, so I have to be choosy about my headbands, too. The headbands that really work for me are BIC Bands (bicbands.com) in the 19″ size. (Their standard size is 20″, but you can leave a comment in your order and they’ll make a 19″ or 21″ headband for you if you request it.) I also really love lululemon’s Fly Away Tamer headbands, which have lots of grippy dots on the inside to prevent slipping.

  2. Stephanie says:

    I’ve recently picked up some Halo headbands (the wider style) and those stay put. But they are made of essentially ribbon (though there is an “undercoating”) so I mostly save those for less sweaty endeavors like yoga and pilates. I wear the cheap wide Goody bands I found at Target for my sweaty spin workouts.

    When I run long, I just wear a hat. (Also Halo, or else Road Runner Sports.)

  3. Deb E. says:

    I must have a hard-to-fit head! Wish there was some way to try these things on, or all headbands for that matter. I have so many that don’t fit–must find a way to re-purpose them since they don’t work for headbands.

  4. Gail says:

    For workouts, I really like Bondi Bands. They’re really wide and the solid color ones don’t budge at all, plus they’re really absorbent. The printed ones are made of Lycra and tend to slip a bit. I also have been known to just tie on an old bandanna, Guns n Roses style.

  5. Nancy says:

    I must have that headband, one of the problem that most girls face every work out is a messy and stubborn hair and that will absolutely be a great help.I have to get one!

  6. Kelli says:

    I have tried them all!! From Goody to the infamous Bic Bands nothing stays put on my head So I stick with bobby pins I so want to find one that will stay put! I may invest in the one you suggested though reluctantly

  7. Christina says:

    You all should try Clip’n Band at http://www.clipnband.com. The first and only headband with clips that grip. They have a 100% money back guarantee and they will even pay for return shipping if the headband doesn’t stay in place. They have a coupon code for 20% off right now. Use code cnbyt20 at checkout.

  8. Sarina says:

    I am a group fitness instructor that does everything from long runs to high intensity intervals and weight lifting. I have a few Lululemon headbands I like but some of them are a little wide and I don’t want to wear them out in the sun for the fear of developing nasty tan lines! So my favorite go-to headband is Sparkly Soul. I was introduced to their product at a prerace event and I underestimated how amazing those things are! I bought 2 of them and after over a year of wearing them on a regular basis, they still haven’t stretched out! I have extremely thick, soft hair so most other headbands stretch out and slip on my head. Not these bad boys! I highly recommend them!!

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