How to Make a Headband Stay in Place

Co-authored by Janet Miranda

Last Updated: November 21, 2022 References

Headbands are great for keeping your hair back, but not when they keep slipping back! If your headband keeps on sliding back on your head, there are a few things that you could do. If you're looking for just a quick fix, you could secure it with hairspray and bobby pins. If you want a more permanent fix, you could line the inside of the headband with puffy paint or Velcro.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Hairspray and Bobby Pins

1
Pull your hair up into a bun or ponytail. Brush your hair so that it's smooth and tangle-free, then gather it into a bun or ponytail. You'll be keeping your hair in this style throughout the day, so make it nice and neat.^{[1]
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- Create a mid-high or high bun or ponytail. Don't make a low bun or low ponytail.
- This method works the best for elastic headbands, but it may also work for silk scarves as well.
2
Apply a light misting of hairspray, then let it dry. Focus the hairspray on the top and sides of your head, where the headband will sit. Don't worry about your nape or the bun/ponytail itself.^{[2]
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- If you can, use a non-flexible, texturizing hairspray.^{[3]
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- No hairspray? Try dry shampoo, sea salt spray, or a bit of hair wax or pomade.
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3
Put the headband on. Pull the headband down over your head, then slide the front up back up so that it sits just behind your hairline. The rest of the headband should sit behind your ears and against the base of your skull.^{[4]
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- If you're using a silk scarf, place the knot on top of your head for a more secure hold. You may not even need to use bobby pins! You could also tie the knot at the back of your head to mix up your look.^{[5]
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4
Secure the headband with a bobby pin behind each ear. Slide the bobby pin through your hair so that the tips are pointing towards your face. You want the bobby pin to be pointing down, not up. This will keep the headband from riding back on your head.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 13 April 2021.}
- You need 1 bobby pin on each side of your head.
- Choose a bobby pin that matches your hair color so it will blend into your hair.^{[8]
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- Make sure that the wavy side of the bobby pin is facing down against your hair, and that the flat side is facing up.
5
Slide 2 more bobby pins through the back of the headband, making an X. Like with the first set of bobby pins, make sure that these are pointing down as well. This will keep the headband from riding up on your nape.^{[9]
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- You can skip this step if you feel that the headband is secure enough.
Expert Answer

Q

How can I keep the bobby pins from sticking out?

Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
Janet Miranda is a Professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, and the Founder of Be.NYLA. With over 15 years of experience, Janet specializes in makeup and hair for advertising, commercial, editorial, runway, special events, television, and videos. She was trained at Vidal Sassoon Academy and with top hair and makeup artists including MAC Cosmetics and Redken. Janet has worked five seasons of New York Fashion Week and one season on Project Runway. She continues to add brands to her growing client list including Armani Exchange, Neutrogena, and Pantene. Janet’s work has been featured on CBS, Brides Magazine, 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ireland Image Brides Magazine, and Elle Japan.

EXPERT ADVICE

Answer from Janet Miranda:

Buy bobby pins that match the color of your hair! That way they'll just sort of blend into your hair and they won't stick out nearly as much.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Puffy Paint to Elastic Headbands

1
Get an elastic headband. This method works on any type of stretchy, elastic headband. It can be the thick, workout headband made from stretchy jersey material, or it can be the skinny ribbon-like headband made from colored or printed elastic.
- You can try this method on non-stretchy, ribbon headbands that are connected with a small bit of elastic. If the headband is made from lace, use hot glue instead!
2
Flip the elastic inside-out so that the wrong side is exposed. If this is a wide, work-out headband, you might actually see a seam running down its length. If this is a colored or printed elastic headband, the color will be lighter or solid-colored on this side.
3
Draw a squiggly line with puffy paint across the elastic. This can be a smooth, wavy line or a sharp, zigzag line. Don't draw a straight line, however, or the paint will break when you put the elastic headband on.^{[10]
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- Match the color of the puffy paint to the elastic or to the printed design.
- Puffy paint is sometimes called "puff paint" or "dimensional fabric paint."
- If you can't find puffy paint, use hot glue instead. This is a great option for non-stretchy, lace headbands.
4
Let the paint dry, then do the other side. Your headband is circular, but you are working on it while it is flat. You just did 1 side, but now you have to do the other. This is easier than working in a full circle. Once the paint dries, just flip the headband over and do the other side.
- Make sure that the ends of the squiggly lines on the front and back of the headband match up.
- Puffy paint can take several hours to dry, so be patient. As it dries, it will look a little darker and flatter.
- If you 'e using hot glue, you only need to wait a few minutes. Hot glue sets up very quickly.
5
Wait for the paint to dry, then flip the headband right-side-out. The puffy paint or hot glue will act as a sort of rubber grip. When you put it on your head, it will create friction and catch onto your hair.^{[11]
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- Be careful not to stretch the elastic too much. If you pull too much on it, the puffy paint or hot glue may snap. It should stand up to pulling it over your head, however.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Gluing Velcro to Ribbon Headbands

1
Get a ribbon headband with an elastic closure. These types of headbands look like a strip of ribbon joined by the ends with about 4 inches (10 cm) of elastic. Do not use an elastic headband; the Velcro will prevent it from stretching.
- This method is not recommended for sheer or lace headbands because the Velcro will be visible. Use the puffy paint method, but with hot glue.
2
Purchase Velcro that's a little narrower than the ribbon. The Velcro can be any color, but black would work the best because it won't get dirty as fast. The exact width of the Velcro doesn't matter, as long as it is narrower than the ribbon.
- If you can get Velcro in multiple colors, match the color to the ribbon.
- If you can't find something narrower, get Velcro that's the same width instead.
- Avoid self-adhesive Velcro. The glue isn't very strong and it will create a sticky, gummy mess—not a good combination for hair!
3
Cut the Velcro so that it's the same length as the ribbon part. You don't have to measure the ribbon. Just hold 1 end of the Velcro against 1 end of the ribbon. Pull it across the top of the ribbon to the other end, then cut it.^{[12]
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- If your ribbon is crimped when it joins the elastic, subtract 1 inch (2.5 cm) from your Velcro. This way, the Velcro won't bunch up when you glue it in.
- Keep the scratchy, hook side of the Velcro. Set the soft, loop side for another project.
4
Hot glue the Velcro to the underside of the ribbon. Turn your headband inside out so that you can see the back of the ribbon. Working 1 inch (2.5 cm) at a time, apply hot glue to the back of the Velcro, and press it against the ribbon.
- Try to align the ends as best as you can. If you cut the Velcro 1 inch (2.5 cm) shorter, then start gluing it ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) from the end of the ribbon.
- If you don't have hot glue, use fabric glue instead. It will work just fine, but it will take longer to dry.
5
Turn the headband right-side-out and wear it. The Velcro will now act like the tiny hooks on a plastic headband. It will grab onto your hair, and help keep the headband in place!^{[13]
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- Hot glue dries almost instantly, so it should be ready by the time you finish gluing the Velcro down. Fabric glue will need about 15 to 20 minutes to dry, however.

Expert Q&A

Question

Why won't headbands stay on my head?

Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
Janet Miranda is a Professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, and the Founder of Be.NYLA. With over 15 years of experience, Janet specializes in makeup and hair for advertising, commercial, editorial, runway, special events, television, and videos. She was trained at Vidal Sassoon Academy and with top hair and makeup artists including MAC Cosmetics and Redken. Janet has worked five seasons of New York Fashion Week and one season on Project Runway. She continues to add brands to her growing client list including Armani Exchange, Neutrogena, and Pantene. Janet’s work has been featured on CBS, Brides Magazine, 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ireland Image Brides Magazine, and Elle Japan.

Janet Miranda

Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

It's probably either the size or style of headband. If it's too big for your head, obviously it won't stay put. So far as the style of headband, the more elastic it is, the easier it will be to place it in a way where it won't slide around.
Question

How do you secure a heavy headband?

Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
Janet Miranda is a Professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, and the Founder of Be.NYLA. With over 15 years of experience, Janet specializes in makeup and hair for advertising, commercial, editorial, runway, special events, television, and videos. She was trained at Vidal Sassoon Academy and with top hair and makeup artists including MAC Cosmetics and Redken. Janet has worked five seasons of New York Fashion Week and one season on Project Runway. She continues to add brands to her growing client list including Armani Exchange, Neutrogena, and Pantene. Janet’s work has been featured on CBS, Brides Magazine, 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ireland Image Brides Magazine, and Elle Japan.

Janet Miranda

Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Bobby pins are probably going to be your best bet. Just tuck them in your hair behind the headband to hold it in place.
Question

Do headbands go behind your ears?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Typically, yes, but some styles can be worn over the ears instead of behind them. For instance, winter ear warmer headbands or jogging headbands are often worn with the tops of the ears tucked under them.