How to Wear a Scarf

Co-authored by Hannah Park

Last Updated: December 29, 2021 References

As soon as September hits, scarf season comes around. Whether you're wearing a scarf to be for warmth or style, there are dozens of ways to tie it. Try it around your neck, in your hair, or one of several other ways for a unique new look.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wearing Your Scarf Around Your Neck

1
Wrap it in a simple loop. Of one of the most basic and attractive ways of wearing a scarf is just wrapping it in a loop around your neck.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 21 February 2019.} Wrap the scarf around your neck to create a single loop, with the tail ends loosely draped in the front. Pull on the loop a bit to loosen it up and create a more casual appearance. If you’re trying to beat the cold, you can wrap the scarf multiple times around your neck.
2
Make a knotted loop. For a slightly more intricate play on a basic loop, knot the tail ends together after wrapping your scarf around your neck once or twice.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 21 February 2019.} Loosen up the knot so that it doesn’t fit too tightly, and so the ends lay better. If you want, you can twist the ends into the loop to hide them completely or you can leave them to hang down.

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3
Create a hacking knot. If you don’t want to worry about your scarf becoming un-looped but still want something basic, wrap your scarf in a hacking knot. Fold it in half length-wise, and then drape this over your neck. Pull the two tail ends through the loop you just created and adjust the fabric to flow well over your body.
4
Make a figure-8 knot. Take the hacking knot a step further to create a figure-8 knot. Fold your scarf in half and drape it around your neck. Take a single tail and pull it through the loop draped on the other side of your neck. Then twist the loop 180 degrees to create a second loop, and pull the second tail end through that. Pull apart the fabric and adjust the way it sits on your chest.^{[3]
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5
Try doing a scarf braid. If the figure-8 scarf isn’t quite enough for you, continue the process to ‘braid’ your scarf. Create a hacking knot around your neck, and pull a single tail end through the loop. Then, twist the loop 180 degrees to form a second loop. Pull the second tail end through this loop, and then twist the loop another 180 degrees to create a third loop. Continue this pattern until you run out of fabric to braid.^{[4]
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6
Tie your scarf into a circle scarf. Take the hassle out of dangling scarf fringe by making your scarf into an infinity scarf. Lay your scarf out flat on a table, and fold it in half lengthwise. Tie each set of corners together (and if your scarf has fringe, tie the centers together) to create a large loop. Then wrap this around your neck with the ties along your nape. If the scarf is long enough, double up the loop to create multiple layers and to make it a bit shorter.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 21 February 2019.}
7
Chain knot your scarf. This style goes well with a buttoned-up blazer or jacket over the top. Wrap your scarf around your neck with both tail ends in the front. Tie them together in a knot at your preferred height, and then knot the ends again. Continue knotting them until you run out of fabric and are left with a long ‘chain’ of fabric.
8
Make a mock double knot. Place your scarf around your neck so that both the tails are in the front, draped across your chest. Adjust the scarf so that one of the ends is slightly longer than the other. Tie the longer end into a knot on itself, but don’t pull it tight. Then, slide the end of the other tail through the center of the knot you just formed. Move the knot up or down to your liking.
9
Tie your scarf in a half-bow. Wrap your scarf around your neck so that one side is twice the length of the other. Wrap the longer end around the shorter one a complete time to create a loop. Then wrap it around the short end again, and pull it through the neck hole from the center of the end. Picking it up from the center should create a small, flat-ish loop that can be pulled and draped over the shorter (now longer) end of the scarf. The tail end of the loop will be hiding behind it.
10
Tie your scarf in a complete bow. Wrap your scarf around your neck with both tail ends in the front. Loosely tie these ends in a regular knot in the front, and then follow the traditional bunny-ear method of tying a bow. Keep the bow big and loose for the most casual appearance.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing Your Scarf in Your Hair

1
Wear your scarf as a bandana. This style works particularly well with a square scarf. Lay your scarf out flat and drape it over your head with the tail ends falling down your back. Then tie the tail ends together (under or over your hair, as you like) in a tight knot. If the tails are very long, you could additionally wrap them around the base of a ponytail or braid them into your hair.
2
Create a turban headband. Lay your scarf out flat and roll or fold it up into a long, narrow strip. Wrap it around your hair so that the tail ends are above your forehead. Then, tie the tails together in a tight double knot. Tuck or pin the tail ends underneath the rest of the head wrap. Square scarves work well for this style of headband.^{[7]
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3
Tie your scarf in a bow around your hair. Put your hair in an updo or braid depending on your style preferences. Then, wrap a scarf made out of a thin material (the smaller the better) around the base of the ponytail in a regular knot. Tie the tail ends together in a loop, adjust the fabric, and your hair now has an added element of adorable.^{[8]
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4
Create a hacking headband. If you have a long scarf in a thin material, try this style of headband. Fold the scarf in half lengthwise to create a loop on one end with the two tails on the other. Wrap this around your head so that both the loop and the tail ends are just above your forehead. Then pull the tail ends through the loop, and fold them back on themselves. Tuck or pin the two tail ends underneath the rest of scarf to hide them and keep the headband from falling off.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wearing Your Scarf in Other Ways

1
Wear your scarf as a shawl. Lay your scarf out flat and wrap it around your shoulders, almost like a blanket.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 21 February 2019.} You can choose to tie the tail ends together in the front, or to loop them under your armpits and tie them together at your back. This style is perfect for a night out over a nice dress, to keep from getting chilly.^{[11]
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2
Tie your scarf as a belt. If you have an oversized shirt or dress, belt it at your waist to make you look thinner by using a long scarf. Wrap the scarf around your waist and tie the ends together in a basic knot. You can choose to let the ends hang down loose, or you can twist the ends and tuck them into the belt.^{[12]
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3
Add your scarf to a handbag. Create a cute bow on any handbag with a small, thin-fabric scarf. Wrap the scarf around a single handle near the base of the purse, and tie it into a bow. Adjust the fabric a bit so that the bow is visible from the front of the purse.^{[13]
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4
Wear your scarf as a skirt. If you have a very large scarf, lay it out flat and wrap it around your waist. Tie the ends together in the sarong-style at your waist, or pin the overlapping fabric together for a more professional look.^{[14]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you wear scarves?

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Hannah Park is a professional stylist and personal shopper with experience in e-comm styling, celebrity styling and personal styling. She runs an LA-based styling company, The Styling Agent, where she focuses on understanding each individual she works with, and crafting wardrobes according to their needs.

Hannah Park

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

You can use scarves according to their size. Go ahead and wrap small ones around your head and larger ones around your shoulders. You can wear both small and big scarves around your neck.
Question

Why are infinity scarves easier to use than traditional scarves?

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Hannah Park is a professional stylist and personal shopper with experience in e-comm styling, celebrity styling and personal styling. She runs an LA-based styling company, The Styling Agent, where she focuses on understanding each individual she works with, and crafting wardrobes according to their needs.

Hannah Park

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

You can wrap the infinity scarf around your neck twice and get ready quickly. But if you are using a regular scarf, you have to place it in a certain way, wrap it around, and then knot it.