Headbands have been around for a long time. From the Ancient Greeks to the current, must-watch Netflix series, creating a wave of generations who believe they have discovered the headband. This often leaves women over 50 wondering:

“Am I too old to wear a headband?  Can women over 50 pull it off?”

Of course you can, of course we can! 

What is actually happening with the ‘re-invention’ of the headband is a curation of history, emphasizing that fashion is a conversation between the present and the past. 

This style guide will familiarise you with the different types of women’s headbands over the years, through a timeline that educates and allows you to adopt whatever style you want, for the look you’re searching for, no matter your age. 

Rather than following temporary trends, you too will step back in time, borrow, reimagine, wear it again, and create your own style.

You will become the trend.

Image Credits: 1. Apostolos Vamvouras | Unsplash 2. JR Clavant | Unsplash 3. Duren Williams | Pexels 4. Stephen Tettey Atsu | Unsplash 5. Mari Korz | Pexels 6. Yan Krukau | Pexels 7. Anete Lusina | Pexels 8. Anastasiya Gepp | Pexels 9. Silvia | Pixabay 10. Kyle Cleveland | Unsplash 11.Christine McLean | Unsplash

The History Of Headbands: “Where It All Began”

Headbands first appeared in Ancient Greece around 475 BC. They were given to athletes and poets, honoring their victory and performance. 

In the Ancient Olympic Games, winners were awarded laurel wreaths as their prize. They were made from olive branches, a symbol of peace and victory to this day.  It was an honor and an acknowledgement of high achievement to receive such an award.

During sporting events, they also used headbands from fabric such as wool, cloth, or ribbon to keep their hair off their face. Today, that has evolved to become the popular sweatband!

Outside sporting events, men and women of the elite class would wear gold wreaths to display their status. These wreaths reveal the incredible craftsmanship of ancient Greek artisans, showing the intricacy of their jewelry making. 

Women's headbands were placed on sheer veils, often using bands to create elaborate hairstyles and keep their veil in place.  Bands were also wound around the forehead to make it appear smaller; a small forehead was considered the ideal of feminine beauty. 

Image Credits: 1. Fred Cherrygarden | Wikimedia Commons 2. Deiadameian | Wikimedia Commons 3. Cleveland Museum of Art | Wikimedia Commons 4. Metropolitan Museum of Art | Wikimedia Commons 5. Meleager Painter | Wikimedia Commons 6. Zde | Wikimedia Commons

Headband Timeline: “From Then Till Now”

It’s clear that fashion borrows styles from the past and makes them trends today. The past is a constant inspiration for creating new looks and discovery for future generations. 

This timeline will guide you, help you choose the headband design you like, inspiring you to adapt it to your own style as you borrow trends from the past and make them your own, all year round. 

475BC Ancient Greece

In Ancient Greece, mythology and everyday life were inseparable, expressed through elaborate hairstyles; curly locks were dressed with gold jewelry, veils with bands all intertwined into their hair. 

Art displays headbands worn during that time, through Minoan frescoes, vases, elegant Caryatids, and laurel wreaths, reincarnated as tiaras and gold headbands today. 

You can see the connection as a Grecian style is worn today, through gold-leaf headbands and modern styles of intricate, regal, embellished women’s headbands.

Image Credits: 1. A Perry | Unsplash 2. The New York Public Library | Unsplash 3. Melissa Holowaty | Unsplash 4. wal_ 172619 | Pexels 5. Jeison Higuita | Unsplash 6. Svetlana Boyko | Unsplash

Medieval & Renaissance

From leather bands to jewels on a crown, translucent lace, all mixed together indicating your status.  

We see a tough, harsh era through headbands of strict leather strips and metallic crowns set with regal intrusive jewels evolving into a softer period of rebirth and delicate, feminine headwear. 

The hennin headwear, that tall, overpowering cone hat with a veil, dramatic in women’s medieval headpieces, was a stark contrast to the Renaissance trend that would follow.

Flowing hair woven into ribbon headbands creates a romantic trend and look, as we see modern interpretations of the same styles in women’s headbands today.

Image Credits: 1.Europeana | Unsplash 2.McGill Library | Unsplash 3.National Historical Museum of Sweden (NHM) | Unsplash 4.Morgan Rovang | Unsplash 5.Ninari | Pexels 6.Yulya Korban | Unsplash

1910s-20s 

Tennis player Suzanne Lenglen, champion in her sport and in fashion.  

Considered one of the first athletes to make sportswear fashionable. Famous for her headband- a signature style statement, revolutionary for her era. She led the way for the modern ‘athleisure’ trend, which we saw in its full bloom through Covid.

A century later, athletes like Serena Williams continue the tradition - the sports headband remains as iconic as ever.

Suzanne Lenglen was a fashion icon who shocked people at the time with her bare arms, short skirts, and her headband replacing a hat.

What really shocked them? Her attire or that she chose to express herself beyond the boundaries that women were confined to? 

We witnessed this with Serena and Venus Williams. They were criticized for their 'colourful' attire and hairstyles. It wasn't in line with the 'tradition' of conventional tennis. Serena's success validated a style that was her own, and her countless trophies silenced this criticism. 

Today, we also see Naomi Osaka pushing boundaries with her haute couture look at her recent tournaments. She dipped into a 1930s sequins era, creating a performance in fashion and sport.

Image Credits: 1-4. Wikimedia Commons 5.Edward Martinez | Wikimedia Commons 6.Elena We | Pixabay

1920-30s 

What a beautiful era! The roaring 20s are still roaring today, 100 years later. A period that we revisit time and time again. Women dared to crop their hair, elevating the headband as a statement piece that dominated their look as they stepped into a new world.

Women’s headbands were decorated with light feathers, feminine pearls, and impressive jewels. Oh, how those flappers represented freedom and femininity for women!

Women’s headbands became a symbol of liberation. They cut their hair into bobs and needed something to adorn their newly bare heads. The headband was almost political. It said, "I am free, modern, unbound."

Poiret, deeply influenced by Eastern aesthetics, was one of the first French couturiers to incorporate headbands and turbans into high fashion.

The Great Gatsby, a theme that has never vanished as a fashion trend even today. From jewelled headbands, feathers, and art deco beading, it was a pure spectacle.

Hollywood’s silent film era came to life, speaking glamour through adopting headbands and storytelling fashion. The Great Depression intensified the escapist glamour of headbands in film.

The beaded, embellished craftsmanship also echoed ancient Greek ornamental headbands. 

We see the 1920s and 30s through women’s headbands moving from practical and athletic dressing to high fashion glamour.

Image Credits: 1. Bain News Service | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons 2. John McCormick Productions | First National Pictures, Public domain | Wikimedia Commons 3. Coco Chanel cariserin | Wikimedia Commons 4. Ai Canvas on pixaboy 

Image Credits: 1. Kazuo ota on Unsplash 2. cottonbro studio on pexels 3. Faylyne CC | Wikimedia Commons 4. cottonbro studio on pexels

1940s: WWII & Post War

The 1940s gave us two contrasting silhouettes in fashion. The disciplined straight-cut skirt just below the knee, and a voluminous flare skirt calf-length. An era of constraint and opulence, war and glamour. Wartime created fabric rationing, which inspired women to be creative with accessories. 

Female factory workers known as WOW (Women Ordnance Workers) wore utility headscarves and bandanas to protect their hair from machinery. 

Rosie the Riveter’s iconic red bandana headscarf was the ultimate symbol of women’s wartime strength. It wasn’t just practical, but fashionable, and it became a statement of female strength and capability.

Post-war saw the return of femininity and elegance through Dior’s ‘New Look’ in 1947. Hollywood glamour returned again with stars like Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Grace Kelly presenting elaborate and styled hair again. Women’s headbands softened back into something decorative.

The ‘Alice Headband’ became a trend through Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. A style we saw re-emerge through current series like Gossip Girl.

This era saw women’s headbands as more than just an accessory.

Image Credits: 1. Boston Public Library on Unsplash 2.Ministry of Information Photo Division | Photographer |Wikimedia Commons 3. Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales on Unsplash 4. Hans Gerber | Wikimedia Commons 5. Darkshade Photos on pexels

Image Credits: 1. WorthPoint | Wikimedia Commons 2. ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv | Comet Photo AG | Wikimedia Commons 3. Photo by amin naderloei on Unsplash 4.Alena Darmel: on pexels

1960s-70s Hippie Chic

We saw a headband revolution as it evolved from ornate decorative statements towards something simultaneously structured and free.

Hippies and rock musicians wore tie-dye fabric bands and scarves tied around their head, creating a wider headband look. This carried over to the 70s, where this wide fabric headband became everyday casual wear.

The 1960s didn't abandon the headband; instead, reimagined it. The turban became the ultimate statement of sophisticated restraint. An evolution of the headband.

We saw fashion icons like Jackie O, Sharon Tate, and Cher wearing this look, also seeing the return of romantic floral head wreaths during a time of ‘make love not war’. 

Farrah Fawcett was iconic in the 70s with her feathered headbands and her signature hairstyle. The dawn of the disco era saw embellished, glitzy headbands.

1969 Woodstock - the ultimate headband moment, along with the boho music festival look, both direct influences for today.

Image Credits: 1.Bert Morgan | Wikimedia Commons 2. samo mw on Unsplash 3.Sylvia Norris | Wikimedia Commons 4. Chermiti Mohamed:on Pexels 5. Murillo Molissani on Pexels

1980s

Everything changed in the 80s. Possibly the most influential decade in fashion, music, film and lifestyle. 

We saw the rise of aerobics and working out through Jane Fonda’s exercise videos and Olivia Newton-John's ‘Let’s Get Physical’ music video. Both looks were accessorised with headbands. They were colourful, became necessary, and were quickly added to women's looks. 

In sports, we saw Bjorn Borg strutting the headband as a fashionable sweatband. The ski headband, the wide knit headband, became a fashion statement on and off the slopes.

Lady Diana reignited the popularity of the royal family as we carefully watched and copied her style. It was iconic when she wore her diamond and emerald choker as a headband to an event.   

Studio 54 saw a celebration of fashion in every way, where headbands made their glamorous appearance too.

And of course Madonna!  This was her era, with her lace headbands and bows influencing all teenagers worldwide. 

Image Credits: 1. Queensland State Archives | Wikimedia Commons 2.Associated Press | Wikimedia Commons 3. Gage Skidmore from Surprise | Wikimedia Commons 4. Raph_PH | Wikimedia Commons

1990s Till Present

Headbands have always revived through the decades. The 90s saw a schoolgirl revival, through Aerosmith music videos and school uniform fashion.

We saw waves of headband trends through celebrities, identifying the previous decades they have borrowed from, ultimately keeping the women’s headband look alive.

In the early 2000s, we saw butterfly clips and thin headbands, which have been revived heavily today.

2010s, the boho look through headbands reintroduced itself through Coachella.

The 2020s brought an unexpected headband renaissance; Covid lockdowns saw women getting creative with their hair at home. Athleisure became a permanent trend; athletic leisurewear teamed with a headband was the norm, which was a more refined, minimal presentation from the vibrant 80s exercise look.

And of course, Netflix series with Gossip Girl, introducing Blair Waldorf's preppy headbands to a whole new generation - proving that every generation believes it has discovered the headband.

Cultural Influences

This is the fun part! 

By studying traditional headwear through multiple cultures and by always keeping in mind that these traditions carry deep cultural meaning, they can also offer beautiful inspiration for modern headband styling.

The African headwrap has centuries of cultural significance, from West African tradition to the American South.

In Indian culture, the maang tikka and passa, gorgeous ornate head jewelry, have been a tradition for centuries for Indian bridal jewelry. 

Headwear carries deep cultural meaning across the world. By understanding and appreciating these traditions, we can draw inspiration respectfully and creatively.

From Japanese puffy fabric headbands to vibrant African prints, tone these down by keeping colours harmonious or mix-and-match with your outfit to create beautiful contrasts.

Play with your look and create an original style for yourself. There are no limitations.

Image Credits: 1. Ghostw1997 | pixabay 2. Artur Matosyan | Unsplash 3. Public domain | Wikimedia Commons 4. Sunannya Das | pexels 5. SKG Photography | pexels 5. Uday Ahir | pexels

Image Credits: 1. Ali  Drabo | pexels 2.kajanja  brand | pexels 3. Ab  Pixels | pexels 4. Cre8ive Engine | pexels 5. Vurzie  Kim | pexels 6. David Kwewum | pexels 7. Bobography | pexels

How to choose the right headband? “Let Them Fall Head-Over-Heels With You”

1. Headbands For Short Hair

There are no restrictions for short hair. A wide headband will emphasize your neck and face.   It could even cover your hair completely and leave a clean, slick style. Worn with sunglasses, you can create a mysterious impression to your look. A twist knot type of headband would add volume, most commonly centred for the best balance.

A thinner headband would reveal your haircut too, allowing movement to your hair, creating a more playful style. A wire headband with a twist knot on top, slightly shifted asymmetrically to one side, would define your silhouette and add height.

You could also use a silk scarf, folded into your desired width, wrap it around your head from top to bottom, tie it, and leave the ends flowing carefree.

1. Headbands For Long Hair

You can play with all styles here too. A thin headband would create a delicate and tame look. A twist knot on top, placed with asymmetry, would create a nice balance between your free-flowing long hair and the structured thin headband.

A wider headband, whether it’s with a twist-knot type, a bandana style, or a scarf, works perfectly with long hair too. You could play with your part or slick your hair completely back before placing your headband.

Long hair gives you the advantage to play with a French braid, loosely plait your hair, or wear a ponytail before wearing your headband. Adding texture and colour through your headband elevates your hair styling. 

2. Headbands For Thin Hair

For thin hair, wider headbands usually slip off as there isn’t enough volume to secure them. A thinner headband is more ideal, so your headband doesn’t overshadow your fine hair.  A wire headband with a twist tie gives height to your look and complements your thin hair. These wire headbands are weightless… at some point, you forget that you’re even wearing one. I guarantee it! 

1. Headbands For Thick Hair

Headbands are ideal for thick hair. All types are suitable, even thin ones, surprisingly, as your hair can hide your thin headband, leaving the impression that somehow miraculously the top part is held in place. 

A wider headband would be a great fit for your thick hair. Add a printed headband to accentuate your voluminous hair. A really thick knitted headband covering your ears would bring your thick hair loosely to the back.

A beautiful French braid, plaited ponytail embellished with a headband, wide or thin, would shape your face delicately while you’ve styled your thick hair by bringing it back. 

2. Headbands For Curly Hair

Curly hair or African hair is really complemented by a headband. It can lose itself in all that fabulousness of curls and attitude, and create a defined pushed-back hairline. Thin or thick, either way both work. A flimsy lightweight headband wouldn’t work as curly hair wouldn’t have that extra support.

Bold prints and playful thick headbands would just add more personality to your voluminous hair.

3. Headbands For Your Face Shape

i) Round Face

Try playing with asymmetry when placing your headband on your head. If your wide headband has a knot or twist, either place it in the centre if there is height to your headband, or slightly shift from the centre to the side for an asymmetrical look, which will change your round silhouette.

A wire headband is ideal here too, as you can twist the knot to the side, alter your round face shape and create more interest.

ii) Oval Face & Heart-Shaped Face

Everything is on the styling table here. From thin to wider headbands, texture, knotted or twisted headbands, an oval or heart-shaped face gives a lot of room to experiment and play with your look. 

You can play with asymmetry, tie scarves around your head and have them free-flowing. There are no limitations.

iii) Angular: Square, Diamond & Oblong Face

Here you need to play with dimension. Asymmetry is key here to balance out the shape of your face with a headband.

All headbands can be worn, from thin wire headbands to wider and knotted ones.

Headbands For All Year Round

1. Headbands For Spring

Gorgeous knitted headbands can take you softly into Spring in pastel and neutral colours. Floral prints too can blossom your headband styling through Spring as you enter Summer.

Soft, loose plaits and braids intertwined under your Spring headband can create a romantic renaissance look, youthful and confident.

2. Headbands For Summer

Choose the headband style that suits you. Wear them in bright colours, loud prints, striking polka dots or stripes. White is always a favorite in Summer, suiting many hair colours and skin colours. White is a celebration of Summer.

Beach bands, a bandana-style headband that can be worn in many ways, isn’t only the best Summer beach look, but practical to keep your hair dry on those beach days, when you don’t want to get it wet. Freshly dyed hair or freshly woven extensions can be kept safe with these ‘beach bands’.

1. Headbands For Autumn

The best way to transition from Summer to Autumn is a headband. Disguise your soon-to-be-dyed hair with headbands in earthy Autumn shades while complementing your sunkissed skin.  

Through Autumn, you can wear headbands in warmer tones or subdued prints that suit your Fall wear. 

2. Headbands For Winter

Knitted headbands are ideal to keep your head and ears warm while strutting a ski resort look. 

Headbands in Autumn and Winter emphasise your features, and with lipstick in a radiant warm red or natural earth tones, your face and hair become the highlight of the season. A season that we’re used to covering up with coats, why not let your head and face be the highlight?

Headbands For That Special Occasion: “Fascinate Them With Your Fascinator”

Borrowing the elegance from the 1920s, Gatsby-inspired styling with feathers and intricately embellished headwear, we can transform the forever-worn headband into an artistic headpiece statement.

Custom-made fascinators, carefully sculptured around your face shape, your haircut, and complexion, are meticulously created around you. Our craftsmanship of bespoke headpieces is made in Athens, where the story of headbands began.

Special occasions such as weddings and christenings may call for a fascinator to dress up your look. 

Evening headbands embellished with feathers and custom-made designs will elevate your outfit and show off your face. These extravagant headpieces suit all face shapes and hairstyles.

New Year's fascinators are a must: a key accessory, as you celebrate a fulfilling year entering a new one dressed to the nines. 

You will surely be noticed. 

Headbands For Your Fifties: “50 & Fabulous!”

One of the most common questions I hear is “can you wear a headband in your 50’s?” Of course you can! 

It’s at this ripened age, with so many experiences under your belt, that confidence leads the way, deciding for you based on how you feel, as opposed to what’s trending. 

The advantage of having overcome those decades of insecurity is to have reached an age where you embrace who you are now, because after all you have lived through so many headband trends that now you can create a look that you truly love. 

While waiting for my favorite transeasonal dressing, headbands are my go-to accessories. Playing with prints, plaits, and braids while my natural Summer highlights fade as they prepare for their Autumn hues.  

Take stylish influencer Grece Ghanem, who believes it's: "All about fashion and confidence as style has no age!" She has many headwear looks. Here she wears a scarf headband following a 1950s-60s style, a 1960's Jackie O look, and a Hollywood 1950s look.

I personally rely on a headband after Summer break, holding off till Autumn to dye my hair that perfect shade of chestnut by my hairdresser at Notis Haute Coiffure in Athens. 

Headbands For Headaches: “Painfully Stylish”

Yes, they exist. Acupressure headbands apply gentle pressure to specific points on the head and temples, offering natural relief for tension headaches. Stylish and therapeutic… who knew?

What Headbands Are in Style For 2026?

As we’ve seen throughout this timeline of headbands, you have a lot of styles to choose from. 

In 2026, we're seeing a revival of Y2K thin headbands, embellished velvet styles and the bohemian wide fabric band. But trends are just a starting point.

It’s more important to find the style that suits you, your face shape, hairstyle and hair type, your lifestyle and the way you like to dress.

Rather than follow a trend that feels forced, choose the one you like and make it your own. 

Headbands For Gift-Giving: “Love Is In The Hair”

Headbands are the perfect gift. They’re affordable, tuck neatly into any bag, and there’s no better way to show your affection for your gal friends.  

It’s also always handy to have something to pull your hair back when needed, because as Notis Haute Coiffure says… “Love is in the hair”. 

Beyond the Headband: “When Fashion Becomes a Statement”

As we travelled through this timeline of headbands, we witnessed their journey from being a symbol of honor and achievement to becoming a symbol of defiance and self-expression.

Women’s headbands shouldn’t be considered just a trend or a fashion accessory but can be perceived as an iconic statement.

A headband can be sophisticated through grand embellished jewels or a minimal and clean style. It can also be practical for all lifestyles and all ages. 

This ‘trend’ excludes no one; instead, it allows everyone to select the headband style they like and make their own statement.

So you too can now dip into the history of headbands, borrow, reimagine, re-wear and create your own style.

Create your own trend.