.jpg)
Aheadband (also called ahairband[1] orsweatband) is aclothing accessory worn in the hair or around the forehead, usually to hold hair away from the face or eyes, or to help control forehead sweat or (rarely) to provide some protection to the head during physical activity. Headbands generally consist of a textile loop ofelasticised and sometimes absorptive or padded material, or ahorseshoe-shaped piece of flexible plastic or metal. They come in assorted shapes and sizes and are used for a variety of purposes: aesthetic (fashion); practical (holding back hair); protective; utilitarian (absorbing sweat); or for combinations of these reasons.
In theUK, horseshoe-shaped headbands are sometimes called "Alice bands" after the headbands thatAlice is often depicted wearing inLewis Carroll'sThrough the Looking-Glass.[2]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(December 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The beginning of headbands was no later than around 475 BC to 330 BC, with the ancient Greeks, who wore hair wreaths. The Greeks and Romans wore these pieces for very special occasions or an important event. Cultures such as the Etruscans and Romans started to decorate their wreaths with jewels made up of gold and silver. While wreaths are certainly a likely beginning of today's headbands, some believe that current day hair bands have slowly taken shape from scarves that were worn around the head or were modified from the band of hats that tied under the chin.
In the early 20th century, wide headbands known asheadache bands were very popular accessories in women's fashion. Their name came from the belief that the tight pressure they provided around the forehead could relieve or preventheadaches. The French called such a garment abandeau (bandeaux, plural). In the 1910s, headache bands would likely have been more lacy in design—acrochet central panel decorated with ribbons and rosettes and bordered withlace, for example.[3] Examples from the 1920s and 1930s are more apt to be dramatic sheaths in exotic fabrics and decorated with feathers, and would have been worn with fashions bycouturiers such asPaul Poiret.[4] These sorts of headache bands probably achieved their peak of popularity in the 1920s. Today, items called headache bands are apt to be strictly utilitarian and medical in focus.
During the same period, jewelled headache bands or headbands, often inprecious metals andprecious gems, were popular.[5]
In the 1920s, the jewelry did not matter in the cost of materials nor value, rather the focus was on the design.[6] Headbands were known as bandeaus. They were worn in the evenings with the most formal dresses, until 1925.[7]
Styles of this kind of accessories include:
During the1950s and1960s, many glamorous young women in Britain and the US wore plastic headbands with thebeehive hairstyle, or silkveils when driving. At the same time, working-class women wrapped strips of cloth around their hair as protection from the industrialsmog and dirty rain.
After theSummer of Love of 1967,hippies woretie dye andpaisleybandanas as headbands[8] in imitation of Leftist activists and guerrillas. These were also worn by manyhard rock andheavy metal guitarists such asJimi Hendrix,Keith Richards,Ted Nugent,Bruce Springsteen, orLink Wray during theearly and mid 70s to keep cool on stage.
Deely boppers were afad in 1982.
Princess Diana famously wore anemerald anddiamondchoker as a headband inMelbourne on the occasion of a state tour ofAustralia in 1985.[9]
There are many materials used for headbands such as wood, leather, plastic, metal, fabric, hemp, teeth, human and animal hair, bone, and novelty materials. The leather headbands are usually glued onto a harder plastic headband, or they are hand-stitched. Plastic headbands, which are most common, can be wavy, straight or angled and come in many colors. Metal can be used to form and support leather headbands. Metal-only headbands may be plain or decorated, sometimes with precious jewels. Fabric headbands are comfortable because they do not dig into the head. They usually have an elastic band, so that the headband forms to the head. Toothed headbands have comb-like teeth that are connected to the top part of the headband. Their teeth ensure that the hair stays in place.
Novelty headbands can be used for holidays and may have decorations attached such as bunny ears, reindeer ears, Santa Claus hats and others. Headbands are often part of a larger fashion statement—they can be color-coded and matched accordingly to one's outfit.
Headbands, orsweatbands, are worn around the forehead during physical activity to absorbsweat and keep it from reaching the eyes. Sweatbands are often made of a continuous loop ofterrycloth, as it is a particularly absorbent fabric. Foldedbandanas, usually knotted behind the head, also serve this purpose. Headbands are usually used for sports but have not been popular since the late 1970s or early 1980s.LeBron James is one of the most notable players who wears a headband during basketball games. They also come in the form ofwristbands.
Headbands are also used for protection from cold and windy weather. These headbands are sometimes called earbands, which are made from a broad strip of heavy fabric, and have a contoured shape designed to fit over the ears, forehead, and neckline. Compared to winter hats, headbands have the advantages of providing warmth to exposed skin with minimal interference with the wearer's hairdo, allowing heat buildup formed by heavy exercise to vent through the top of the head, and requiring less storage space when not being worn. This type of headband is often used by skiers, snowboarders, runners, and workers who spend time in the cold weather.
Headbands are also available to prevent water from entering a person's ears while swimming. These headbands are thin, made of neoprene, and fit the head very tightly. These headbands are useful for swimmers who need to protect themselves fromswimmer's ear but find traditional earplugs or ear putty uncomfortable.
Padded headbands are also available as protective equipment, though the actual level of 'protection' that a fabric and foam headband can provide against head injury is small to de minimis. They are used widely inassociation football. Foam 'halos' were mandatory for girls'lacrosse inFlorida for a short time in 2015-17, before the mandate was updated to require a proper helmet in 2018.[10][11]
.jpg)
In Japanese culture,hachimaki headbands may symbolise determination or devotion.[12]
Traditionally in Korea, warriors and members of military organizations such as thehwarang wore specialized headbands that kept hair firmly in place. Practically, these headbands served to clear any obstruction to the eyes so as to not hinder the soldier in combat. Emblematically, the headbands served to symbolize strength of loyalty and submission to the state.
Contemporary Korean high school students, particularly male students, are often portrayed donning headbands in preparation for the rigorous college entrance examinations. Students commonly write encouraging or inspiring phrases on these headbands, such as "do or die!". This practice has been largely popularized by the media.
Media related toHeadbands at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
