The Celeb-Approved Guide to Wearing a Headband Without Looking Like a Child

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If there’s any doubt in your mind as to how to wear a headband, now is the time to sort it out. With the the reboot of Gossip Girl on the horizon, and celebs from Jessica Alba to Zendaya wearing the accessory, the headband trend isn’t going away any time soon.

The throwback piece had a resurgence back in 2008, at the height of Blair Waldorf’s queen-bee aesthetic. It didn’t return until a decade later, which came in part due to milk braids and Prada, which sent padded nylon headbands down its spring 2019 runway. Somewhere in the middle, there was Kate Middleton and her tiara-like headbands, Chrissy Teigen’s Headband of the Day (#HBOTD) series, and Instagram’s most followed who made you want to buy into the middle-schooler’s starter pack.

Sure, you may look back in 10 years and question your #OOTDs, but don’t let that stop you from wearing a headband now. Like scrunchies, bows, and butterfly clips, this hair accessory craze is here to stay. And we’re cool with that. Be it a padded, leather, or embellished style, a headband is an easy way to look put-together and maybe channel some Prada-girl energy while you’re at it.

But headbands are like cowboy hats in that you can’t exactly wear one timidly—you have to own it. So rather than slipping one on as an afterthought, we looked to a few of our favorite celebs for styling tips on how to wear a headband with intention. Emma Roberts added a knotted red one to contrast her monochromatic look, while Kaia Gerber went full-on ’90s with a bandana and cropped cardi. Some break out the hair accessory whenever they need to hide a bad hair day, while others like Jessica Alba are making it part of their red-carpet looks. Either way, we pored over some of their best outfits, and added lookalike shopping options. Here are nine ways to wear a headband in 2020.

Chrissy Teigen

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You’ll never get to hold hands with John Legend, but you can fall in love with the way Chrissy Teigen’s Jennifer Behr headband levels up your look. Layer your dress over jeans, and swap the Alexandre Birman heels for boots so you can wear this weekend brunch outfit even in the heart of winter.

Bella Hadid

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Bella Hadid managed to work a stretchy ’80s headband into her signature athleisure-meets-sexy style, giving us another reason to wear the accessory post-workout. Now all you need to do is stock up on tiny cardigans and bike shorts for spring.

Poppy Delevingne

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Embrace a day of running errands with this leopard headband, boyfriend jeans, and sneaker combo, courtesy of Poppy Delevingne’s too-cool look.

Zendaya

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Zendaya gets it: One of the simplest (and boldest) ways to wear a headband is to match it to the color—and fabric—of your dress. Pearl earrings and white stilettos elevate the statement look.

Salma Hayek

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Salma Hayek means business—and her headband does too. Worn with suit separates, the thin style looks just as office-appropriate as a sleek updo.

Emma Roberts 

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A contrasting accessory can break up a monochromatic outfit. Emma Roberts wore a knotted red headband with a cream-color jean jacket and matching culottes for a look that feels more “girl’s night out” than “prep-school mean girl.”

Kaia Gerber

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While you may to want to trade closets with Kaia Gerber, for now we’ll leave you with a look that’s far easier to copy on a chill Sunday—and some basics you’ll be tempted to add to your cart.

Busy Philipps

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Busy Philipps proves a solid-color headband can bring harmony to a printed dress and bright red boots on date night.

Jessica Alba

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Jessica Alba’s regal red-carpet look is fit for a headband-wearing queen (or Duchess of Cambridge). Alba wore a pearl-embellished version to compliment her feathery dress in a way that feels modern—and appropriate—for a major event. Copy her style by keeping the rest of your accessories minimal.

Source: Glamour

Photography: Getty Images

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