How to Tie a Bandana Like a Headband

Co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby

A bandana can make for a functional and stylish headband that can keep hair and moisture out of your face, and make you look good doing it. Tying a bandana into a headband can seem tricky, but with the right bandana, a proper folding, and a good knot, you’ll be rocking a bandana headband in no time.

Steps

1
Use a square bandana to form an even headband. Bandanas can come in many shapes and sizes, but a square bandana works best to make a uniform fold to form your headband. The larger the bandana, the more fabric you’ll have to fold, which can mean a thicker or wider headband. So make sure you choose a bandana that is large enough to fold into a headband, but not so large that you have a bulky headband.^{[1]
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- Choose material like cotton or other natural fibers that breathe because a headband can trap heat and make your head sweat.
- There are also many different patterns and designs you can choose from for your bandana.
Tip: A standard bandana is 22 inches (56 cm) by 22 inches (56 cm), so make sure yours is at least this size to fold into a headband.
2
Lay the bandana flat and smooth out any wrinkles. Before you fold your bandana, you need to prepare the fabric by laying it flat on a table or other surface and position it so that looks like a diamond. Use your hands to smooth out any folds or wrinkles that may be in the fabric so that you have a flat and even bandana to work with.^{[2]
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- If your bandana has a lot of wrinkles, you can iron them out with a clothes iron.
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3
Bring the bottom corner to meet the top corner to form a triangle. Make sure that all of the edges of the bandana line up when you fold it. Fold the bandana in half diagonally, bringing one corner to meet the other and form a large triangle. Smooth out the fabric with your hands to flatten it out.^{[3]
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- Be sure the pattern is arranged so that it’s visible when you fold the bandana.
4
Fold the long end of the triangle to make a long strip. Take the bottom of the triangle and fold it to form a strip about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) wide. Then fold the strip over and over towards the point of the triangle until the fabric forms one strip. Smooth out the material after each fold to ensure a uniform size.^{[4]
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- For a wider headband, make a wider strip.
- Roll the bandana rather than fold it to form a rounded headband.
5
Spray the folded bandana with hairspray. Once you have the fabric folded to the width you want, you can make the headband adhere to your skin and hair better by spraying it with hairspray. This will prevent the headband from slipping around once it’s on your head. Spray an even layer of hairspray and wait 5 minutes to let it dry.^{[5]
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- You can also use hair gel, but make sure the gel dries clear and only apply it to the side of the headband that will be against your hair and skin.
- If you don't want to use hair product, you can also use a hairpin on each side of the bandana to secure it to your hair.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
  Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
  Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.}
- Wearing a soft workout headband under your bandana will also keep it in place.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
  Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
  Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.}

Part 1

Part 1 of 1:

Tying the Bandana

1
Place the center of the bandana against your forehead. Pick up the folded bandana strip by the ends and center your forehead against the middle of the strip. If you have long hair, place the bandana beneath your hair so it doesn’t get trapped between your forehead and your headband.^{[8]
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- You can center the bandana on the crown of your head as well.
2
Wrap the two ends of the bandana around the back of your head. With your forehead pressed against the center of the bandana, bring the two ends behind your head, above your ears. Make sure the bandana doesn’t unfold when you wrap it. Keep the entire length of the strip of bandana flush against your head.^{[9]
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- You can also center the bandana on the base of the back of your head and bring the two ends around to the front of your head, above your forehead.
3
Tie the ends of the bandana into a double knot to form a headband. With the bandana flush against your head, tie the two ends into a secure knot, making sure it’s tight enough to stay in place, but not so tight that it’s uncomfortable. Then form another knot to keep the first knot firmly in place.^{[10]
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- If you centered the bandana on the base of the back of your head, tie your knot on the upper part of your forehead, making sure it’s secure before you tie it into a double-knot.
4
Make any adjustments and smooth out any wrinkles in your headband. The bandana headband should rest comfortably and securely on your head. Tuck in any loose fabric and smooth out and bunching of the material that may have occurred. Adjust your hair around your bandana to achieve your desired look.^{[11]
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Tip: If you’re happy with the way the bandana headband fits, you can remove it and apply more hairspray to the knot to keep it tied.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I get my bandana to stay in my hair?

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France.

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby

Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Try wearing a soft workout headband underneath your bandana to keep it in place. You could also place a hairclip on each side of the bandana to secure it.
Question

How can I stop the bandana from slipping off of my head?

Community Answer

Bobby pins can help secure a bandana in place, and are usually not visible so they won't look bad. When placing bobby pins, make sure the bumpy side is on the bottom and the smooth side is on top.
Question

What do I do if my bandana I want to use like a headband is too big?

Community Answer

If the bandanna is too big, you can always just cut it to 22 inches by 22 inches for the standard size bandana, or you can cut it in a square that best fits your head.