Hair Scarves: 7 Ways to Use Them

This type of accessory becomes an ideal item to change the look of your hair on a daily basis. Discover the multiple uses of a scarf to create different styles.
Hair Scarves: 7 Ways to Use Them

Last update: 21 March, 2023

Hair scarves are a very chic accessory that make any hairstyle more attractive. In addition, they allow the focus of attention to be concentrated on the hairstyle, so the rest of the clothes don’t need to be very elaborate.

Their different prints and colors are ideal to wear your hair up on warm days and surprise people with their originality and elegance. Also, materials such as silk or polyester make this complement provide a more sophisticated look.

Always having the same hairstyle can be boring, so scarves are an excellent option to change your look. Now that you know everything, it’s time to give your hair a new look. Here are 7 ways to use this product.

1. Ponytail

The idea is to start by putting your hair up in a high ponytail, but you can give a more elegant touch by letting some strands fall around the frame of the face. Then tie the scarf around the ponytail, tie a knot, and let the excess fabric hang around it.

Hair scarves.
Scarves can be worn in a variety of ways in the hair, even matching the outfit chosen for the day.

2. Turban

Arabic-inspired, this hairstyle requires a little more effort. First, fold the scarf into an elongated shape simulating a straight line; then pull it under the hair, bring the edges up towards the forehead, and cross them in an X.

Once you have done this, bring the excess fabric to the back of the head and tie it.

3. Bandana

This look is ideal to wear with dresses or beachwear, as the bandana will cover a large part of the head. To achieve it, divide the scarf in two (forming a triangle) and place the fold over the forehead, pull back your hair, and tie a knot at the back of the head with the remaining fabric.

4. Braid

This style is more bohemian and simple to do, since the idea is that the scarf becomes one of the three strands you make the braid with. So, start by folding the scarf in a linear fashion, then pass it through the loop of a ponytail, secure it well with a knot and braid.

5. Campirana

This look is quite easy and adaptable to many types of outfits. The name is taken from South American name for women who work in the fields.

The first step is to fold the scarf into a triangle, then tie two of the ends under the hair and let the third end fall over the top of the hair.

6. Flower on the side

Step one is to open the whole scarf and place it on the head. Then take the two ends and tie a knot at the forehead, twist them to one side and, with the remaining fabric edges, roll them into a cord that is then gathered into a flower-like coil.

7. Messy bun

This hairstyle requires a bit of practice, as the idea is to create a perfect loop. Once this is achieved, add the scarf (previously rolled from side to side) and pass it around the loop several times until you have two small pieces of fabric left to make the final knot.

A plait.
There are many ways to braid your hair, but a striking one is to incorporate a scarf inside the braid.

Useful tips when using hair scarves

Scarves serve different functions. For example, in breezy places they prevent your hair from blowing around. They also help to disguise dirty hair and are ideal for those who are undergoing medical treatment that affects their hair.

As for styles, it’s advisable for women with long hair to wear headbands in ribbon style; on the other hand, the headband type works very well for short and medium-length hair.

Another aspect to keep in mind is that hair scarves are accessories that are usually patterned. This means they must be in harmony with the style we use. That’s why it’s recommended to use garments in neutral colors and without other accessories.

Scarves are an aesthetic element that you can experiment with to give another look to your hair. They have the power to give a more feminine look to whoever wears them, which is why they are a great way to accompany your daily clothes.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Lee, Hyo Sook y Park Sook Hyum. The Correlation Between Clothing Style and Hair Style Related to Fashion Imagen. Journal of Korean Society of fashion of beauty [Internet] 2004 [abril 2021]; volumen (2): No. 3 . Disponible en:https://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200406142239476.pdf
  • Cyril Aldred. Hair styles and history. The metropolitan Museum of art. Vol 15 No.6; 1957.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.