Easy equipment can spark fierce debates—flats versus heels, silver versus gold, and, in fact, scrunchies versus elastic hair ties. Some individuals desire to lock their hair with mushy, statement-making scrunchies, whereas others flip to hair ties to carry their ponytails tight. However which one reigns supreme? When it comes to your hair well being, there’s just one clear winner, based on hairstylists. Preserve studying to seek out out extra.
What Is a Hair Tie?
“Hair ties” is the colloquial time period for the thread-wrapped rubber bands. These helpful equipment are comprised of elasticized rubber (and typically steel), are available numerous colours, and supply a safe, discrete strategy to tie up your hair.
Whereas these ties are nice for holding kinds in place, they don’t seem to be so nice in your precise hair, as they’re recognized to tear out strands and trigger breakage. To attenuate the injury as a lot as potential, Emtage says to search for metal-free bands and take into account the thickness of your hair when selecting a dimension (thinner bands for finer hair and thicker ones for thicker textures). “Additionally, attempt to keep away from tying your hair too tightly with elastics to attenuate stress in your hair and scalp,” she says, including that you must by no means go to mattress with an elastic as a result of it might injury your hair whilst you sleep.
Even if you happen to’ve bought the perfect merchandise and practices in your arsenal, Emtage nonetheless recommends reserving elastic bands just for occasions when scrunchies will not do the trick. “Go for an elastic hair tie while you want a safe, tight maintain, like throughout train, or for extra formal, polished hairstyles the place you do not need the hair tie to be seen,” she says.
What Is a Scrunchie?
Consider a scrunchie as a hair tie’s gentler and extra extravagant cousin. “Scrunchies are comprised of mushy cloth and maintain the hair in place much less securely than elastics,” Cottin explains.
Whereas the “much less safe” maintain of a scrunchie could also be annoying by way of styling, it is an entire lot higher for the well being of your hair. “Scrunchies are usually higher for hair well being as they put much less direct stress and friction on the identical space of hair, due to this fact leading to much less injury or breakage,” Cottin provides.
Higher but, scrunchies can double as playful equipment. “They add a pop of shade or texture to your hair,” Emtage says. There are such a lot of kinds of scrunchies that incorporate basic bows or different decorations that may improve an updo or perhaps a easy pony,” Cottin provides.
The way to Select Which Is Greatest for Your Hair
Take into account Your Hair Well being
When selecting between a scrunchie and a hair tie, the present situation of your hair ought to play a job. As Cottin factors out, “The much less you employ elastic ties, the higher in your hair well being.” When you have positive, broken hair vulnerable to breakage, attempt to avoid hair bands as a lot as potential.
“Elastic hair ties can typically be too tight and trigger hair to snap, particularly if they’ve a steel connector,” provides Emtage. Scrunchies are usually higher for hair well being as a result of they’re much less more likely to trigger breakage. The material protecting supplies a buffer that reduces friction and stress, which is very necessary when you have positive, curly, or broken hair.”
Assume About Your Desired Coiffure
The most important distinction between elastics and scrunchies is their maintain degree, however each lend themselves effectively to sure kinds. “Scrunchies are nice for looser, extra relaxed hairstyles like messy buns and ponytails, and even work effectively as a cute wrist accent. They add quantity and is usually a trendy assertion piece,” Emtage says. “Elastic hair ties are higher for modern, tight kinds the place you want a agency maintain, like a excessive ponytail, braids, or when it’s essential hold your hair out of your face throughout exercises.”
Think about Your Every day Actions
Although elastics are usually the much less fascinating alternative, there are specific conditions after they win out over scrunchies. “They’re wonderful throughout sports activities or some other strenuous actions when it’s essential hold your hair off your face,” Cottin says. Attempt to stick to a scrunchie in all different conditions (particularly while you’re sleeping).
The Closing Takeaway
Elastic hair ties and scrunchies are the most typical styling equipment—all of us probably have a plethora of each in our bogs. Nevertheless, there are key variations between the 2. Elastic hair ties present a tighter, safer maintain because of their rubber band design. Scrunchies, alternatively, are made with mushy materials and delicate elastics, making them much less more likely to pull hair and trigger breakage.
In the end, hairstylists agree that scrunchies are the higher alternative for sustaining hair well being, however there’s nonetheless a spot for elastic hair ties in your routine. “Every has its styling strengths,” says Emtage. “It is at all times good to modify issues up.”