How to Wear a Silk Scarf in Your Hair: Headband, Ponytail, Bun, Wrap
Iris NguyenQuick answer: For hair styles, fold a 22 inch (55 cm) or 26 inch (65 cm) square into a band about 2 inches wide and tie it as a headband, around a ponytail elastic or around a bun. For a full head wrap, fold a 36 inch (90 cm) square into a triangle, set the long edge at the hairline and knot the ends at the nape.
Hair pulled back, sunglasses on the dresser, ten minutes before leaving. A square of silk folded into a band and knotted above the ear turns that plain ponytail into a finished look, and the sheen of the silk catches the light each time you turn your head.
What is a silk hair scarf?
A silk hair scarf is a silk square, or a narrow twilly, worn in or around the hair: as a headband, a ponytail tie, a bun wrap or a full head scarf. The name describes how it is worn. People choose silk for the color, the light weight and the way a silk knot stays small and flat against the head.
Which scarf size for which hair style
Hair styles need less silk than you might expect, except for the full wrap.
- 22 inch (55 cm): narrow headbands, ponytail and bun ties, short hair. Folk Form calls this size a bandana; our guide on how to wear a silk bandana covers it on its own.
- 26 inch (65 cm): the everyday hair size. A wider headband, a bun wrap, a half-up tie, a band around a sun hat.
- 36 inch (90 cm): the full head scarf and the turban-style knot, plus every 26 inch style with longer tails.
- Twilly: a ribbon of silk for ponytails, braids and thin headbands. See how to wear a silk twilly.
8 ways to wear a silk scarf in your hair
1. The headband
Fold a 26 inch square into a triangle, then into a band about 2 inches wide. Slide the middle of the band under your hair at the nape, bring the ends up over the crown and tie a double knot just above one ear. Tuck the tails under the band or leave them short. For a hidden knot, start with the middle of the band on your forehead and tie it at the nape under the hair.
2. The low ponytail wrap
Tie a low ponytail with a plain elastic. Fold a 22 inch square into a narrow band, center it under the ponytail and wrap both ends around the elastic twice. Finish with a bow and let the tails fall with the hair. The silk hides the elastic completely, and the bow sits where people see it from behind.
3. The bun wrap
Make a low or mid bun and pin it. Fold a 22 or 26 inch square into a band, wrap it around the base of the bun once or twice and tie a small knot or bow underneath. Tuck the ends into the wraps if you want a clean finish. It is a calm, polished look for dinner or a long workday.
4. The full head scarf
Fold a 36 inch square into a triangle. Place the long edge across your forehead at the hairline with the point hanging down the back. Bring both ends around behind your head, over the point, and knot them at the nape. Fold the point up and tuck it under the knot. Add sunglasses for a car ride or a day by the water.
5. The turban-style knot
Fold a 36 inch square into a band about 4 inches wide. Place the middle at the nape, bring both ends up to the top of the head, twist them around each other twice and take them back down to the nape. Knot them there and tuck the tails under. The twist sits high on the head like a small crown and shows two colors of the print.
6. The half-up tie
Gather the top section of your hair into a small half-up ponytail at the crown. Fold a 22 or 26 inch square into a narrow band and tie it around the elastic in a bow, leaving the tails to fall over the loose hair below. It works on shoulder-length or longer hair.
7. With sunglasses
Tie a 26 inch square as a headband, set it about an inch behind the hairline and push your sunglasses up onto the silk. Choose a print with a strong ground color, such as navy or red, so the silk reads clearly behind the frames.
8. With a hat
For a sun hat, fold a 26 inch square into a band, tie it around the head low at the nape and let the tails hang below the brim. Or tie it around the crown of the hat as a hat band and let a short tail fall at the side. Either way, the silk carries color into an outfit that is otherwise plain.
The styles at a glance
| Style | Scarf size | Fold | Time | Hair length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headband | 22 or 26 in | Band, 2 in wide | 1 minute | Any |
| Low ponytail wrap | 22 in or twilly | Narrow band | 1 minute | Shoulder length and longer |
| Bun wrap | 22 or 26 in | Band | 2 minutes | Medium to long |
| Full head scarf | 36 in | Triangle | 2 minutes | Any |
| Turban-style knot | 36 in | Wide band, 4 in | 3 minutes | Any |
| Half-up tie | 22 or 26 in | Narrow band | 2 minutes | Shoulder length and longer |
| With sunglasses | 26 in | Band | 1 minute | Any |
| With a hat | 26 in | Band | 1 minute | Any |
The Phoenix Dance 26 inch square in pink covers most of these styles. Its phoenix, perched on a bodhi leaf among clouds and lotus, was the emblem of the queen in the Ly and Tran dynasties and stands for rebirth and feminine grace. For the full head scarf and the turban knot, look at our 36 inch silk scarves.
How to keep a silk scarf in your hair
Silk is smooth, so a band can slide back on very fine or freshly washed hair. Cross two bobby pins under the band just behind each ear before you knot it. Use a double knot on headbands and a bow on ponytails, since a bow can be tightened without untying. A band about 2.5 inches wide holds well.
Wearing a silk hair scarf without looking costumed
A scarf in the hair draws the eye up to the face, so keep everything else quiet. Pick one style per day and pair it with plain clothes: a navy sweater, a white tee, a denim shirt. Keep jewelry near the face small, since the knot and the tails already frame it. For work, the bun wrap and a narrow headband read polished in a meeting; save the full head scarf and the turban-style knot for the weekend, a convertible or a beach day. If a style feels like too much in the mirror, fold the band one step narrower before you give up on it.
How to wash a silk hair scarf
For a printed silk scarf, hand wash in cold water with a little shampoo or body wash. Do not wring; press the water out in a towel and dry flat in the shade. Iron on the lowest silk setting while it is still damp. Dry cleaning is the safest choice. Our guide on how to care for a silk scarf covers storage too.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tie a silk scarf in your hair?
Fold a 26 inch square into a band about 2 inches wide, slide it under your hair at the nape and tie a double knot above one ear. For a ponytail, wrap a 22 inch band around the elastic and finish with a bow.
What size silk scarf is good for a head scarf?
A 36 inch (90 cm) square covers the hair fully and knots at the nape. A 26 inch square works for headbands and bun wraps, and a 22 inch square for ponytails.
Do silk hair scarves do anything for hair?
The name describes how it is worn: as a headband, a ponytail tie or a head scarf. Choose it for the color, the drape and the way it finishes a simple hairstyle.
How do you tie a twilly in your hair?
Wrap the twilly around a ponytail elastic two or three times and tie a bow, or braid it into a plait and knot the end with the hair tie.
How do you keep a silk headband from slipping?
Cross two bobby pins under the band behind each ear, fold the band a little wider and tie a double knot.
How do you wash a silk head scarf?
Hand wash a printed silk scarf in cold water with a little shampoo or body wash, do not wring, dry it flat in the shade and iron on the lowest silk setting while damp.
Browse every guide in our silk scarf and tie guides.
