The fluffy pink scrunchie I wore with my ’80s Halloween look was the first scrunchie I’d worn since, I don’t know, about 1992.
It was part of an 8-pack I found at Target (Goody brand, $5), hanging beside more highfalutin doohickeys like snag-free elastic hair bands and Spin Pins in the beauty aisles.
Ya know, I’m surprised scrunchies haven’t gone the way of the dodo. I’ve been wearing ’em around the house since Halloween, trying to remember why I ever wore them back in the day, and I’ve made some observations…
- They’re loose enough that I can wear them to bed without waking up with a headache
- They’re loose enough that they don’t leave kinks in my hair when I take them out
- They’re so loose that they can’t hold a high ponytail all day long (slips down to the nape of my neck after a few hours)
- Cats like to bat them around
Elastic hair bands/ponytail holders are higher tech solutions, but scrunchies still have their place in the world.
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 🙂
Ewwww! They are so not attractive.
Haha! Did you wear them back in the day?
Of course I did, I’m an 80’s child. The last time I owned one was in the late 80’s, early 90’s. I used to make my mom take me to the fabric store and i would buy elastic and fabric. Then I would make my own. ha ha ha. Good memories… ohhhh to be 7 again.
I am going to age myself here, but I was barely out of diapers when the scrunchie was popular, so I never went through the craze. And while I find them to be awful for leaving the house with (yes, I still see people sporting these in public on a day other than Halloween), I love using them when I wash my face or when I am giving myself facials. You are right on that they don’t leave a telltale bump or kink so if you just need to pull your hair back temporarily, it works great! I do however feel these babies should be relegated to in-home use only, no company allowed. LOL.
Noooo!
My mom had us wearing them until 2002. 🙁 Buying my first pack of elastic hair ties was a glorious moment.
I think they’re a lot like headgears. I’d wear them around the house when I was 12 to keep my teeth straight, but wouldn’t dare wear them out. I like wearing scrunchies around the house to keep my hair out of my face, because they’re gentler on my hair than elastics are, and the kinks they leave fall out more easily. That said, I would NEVER leave the house in them!!! haha!
Yeah, I’m not going to lie- I have an ancient scrunchie that I use on occasion. Strictly around the house, of course. It’s so good when I’ve JUST dried my hair, and I’m doing my makeup- keeps my hair back, without making any dents or waves in my hair. And when I’m sick of lying on 14 inches of hair at night- a bit, heinous scrunchie bun is awesome. (totally rocked that last night- no fake. 😉 )
I did get to wear scrunchies back in the day, they were a big thing when i was a litte girl and my school even had a special scrunchie made out for us to wear with our uniforms (plaid even on top of my head, those were good days!). I still have some scrunches liying arround my bathroom so i can wash my face without any obstacles or when i feel it i too hot for me to wear my hair down i use a scrunchie to put it up but i’d never leave the house with one on. Oh! and i have a special one for my dog, he has such long ears that he needs the scruchie to keep them away while he eats, trust me he looks so cute with it on!
Going to be honest- I use scrunchies and would probably not use any other type of elastic band to tie my hair unless I really need it! Scrunchies are soft- hold the huge amount of hair I have and don’t snag my hair when I remove it due to my length, unlike elastic bands.
And yeah, I’d put my hair up into a scrunchie bun too on days where a ponytail just doesn’t cut it and I have no time to wash my hair yet 😛
I totally agree. I love scrunchies. They’re easier to remove and put in than elastics.
i used to — i dont have enough hair for a scrunchie right now though! 😀
when i was growing up my fave was a pink satin-y one that my brother always used to say was “undies for your ponytail” … 😀
That is SUCH a boy thing to say!
My favorite one was a white one blue, orange and green flowers. It was my “fancy” scrunchie.
oohhh fancy! i shd hunt some scrunchies down @ target for when i do the tub thing !!!
I’m surprised by the schrunchie hate, but I’m guessing it varies due to hair type. Much to my relief I cut all my hair off recently, but when it was long there was a lot of it – massive, red, curly, coarse, and schrunchies were a godsend – for starters they didn’t get lost or tangled in my hair like regular elastics, and also they didn’t seem that poofy compared to my hair, it was a nice balance.
I do, however, draw the 80’s line at banana clips, I have some dignity.
I wore them as a kid… but I think it’s been at least 12 years since I’ve worn them out of the house. Because of your first two observations, I’ve worn them to wash my face or putter around the house (or sleep). My hair hasn’t been long enough for a scrunchie for a few years now anyway, so I don’t even know if I own any.
Quick poll within a poll, ladies!!
What was your favorite scrunchie when you were a kid?
Mine was white with blue, green and orange flowers.
My favorite scrunchie with LARGE purple with beads on it (this was in the 80s).
My current favorite scrunchie are small and black by Goody.
My favorite scrunchie was dark burgundy in a “velvety” material and it was lined with gold beads. Pretty snazzy I must say. 🙂
pink satin FTW!!!
close second is a green madras print one that a friend of mine used to make and sell in school!
Anything from LTD Too!!
Does anybody remember the crafty kit where you could make your own scrunchies?! It had these elastics with plastic snaps you pulled apart, some pre-made scrunchie tubes, and a few plain ones you could decorate. Plus a handy dandy gadget to decorate and put the whole mess together. I thought it was the bomb.com when I got it, until I discovered that, if you try to twist the scrunchie too tight in your hair, it would unsnap and catch you in the face.
Oh, and to answer your question, I got a full set with 6 or 7 rainbow neon colors, so I had one to match every outfit. I thought I was stylin’… they probably matched my socks, too.
I totally had that kit! ANd I got hit in the face a time or two…
My favorite was one striped with light and dark orange. I wore it with my fave outfit, which was (NO LIE) an orange t-shirt with a flower on it, orange jean shorts, orange scrunch socks, and orange Keds. Sigh. The fashion choices I made… 🙂
Mine was navy blue with silver stars!
Mine was made out of swimsuit material (!!!!! THE HORROR) and was black with fluorescent pink and turquoise and orange flowers.
I have a BFF who still wears scrunchies. Possibly in public. I need to have a scrunch-ervention with her real soon.
I spt my coffee out when I read “Scrunch-ervention” LoL
I can’t wear scrunchies even around the house because my hair is so thick and heavy they constantly fall out.
Back in the day I would put my hair in a tighter elastic and the put the scrunchie over top of it LoL
I remember buying fancy sequin/beaded scrunchies at Claire’s when I was in middle school.
Even when they were the height of style, I didn’t wear them. Though I did find one in my hair accessories box recently. I plan to keep it around for emergencies. It’s orange. 😛
Girl my hair is so thick and heavy that I used to wear an elastic UNDER the scrunchie. I don’t currently have enough hair for one. To get my hair out of my face in the bathroom I use a spa headband. Scrunchies alright for home use or maybe the gym. Def no banana clips!! Oh and don’t get me started on stirrup pants….uggh!
I only wear them when no one could see me 🙂
I had soooo many scrunchies! Loved them! Don’t have enough hair now, but I can’t remember when I gave up the scrunchies. High school, I assume.
There is a 40-something woman at my gym who used to wear bangs straight across her forehead and scrunchies, until maybe a year ago. The general appearence seemed a few decades too young. Now she has a really nice haircut, though.
I *still* wear scrunchies. They are much better on your hair than rubber bands and even those no-pull bands. My go-to hair for nice body with no effort involves damp hair, mousse and scrunchie. Voila.
There is so much scrunchie stigma! lol
I don’t wear them out of the house, but they are handy to have around just to pull hair back when apply/removing makeup, loose bun, etc without headaches or major kinks. I remember having them color coordinated with everything and some industrous moms making these to match school colors/uniforms. So what was more special – scrunchies or the mall hair with bangs and a perm??
Oh, you know I was all about the scrunchies to hold back my long, spiral-permed hair! 🙂 You made some excellent points about why they were popular (comfort), but the key selling point was that you could match them to your clothes. And you know, it was very important to match your socks and scrunchies to your shirt! 🙂
These days, I use a snag free elastic, in brown… to match my hair. Actually, it’s because I need something to hold it back while running. Tell me you also used to tie the Madonna, lace “head bands” around your head too. Please. 🙂
Have a great weekend!!
yes I still use my scrunchie but only around the house and to bed. It’s perfect for putting my hair up to wash my face or while doing housework.. My favorite scrunchie was one that I got when I was on the high school pom squad- it was yellow and green. I remember even waering multiple ones in my hair ( at least 2) to match my outfits.. OMG!!!
scrunchies are freaking awesome lol. WHILLLE at home…they don’t leave kinks in my hair and are perfect for tying up my hair at night…wearing them out??? NEVER
I used to wear them a lot when I was a child but not anymore. Besides, at the moment my hair is too short for them.
I never wear them outside of the house. I use them at night to pull my curls up in the “pineapple” to keep them looking good enough for the next day. Aside from that, Indie uses them more than I do. She takes them and puts them under either the fridge or stove and looks at me like “Mom, get them back…please.”
I wear them for bubble baths and sometimes while mowing the yard or laying out by the pool, as they are easier on my hair (and head!). If anyone outside of the family sees me in them, though, it is rather humiliating! I didn’t really wear them back in the day, because my hair was pretty layered at that time. I was a banana clip girl (yikes!), instead.
I rocked these and those claw clips like nobody’s business. Remember how you could twist your hair and clip it, and from the front all you’d see is spiky hair sticking up? Yeah, I was the queen of that look..
Anyway, I’ve stopped wearing scrunchies except for bedtime. I have to have my hair up because I hate the feeling of it being around my neck when I’m trying to sleep. Other than that, though, I’m the no-metal, ouchless hair band kinda gal.
My hair is too short now to pull back in a ponytail, but I rocked the scrunchie back in the day! Of course, I had to coordinate them with my outfit. 🙂
I also wore banana clips, but I’m not sure if they even make those anymore.
Not in public! I do use them around the house and to pull back my hair when washing my face.
My hair was too short when I was young to wear them, but there are perfect for bed. They’re loose and soft enough to be comfortable laying against on a pillow.
I wear them around the house only. I sleep with my hair in a ponytail or loose bun and they really are the best for that.
My favorite when I was young was one that came with one of my barbies. I think it was her skirt or something. (Or maybe I just thought it was cool and used it for a scrunchie, who knows). It was pink and really pretty. Then when I was a teenager, my favorite one was this black lacy one that I had. Now that I am 33, my favorite one is any that is comfortable and not any outrageous color that my husband would laugh at. 🙂
For face washing only! I don’t know why there is a stigma attached to them, same goes for those banana clip things that make your hair look like a mohawk. Having said that they aren’t that bothered about wearing them where my parents are in Tennessee! lol
No no no, not since 1994. But I did like your note about how Tabs likes to bat them around.
Yup, still wear them but only in my house/room since it’s really easy to use them to pull my hair back for cleansing or makeup.
It’s a BIG no/no when I wear them out though. I had done to accidently to a lecture, and kept thinking back to the SATC episode where Carrie and her boyfriend from Season 6 (that book writer who broke up with her on a post-it) were arguing about if a woman from New York would wear scrunchies out. He pointed to a woman in front of them in a queue and Carrie was adamant that was no actual New Yorker. Case in point, woman was a tourist from New Jersey or somewhere.
Anyway, I think that sums up my feelings there. They’re the perfect comfy accessory for around the house, like jogging bottoms, but should never be seen by another pair of eyes outside of the family. It simply isn’t fashion forward.
Heck yes I do! For the very same reasons that you do. Of course, I wouldn’t leave the house with one in my hair (and I seriously only have a heather gray one from the 90s) but it does what elastic bands can’t! Funny post. 🙂
LOL you reminded me of Sex & The City with this post! 🙂 I’ve never worn/owned a scrunchie, I was born 1984, so I missed this trend! lol
xxx
I will not lie. I SO use them, but like most people–NOT out in public. I have 1 by the bathroom sink i use when i wash my face & put on makeup. I also use one to hold my hair up when i exercise (yoga or the elliptical) & when i’m cleaning or cooking. But i take it off at any other time. I don’t even like my honey to see me wearing them — except when i’m cooking cuz then he doesn’t see my scrunchie — he just sees the food! LoL
I can’t live without my scrunchies. I am unashamed to admit I wear scrunchies. Haters keep on hatin’.
Scrunchies serve two main purposes.
1. They keep your hair back while washing your face/sleeping/etc. without pulling too much (better for your hair)
2. They keep your hair back when you’re driving with the top down (or the sunroof open) and you want your hair to look presentable when you arrive wherever you’re going. Scrunchies don’t leave the classic “ponytail bump” unlike most elastics.
The only way you’ll see me in a scrunchie is if you’re sleeping over at my place, or if you’re riding in the car with me on a sunny day!
See, the thing about scrunchies is that they are a hidden gem. Not that I wear them in public, but many of us with curly hair ‘pineapple’ with a scrunchie at night. A pineapple is a high, loose ponytail on top of your head. The scrunchie is loose enough not to dent your hair, but the pineapple helps to preserve your curls and makes it easier to create second day hair (which is notoriously hard for curly hair!). So yes, I wear scrunchies, but only at night, in the dark, where no one (except my husband) can see them.