Carrie Bradshaw hated scrunchies. She found them outrageously unfashionable—and I can’t say that I disagree with her. But once Madrid-based dermatologist Claudia Bernárdez made a case for switching from the classic fabric elastics to a silk scrunchie, which will make a huge difference in how your hair looks—I have to say I was convinced. Thankfully, there have been breakthroughs in the aesthetic arena since Bradshaw was on our television screen, too.
Bernárdez’s detailed and logical explanation started with this: the thin elastic bands (like the ones my daughters constantly use to make that super-sleek pony) may have a lot of holding power, but with that great power comes great destruction when it comes to your hair strands.
Then she shared a little science lesson. “When you put your hair up with a hair tie, the place where it is wrapped has energy exerted on it,” says Bernárdez. “Each hair fiber has a certain amount of energy it can handle before it is fractured. The thinner the hair tie, the more concentrated that energy and tension becomes, and the more likely hair is to break.” That’s when I learned rule number 1: The thicker your hair tie, the better.
“The wider a hair band is, the less damage it will do to the hair fiber,” Bernárdez continues.
Next comes rule number two: always consider the material. “When the hair tie material is hard and elastic, it exerts all its pressure against the hair without softening that resistance, so the hair gets damaged. On the other hand, when it is wide and covered with fabric, there is not only less friction and pressure, but it’s also better distributed.”
The conclusion? The wider elastic band, then covered in a hair-loving fabric, is the best way to secure your hair. I’ve come to love the mulberry silk scrunchies from Slip Silk, which come in every pattern and color imaginable—that way, I can be bold or covert.