Every hair accessory has its moment. First, it was bows, then it was stretchy headbands à la 2004, then we saw all those fun claw clips. But now? We’re fully back in our bandana era. Picture yourself riding in a convertible down the French countryside with a chic bandana tied around your head. That's the energy we're channeling for summer 2025.
"I just got back from Paris and every store was stocked with rows upon rows of scarves in every color, fabric, and print you could imagine," says Cosmo beauty editor Beth Gillette. "I have to assume they've been collecting this many scarves just for this moment in beauty trend history." And if it's Euro summer approved, it's a trend I'm all for.
The beauty of the accessory lies in its versatility—celebs like Gracie Abrams and Hailey Bieber have been rocking bandana hairstyles as of late. Even the Cosmo beauty team has been using them to cover a third-day blowout or elevate beach hair. There's truly no wrong way to bandana.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up all the cutest bandana inspo. Plus, the best bandanas to shop now and how to style them.
Bandana hair inspo:
Gracie’s bandana is the second most important part of this photo.
It’s almost like we manifested this trend with our Doechii summer cover shoot...
Hailey Bieber wearing a bandana on a boat in Europe is the vibe I’m going for.
This cherry headscarf is just so chic.
Chappell's using this plaid bandana to tie back her voluminous curls is so simple yet so stylish.
Okay, while I don’t look half as cool as Doechii or Hailey Bieber in a bandana, it still works. It’s simple, low-effort, and super cute.
"I saw girls all over Paris with headscarves in their hair," says Gillette. "It's such a chic way to disguise second-day grease."
Shop the best bandanas for summer:
How to style a bandana:
Bandanas have been worn for decades, but there are still so many fresh ways to style them with any type of outfit.
Fold one in half into a triangle and wrap it around the back of your head for that effortlessly cool look, or knot it under your chin to go full vintage. You can also place it over the top of your head and secure it at the back, leaving the rest of your hair down and loose. Try rolling it up and tying it around the nape of your neck to wear it like a headband.
I've even seen fashion girlies fold them in half and wear them around the waist in a sarong-esque style. Honestly, there's no wrong way to wear one.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about all the biggest beauty trends out there. For this story, she spotted the trend on celebs and then spent weeks styling and trying bandanas. She also tapped beauty editor Beth Gillette for her insight.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
