First it was tracksuits, then anything tie-dyed. Now, with heatwave weather looming, hairdresser waiting lists at capacity and a summer spent working from home on the cards, there’s a new lockdown trend on the horizon: scrunchies.
Maybe it’s because they’re a purse-friendly treat that doesn’t make you want to hide the package from your partner/parents. Perhaps it’s the fact that high ponytails and messy buns are the most hassle-free hairstyles to employ while running after a toddler and simultaneously chairing a video call. Quite probably it's because hairdressers have now been closed for months, and your hair - like ours - has developed a wild life of its own. Either way, scrunchies have been selling like little silk and velvet hotcakes, with searches, according to global search platform Lyst, increasing by 27% month-on-month. Pinterest, too, reports that searches for the accessory are up by a whopping 6309%.
Not only have Rixo’s printed scrunchies proven popular during lockdown, but co-founder Henrietta Rix has noticed that customers are buying them to match their dresses. ‘Whether you’re popping to the shops, going for a stroll or chilling at home, scrunchies are perfect for pulling your hair up, especially when the weather heats up,’ she says.
It’s a similar story at Stine Goya, where scrunchie sales are up 17%. ‘Let’s be honest, not everyone is waking up and putting on a full lock for a day at their makeshift desk. If you are, I salute you!’ says Goya. ‘Scrunchies are a cheerful, colourful, inexpensive way to give a little personality to your WFH look.’
In terms of styling, you might not think the scrunchie has much bandwidth - but you'd be wrong. The influencer Nnenna Echem has a three-step process to making yours look elevated. 1) Match your scrunchie’s print to your outfit. 2) Wear two at once, at the top and middle of a low ponytail. 3) Top it off with a satin headband. Follow those rules and, trust us, you won’t have anyone screeching, ‘A scrunchie!’ like an incredulous Carrie Bradshaw in your direction.
SHOP: The Best Hair Scrunchies
![Anisa Sojka, Black Oversized Hair Scrunchie, £22](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6024/fd01/73e8/2b85/49aa/5255/AnisaSojkaBlackOversizedHairScrunchie_GoldHoopEarrings_ChunkyChainNecklace5_590x.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anisa Sojka, Black Oversized Hair Scrunchie, £22
![Slick Back Scrunchies x Anna Choutova, £8](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6048/f222/0e8f/a608/11ea/f505/slick.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Slick Back Scrunchies x Anna Choutova, £8
![Roop Margot Scrunchie](https://images.bauerhosting.com/celebrity/sites/3/2023/10/Roop-Margot-Scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Roop Margot Scrunchie, £16
![COS, Organic Cotton Scrunchie, £12](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7ade/33c0/5461/a56d/6671/cos%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
COS, Organic Cotton Scrunchie, £12
![Weekday, Organza Scrunchie, £4](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef5/c5ee/3fbf/bd18/4d76/b460/Weekday%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Weekday, Organza Scrunchie, £4
![Stine Goya, Scrunchie Ice, £12.50](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7b25/3fbf/bd7c/bd76/ab1e/stine%20goya%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Stine Goya, Scrunchie Ice, £12.50
![Ganni, Silk Stretch Satin Scrunchie, £20](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7b4e/a1de/ea1c/49f8/8669/ganni%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Ganni, Silk Stretch Satin Scrunchie, £20
![Fendi, Floral Print Silk Twill Scrunchie, £220](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7b79/3fbf/bd61/6976/ab21/fendi%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Fendi, Floral Print Silk Twill Scrunchie, £220
![Rixo, Micro Mod Scrunchie, £18](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7b9e/ea6a/13fd/97f6/8372/rixo%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Rixo, Micro Mod Scrunchie, £18
![Urban Outfitters, Oversized Mesh Scrunchie, £10](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7bc6/ea6a/1383/6ef6/8374/urban%20outfitters%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Urban Outfitters, Oversized Mesh Scrunchie, £10
![Anisa Sojka, Ivory Oversized Hair Scrunchie, £22](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6024/fd1d/e176/d075/5120/2c60/AnisaSojkaWhiteOversizedScrunchie_590x.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anisa Sojka, Ivory Oversized Hair Scrunchie, £22
![Versace, Green Silk Print Scrunchie, £100](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef4/7bec/035e/2c2b/239e/d3e8/versace%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Versace, Green Silk Print Scrunchie, £100
![Slip, Silk Large Scrunchies, £39](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef5/c4f1/3fbf/bd2d/1d76/b453/Slip%20silk%20scrunchies.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Slip, Silk Large Scrunchies, £39
![Yolke, Black Silk Scrunchie, £20](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef5/c541/035e/2cbb/069e/dc7d/YOlke%20scrunchie%20.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Yolke, Black Silk Scrunchie, £20
![Valet, Satin Scrunchie, £30](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef5/c59a/7e84/1856/e19f/b9d9/Liberty%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Valet, Satin Scrunchie, £30
![Oliver Bonas, Floral Print Hair Scrunchie, £12.50](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef5/c649/3fbf/bd58/b376/b462/oliver%20bonas%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Oliver Bonas, Floral Print Hair Scrunchie, £12.50
![H&M, Scarf-Detail Scrunchie, £3.99](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ef5/c6c2/3fbf/bd61/c476/b465/h&m%20scrunchie.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
H&M, Scarf-Detail Scrunchie, £3.99
![Anisa Sojka, Pearl Hair Tie, £19](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6024/fd13/e176/d054/2820/2c5f/AnisaSojkaPearlHairTie3_590x.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anisa Sojka, Pearl Hair Tie, £19
![HARMUR, The 'Chic' Scrunchie Bundle, £55](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/605e/2a82/c00d/07a3/a7b0/ef86/Screen%20Shot%202021-03-26%20at%2018.39.46.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)