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Revised 9/18/26
bandana tying guide
How to Tie a Bandana
A bandana is the simplest head covering there is, and nearly every way to wear one starts with the same fold. Full head coverage, your hair, a headband, your neck or a hat: each one has its own photos and a video.
All you need to know is how to tie your bandana.
If you are covering hair loss, start at how to tie a bandana on your head. If you have hair and want a look, start at bandana hairstyles. Either way, the fold comes first.
Bandanas have traveled a long way. The name comes from bandhani, the Indian tie-dye tradition, and by the 18th century printed cotton bandanas were being sold across Europe. The design has barely changed since, because it did not need to. A square of cotton, folded once, does more jobs than anything else you can tie on: it keeps hair back, covers a bare head, dresses up a hat and finishes a neckline. Most of the ways to use a bandana come down to that one fold.
the basics
what a bandana is, and the one fold every style starts with
The short answer
Fold the square in half corner to corner. That triangle is the start of nearly every bandana style.
what is a bandana?
The word bandana comes from the Hindi word 'bāndhnā,' which means "to tie." This is fitting, because that is exactly what you do with a bandana. A bandana is a flat, square piece of fabric that can be tied many different ways, including on the head, in the hair, around the neck and more. Depending on where you grew up you may know it as a bandana scarf, a head kerchief or a handkerchief; they are the same square of fabric. Many standard bandanas are around 20 to 22 inches square. Ours is an oversized 24 inch square, which gives you more fabric for full coverage and for tying.
how to fold a bandana: the magic triangle
While bandanas can be tied in seemingly endless ways, most styles start out the same way: by making the "magic triangle." It is simple to create the magic triangle: all you need to do is fold the square bandana in half diagonally. When tying some styles, you will create a perfect triangle by meeting the two opposite corners. However, when working with a bandana, some tying styles require you to create an off-set triangle by leaving a bit of space (about 2" or so) between the opposite corners to give you more room for tying. The closer the tip of the bandana is to the corner, the smaller the bandana will be when tied.
Now that you know how to make your magic triangle, it's time to start tying and wearing your bandana!
different ways to wear a bandana
The video runs through nine ways to wear the same square. A couple of them you will use every week. The rest are there for the day you feel like it.
how to tie a bandana on your head
how to tie a bandana around your head for full coverage: two bandana head wrap styles
The short answer
Fold an off-set triangle, lay the folded edge along your hairline, and tie a double knot at the back: over the tail for a tucked-in look, under it for a loose one.
A bandana is not only a fashionable accessory: it is also an excellent headcovering during hair loss. If you are experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy, radiation to the head or scalp, alopecia, aging or another cause, a bandana can be a great solution. Not only are they comfortable and lightweight, they are also convenient, affordable, and cute. You can also wear your bandana under summer hats that do not provide full head coverage on their own, such as baseball caps and fedoras. They also make adorable decorative accessories when paired with your cancer hats.
If this is your first time covering your head, start here. A bandana is easier than it looks: it is one fold and one knot, and the first one you tie is the only hard one. Do it sitting down, in front of a mirror, with nowhere to be. By the third try your hands will know the way.
This video will show you 2 stylish ways to wear a headwrap bandana that will provide full head coverage, turning your bandana into a cool and practical chemo headwrap.
tying a bandana on your head, method 1: tucked under
In this look, the tail of the bandana is tucked in. Styling a bandana on your head in this way ensures a secure headwrap that provides total coverage to the head.
Fold the bandana diagonally into an off-set magic triangle by staggering the 2 opposite corners of the bandana about an inch or 2 apart. This is so you can have more of the bandana to work with.
Turn the bandana over. With the folded side facing down, place the folded edge across your forehead, along your hairline.
Tie the double knot over the tail to create a tucked-in headwrap look.
tying a bandana on your head, method 2: laid back
In this look, the tail of the bandana is loose. This method of tying a bandana on your head creates a more traditional, laid back look.
Fold the bandana in half diagonally to create an off-set magic triangle. Stagger the two points about 2 inches apart.
Place the long folded edge along your hairline.
Tie a double knot under the tail and adjust as needed.
the two head wraps, step by step
Check out our infographic below to help you tie a bandana on your head in two different ways in a snap! Print it and keep it where you get dressed.
bandana hairstyles: how to wear a bandana
the hair wrap, tied under the hair or over it
The short answer
Fold a triangle, set the folded edge along your hairline, and knot the ends under your hair. Fold the edge in about two inches first for a neater line.
Since the invention of the bandana, people have worn them in their hair. Why? Because it looks good, that's why. What we have here are a couple of methods, and alternative methods, for some cute bandana hairstyles.
bandana hairstyle 1: hair wrap
In the video: 0:30.
We'll start with the headwrap.
First, start with a perfect magic triangle by grabbing 2 opposite corners of the square bandana and fold them together to make a triangle.
Then, you'll take the folded edge of the triangle and place it along your hairline.
Lastly, you'll take the 2 ends of the triangle and tie the ends into a double knot underneath your hair. Adjust as needed.
(Note: if you have hair, take the folded edge of the triangle, and fold it about 2 inches in toward the point for a better look.)
The alternative method is to follow the same steps, except instead of tying the two ends underneath the hair, tie them over the hair.
bandana headband: how to fold a bandana into a headband
a thin band or a wide one, tied on top or underneath
The short answer
Fold a triangle, then fold from the point toward the folded edge until the band is as wide as you want it. Tie it on top of your head or underneath your hair.
The bandana headband is the style most people picture first, and the most forgiving: no coverage to worry about, no tail to tuck, just a folded band and a knot. Fold it narrow and it reads as a ribbon; leave it wide and it becomes a hair wrap that holds everything back on a hot day.
Moving on to the bandana headband, which is a classic hairstyle you can create with a bandana.
Make a perfect magic triangle by taking the two opposite ends of the bandana and then fold it in half diagonally.
Take the point of the triangle and fold the bandana in sections all the way toward the folded edge.
Once folded, place the bandana in your hair with the ends at the top of the head.
Then take the two long ends and tie them on top of your head, double knotting it.
Alternatively, you can center the folded bandana at the top of your head and take the two long ends and double knot them underneath your hair for a slightly different look.
Two things that help. Fold from the point in even sections so the band lies flat instead of twisting, and if you want a wide band, use the 24 inch square: a standard bandana runs out of fabric and folds down to a thin one.
neck bandanas: how to tie a bandana around your neck
the neckerchief and the necklace
The short answer
Fold a triangle and knot the two ends at the back of your neck for a neckerchief, or roll the triangle into a tube and knot it at the front for a necklace.
While bandanas look great in your hair, they also look great around your neck. Try out these 2 methods to really spice up your outfit.
style 1: how to tie a neckerchief
In the video: 1:10.
The first method to style a bandana around your neck is the neckerchief. This is one of the most classic looks you can create with a bandana.
Grab 2 opposite corners of the bandana and fold them together to make a perfect magic triangle.
Then take 2 ends of the bandana (on the folded edge side) and wrap them around your neck.
Double knot the ends.
style 2: necklace
In the video: 1:49.
The second method to tie a bandana around your neck is the Necklace style.
Make the perfect magic triangle.
From the point of the triangle, fold in small sections toward the folded edge of the triangle to roll up the bandana into a tube.
Tie the rolled up bandana in a knot in the center of the bandana.
Then take the ends of the bandana and double knot it around your neck.
bandana hat: accessorizing headwear with a bandana
around the brim, or underneath
The short answer
Roll the triangle into a band and knot it around the brim, or tie a head wrap first and put the hat on over it.
Bandanas have the ability to complement just about any hat you have. If you decide to wear them on your hat, such as a sun hat, it can provide a more fun and colorful look.
around the brim
In the video: 2:01.
First, we'll put it on a sun hat, bucket hat, or turban.
Grab 2 opposite corners of the bandana and fold them together to make a perfect magic triangle.
Then, starting at the folded edge, fold it all the way toward the point until it's completely rolled up.
Finally, take the 2 ends of the bandana and wrap them around the brim of the hat, then double knot the ends. You can adjust the knot any way you'd like.
under a hat
In the video: 2:11.
Next, we'll wear it under a hat. Just tie your basic headwrap, using either of the two head wraps, or tying it over your hair if you have it. Then you just put on your hat, and then you're done!
full coverage under a sun hat or ball cap
Either one of these methods for tying a bandana on the head can be used to add total head coverage to your favorite sun hat or baseball cap.
bandanas for men
None of these styles is women only. The folds are the same. Two especially simple options are the head wrap, tied low across the forehead with the knot at the back, and the neckerchief. For a lower-profile look, wear the wrap lower across the forehead and tuck the tail under the knot rather than leaving it loose. Start from the off-set triangle so you have the fabric to do it.
best bandanas for tying
size and fabric are what make the difference
When searching for the best bandana to tie, there are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Size of the bandana. Every bit of fabric makes a difference when you're tying your bandana. A bandana with some extra fabric will make tying much more simple, as well as allow you to create more versatile styles. Our 100% cotton bandana is a great option because it's an oversized 24" square, which gives you noticeably more fabric for full coverage and for tying than the 20 to 22 inch bandanas most stores sell. It is especially ideal for those trying to tie a bandana on the head because it will easily provide full head coverage.
- Type of fabric. Fabric type also makes a difference to tying. The easiest type of fabric to tie is cotton, because it is less slippery on the head. The cotton on our Headcovers bandanas is also incredibly soft and lightweight, making these bandanas very comfortable.
| size | what it gives you |
|---|---|
| 20 inch | Less fabric. Well suited to neckerchiefs, headbands and hair wraps. |
| 22 inch | A little more tying room. May work for full-head styles depending on fit. |
| 24 inch | More fabric for full coverage, larger knots and tucked-tail styles. This is ours. |
This is why we highly recommend our bandanas for tying.
Our large 100% cotton bandanas are cut for easy tying and full head coverage. Or browse all bandanas.
if your bandana slides on a bare head
it is friction, not the knot, and one small thing underneath fixes it
A bandana tied straight onto a bare scalp has nothing to grip, so it can creep back through the day. This is not a tying problem and no knot fixes it. It is friction, and one small thing underneath solves it.
A scarf gripper is a lightweight headband that grips, worn under the bandana so the fabric has something to hold onto instead of skin. A velour grip band does the same job and holds wigs too. If your hair is thinning or growing back, or your scalp is tender, the No Slip Grip Cap spreads the hold across the whole head instead of one line at the hairline.
With a gripper on, you can tie the bandana far more gently than instinct suggests, and it will still stay exactly where you put it. The gripper is holding it, not the knot.
A scarf pad (there is an organic cotton one too) or the Meridian Beanie underneath does something different again: it gives the crown some shape, which is what hair used to do. That is why both are in the videos.
pre-tied bandanas
the magic triangle, already made
If you like the look of a bandana but not the tying, a pre-tied scarf does the first step for you. The triangle is already cut and sewn into shape, so you place it on your head and tie the ends. Our Padded Carol styles also have light padding along the front edge, which is softer against the skin and gives the hairline a little fullness. It carries my mother's name because it was her own favorite during treatment.
Find pre-tied bandanas here:
bandana prints and colors
tie dye, batik, hand-printed, paisley, and solids
Bandanas are available in enough colors and patterns that even the pickiest person wouldn't have any trouble finding a bandana that suits their personal style. Each print will give a different look, and the overall appearance will depend on how the bandana is tied. Some of these patterns include:
- Tie dye bandanas and batik bandanas, which are handmade and have a boho, 60s-inspired look.
- Hand-printed and stamped bandanas, which are made using the traditional technique for printing bandanas. Many of these bandanas are made using the ancient art of woodblock stamping, a traditional printing method that uses hand-carved blocks to stamp fabric with unique designs. These bandanas may come in a floral, paisley, or abstract design.
- Paisley bandanas, which, of course, is the classic pattern that has been around since the 1700s. When you think of a bandana, you are probably thinking of a classic paisley print.
- Solid color bandanas: If you don't want a printed fabric, bandanas are also available in solid colors for every color of the rainbow.
- Sequined bandanas, for when you want the head covering to be the dressed-up part of the outfit.
A note on tie dye and woodblock prints. Wash hand-dyed or hand-printed bandanas separately for the first few washes. Some excess surface color can release at first, which is normal and not a fault in the bandana.
bandana fabrics
cotton, silk, satin, and viscose
Similar to the variety of colors and patterns, bandanas are also available in a variety of fabrics, such as cotton, silk, and satin. Every fabric has its own set of pros and cons. This includes certain aesthetic reasons, or certain qualities that are unique to those specific materials.
cotton bandanas
Cotton is a soft, lightweight, 100% natural material, and the easiest type of bandana to tie. Cotton bandanas are typically available at an affordable price point. Shop cotton bandanas.
silk bandanas
Silk is a natural fiber, smooth and low-friction against skin and hair, with an elegant glossy shine. However, it is so smooth that it is sometimes a little more difficult to tie than other fabrics. It is also more expensive than other materials.
satin bandanas
Satin gives a similar look to silk at a lower price point. Satin gives a beautiful, sheeny shine and feels soft on the skin. It is also more resistant to wrinkles than other types of fabrics. However, unlike cotton and silk, satin is usually not made from natural materials, and instead is most often made from 100% polyester. This makes it less breathable than silk and cotton. Satin is also a little slippery, which makes tying slightly more difficult.
viscose from bamboo
Pre-tied bandanas made from viscose from bamboo are silky-soft to the touch while still being easy to style. They also feel cool on the skin and offer a nice stretch. Shop the Instant Tie scarf in viscose from bamboo.
Alright, it's time to (head) wrap this up (I'm sorry, we couldn't resist!). We hope we were able to bestow upon you some mind-expanding techniques that you never knew could ever exist; or, at least, inspire a new look for you. There are many great uses a bandana has. You can wear it around as a headwrap, a headband, a neckerchief, and many other ways. It's great to spice up any headwear or outfit you may have. However you end up wearing yours, happy tying!
quick reference
how to use a bandana, every style in one table, and the questions we hear most
| style | start with | the knot | best for | in the video |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hair wrap | perfect triangle | double knot under the hair, or over it | Keeping hair back on a hot day | 0:30 |
| bandana headband | perfect triangle, folded into a band | on top of the head, or under the hair | The classic bandana hairstyle | 1:22 |
| neckerchief | perfect triangle | double knot at the back of the neck | A classic look with any outfit | 1:10 |
| necklace | perfect triangle, rolled into a tube | one knot at the center, then tied at the neck | A finer, jewelry-like line | 1:49 |
| around a brim | perfect triangle, rolled from the folded edge | double knot around the brim of the hat | Adding color to a sun hat or bucket hat | 2:01 |
| tucked under | off-set triangle | double knot over the tail | Full, secure head coverage during hair loss | head wrap video |
| laid back | off-set triangle | double knot under the tail | Full coverage with a relaxed, traditional look | head wrap video |
| under a cap | either head wrap | either head wrap, then the hat goes on top | Full coverage under a baseball cap or fedora | 2:11 |
how do I fold a bandana?
Every style starts the same way: lay the square flat and fold it in half corner to corner, so you have a triangle. Meet the two corners exactly for a perfect triangle, or leave about two inches between them for an off-set triangle, which gives you more to tie with. From there you either place the folded edge along your hairline, or keep folding from the point toward that edge to make a band.
how do you tie a bandana around your head?
Fold the bandana diagonally into an off-set magic triangle, staggering the two opposite corners about an inch or two apart so you have more fabric to work with. Place the folded edge along your hairline, take the two ends to the back and tie a double knot. Tie the knot over the tail for a tucked-in look with total coverage, or under the tail for a looser, laid back look. Our 24" cotton bandana gives you the extra fabric that makes full coverage easy.
what size is a bandana, and what size do I need?
Bigger is easier. Many standard bandanas are around 20 to 22 inches square, which is enough for a headband or a neckerchief but leaves very little to knot when you want full head coverage. Our oversized 24 inch square gives you noticeably more fabric, which makes every style simpler to tie and covers the whole head with room to spare.
how do you keep a bandana from slipping on a bare head?
Wear something with a little grip underneath. A bandana tied onto a bare scalp has nothing to hold onto, so it creeps back through the day no matter how tightly it is tied. A scarf gripper or velour grip band under the bandana solves it, and once one is on you can tie the bandana more loosely, which is more comfortable anyway. Cotton also slips less than silk or satin, which is one more reason it is the easiest fabric to tie.
which fabric is easiest to tie?
Cotton. It is less slippery on the head than silk or satin, so the knot stays where you put it, and it is soft and lightweight enough to wear all day. Silk and satin look beautiful but both are smooth enough to slide while you tie them, and satin is usually polyester, so it is less breathable than cotton or silk.
how do you wear a bandana with hair?
The two easiest bandana hairstyles are the hair wrap and the headband. For the hair wrap, fold a perfect triangle, place the folded edge along your hairline and double knot the ends under your hair (fold the edge in about 2 inches first for a neater line). For the headband, fold the triangle into a narrow band, center it on your head and tie the ends on top or underneath your hair.
how do I fold a bandana into a headband?
Fold a perfect magic triangle, then fold from the point toward the folded edge in sections until the band is as wide as you want it. Center it on your head and tie the two ends on top in a double knot, or tie them underneath your hair for a cleaner line. A wide fold gives you a hair wrap; a narrow one reads as a ribbon. A 24" bandana gives you enough fabric for either.
can you wear a bandana under a hat?
Yes, and it is one of the most useful things a bandana does. Tie either head wrap, tucked under or laid back, then put your hat on over it. It adds total head coverage to a baseball cap, a fedora, a visor or a sun hat that does not cover the whole head on its own.
what is a pre-tied bandana?
A pre-tied bandana is already cut and sewn into the magic triangle, so the only step left is tying the ends together. Our Padded Carol scarf is lightly padded along the edge, which feels softer on the skin and gives the hairline some fullness when it is worn on the head. It carries my mother's name, Carol: it was her favorite during her own treatment.
why we care about this
specialists in hair loss since 1995
In 1990, my mother, Carol, lost her hair during breast cancer treatment. When she came out of surgery, there was simply nothing she wanted to put on her head. Five years later, we started Headcovers because we wanted women going through hair loss to have better choices.
Our bandanas came from listening to those women. Again and again, we heard the same complaints about ordinary bandanas: they were too small to cover the head comfortably, and the fabric could feel rough against a sensitive scalp. A neighbor of ours was looking for something especially simple, soft enough to wear all day but large enough to tie easily. So we made one. We used soft cotton, cut it generously, and kept the design simple. It worked, and we have been making our bandanas that way ever since.
When my mother went through treatment a second time, things were different. This time, she had head coverings made for what she was going through. The Padded Carol became her favorite, and today it carries her name. The triangle is already sewn into shape, so there is no folding to figure out: just put it on and tie the ends.
It is still one of the easiest places to start if you have never tied anything on your head before. Once that feels familiar, a large square bandana is the natural next step. Learn the fold, learn the knot, and from there you can make it your own.
Ready to try one?
Large 100% cotton bandanas, cut a full 24 inches for easy tying and full coverage.
keep learning
how to tie a head scarf
Fourteen ways to tie square and long scarves, each with a video.
how to wear a hat
Placement, proportion, face shape and fit, in that order.
5 must have scarf accessories
Five small things that make a head scarf look finished.
how to care for hats and scarves
Washing, drying and steaming soft headwear so it keeps its shape.
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