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Revised 9/18/26
scarf tying guide
How to Tie a Head Scarf
Fourteen ways to tie a scarf on your head, each with a short video and written steps. Start with the classic, and come back for the rest when you are ready.
Scarves are perhaps the most versatile and magical fashion accessory in a woman's wardrobe.
A scarf is the one head covering you get to design. The shape of it, the volume, where the knot sits, how much falls down your back: all of that is yours, and you can decide it fresh each morning. It moves, too: the tails drape and shift when you do, which is what hair did. And you size it yourself, tying it to the exact head you have that day, which matters more than it sounds when a head is tender or changing. A scarf is folded and tied rather than put on, so the first one feels like a lot and the tenth takes ninety seconds.
Here are some of our favorite ways to tie a head scarf. Every style below has a video, so watch it once and then work from the written steps with the scarf in your hands.
selecting head scarves for tying
Head scarves come in many sizes and shapes. Choosing a shape simply comes down to preference. To determine your favorite look, it's helpful to browse these head scarves on the model and see which ones appeal to you. You will see them called head scarves, head wraps or kerchiefs; they are the same thing. There are basically three types of head scarves:
- Square scarves: Easiest to tie
- Rectangle scarves: Most styling versatility
- Pre-tied scarves: No tying or very little tying required
Start with the classic square. Four steps, works on any square scarf you already own, and it is the one most women keep coming back to. If your scarf slips, aches or looks flat, that is all fixable, and the fixes are in volume and grip.
how to fold and tie a square head scarf
eight ways, each starting with the same fold
Square head scarves are the easiest to work with and the most popular. They are an ideal choice for beginners as they are the easiest to tie, and are more manageable than long scarves for most women. They offer many styling options. For full head coverage, 28 x 28 inches is a comfortable starting size when you fold the square corner to corner, because that fold leaves you with half the fabric. Fold it off center instead, slightly less than halfway across, and the back stays deeper. That is how a 24 inch bandana covers a whole head when a 24 inch scarf folded in half will not. For those who prefer to have a generous amount of fabric hanging down their backs (giving the illusion of hair), we offer oversized square scarves.
how to fold a headscarf
Every one of these begins the same way: fold the square corner to corner into a triangle. One fold, eight different scarves. That fold will wrap a scarf on your head, tie a turban, or roll into a band, and a bigger scarf folded the same way simply sits deeper on the head. Fold off center, slightly less than halfway across, and you keep more depth at the back from the same square.
If the first one looks wrong, it is almost always the fold rather than you, and nobody is watching the first three attempts.
Watch the video once, then work from the steps with the scarf in your hands. Here are a few of our favorite styles to tie a square head scarf.
1. classic square scarf style
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Place the folded edge of the triangle along your forehead.
Take the two ends back to the nape of neck.
Tie in a knot above the triangle and continue to a square knot or a bow.
2. vintage head wrap
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Place the folded edge of the triangle along your forehead.
Cross the ends of the scarf under chin.
Bring the ends to the back or side of neck.
Tie ends in a square knot.
3. rosette twisted scarf wrap
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Place the folded edge of the scarf along your forehead.
Position and gather all loose ends.
Twist the ends together into a spiral.
Wrap the spiral into a bun to form a rosette.
Secure by tucking the loose ends into the folds.
4. square scarf turban
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Place the folded edge of the scarf against the nape of the neck with the pointed triangle toward face.
Bring the two long ends toward the front of the head and tie into a knot over the triangle.
Take the two long ends and bring them to the back and tie in a knot again and tuck the ends up into the wrap.
Now take the triangle in front and tuck it up into the knot and adjust as needed.
5. bows away scarf turban
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Center the folded edge at the nape of neck.
Bring each side over the ears and up to the top of your head.
Tie a bow with the long ends.
Tuck in the triangle and ends of the bow to the sides.
6. square head wrap
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Place the folded edge of the triangle along forehead.
Take the two ends back to the nape of neck.
Tie in a single knot.
Bring ends back up to forehead and tie a small square knot.
7. hat wrap: how to tie a scarf on a hat
This one does not go on your head. It goes on a hat, and a scarf hat is the cheapest way to make a plain brim look like a different hat entirely. It works on a brimmed sun hat or a turban.
Fold scarf into a triangle.
Roll the folded edge toward the point of the triangle.
Lay the rolled edge across the crown of hat.
Take the two ends of the scarf and pull them around sides of the hat's crown.
Tie them in a square knot or bow at the back or on the side.
8. more square scarf styles
A square scarf is not only a head covering, so if you are wondering whether you will still want it in a year, you will. It just may not be on your head.
In addition to being great headcoverings, square head scarves can be tied in many fun ways to accessorize your look. This makes square scarves even more versatile. Get creative! Some popular ways to tie a headscarf are:
- As hair accessories, such as headbands and scrunchies
- Tied on a purse to add a touch of color
- Around the neck as a neckerchief or necklace
- Worn as a wrap or kimono
how to tie a long head scarf: head wrap styles
six ways, for oblongs and rectangles
Odds are good you already have a rectangular scarf in your wardrobe. Rectangular head scarves (also called oblongs or long scarves) are a good option for women who like the look of extra fabric hanging down in the back, similar to a ponytail. While squares are easier to tie for beginners, rectangle scarves allow you the most styling versatility. You can achieve the looks you can get with a square head scarf, but the dimensions also allow you to create more intricate style options. The generous amount of material allows the wearer to tie various styles, from pretty head wraps and turbans to flowing side ponies. They can be worn alone or multiple scarves can be layered to create more complex and beautiful wraps. Oblong scarves take just a little more practice, but with the help of our tutorials below, tying a rectangular scarf can be as easy as tying your shoe laces.
Another great thing about long scarves? Even if you are new to hair loss or covering your head, odds are good that you already have a rectangular scarf in your wardrobe, just waiting to be transformed into a one-of-a-kind head covering.
Fair warning. This is where scarf tying stops being a thing you have to do and turns into a thing you want to do. Here are six basic long scarf styles to get your creative juices flowing:
1. long tail bow scarf
Fold scarf lengthwise (only if your scarf is wide).
Place the center of the scarf along your hairline with equal lengths on either side.
Tie the ends into a knot.
Tie the knot into a bow.
Adjust loose ends and style as desired.
The bow may be worn to the side or to the back.
2. twisted crown headwrap
Center the scarf on forehead.
Tie the two long ends in the back.
Bring the ends forward over shoulders.
Tightly twist the sides.
Continue to twist as you wrap around the crown of your head.
Tuck the ends under the beginning portion of the twist.
3. side scarf ponytail style
Center the scarf on forehead.
Bring the sides to the nape of neck like a low ponytail.
Tie the knot at the nape of neck.
Bring scarf ends over shoulder and loosely twist them.
Bring each twist to the top of your head.
Find where you want your pony to be and tie a square knot.
Wrap the twists around each other two or three times.
Tuck the short end up into the knot.
Fluff out the long end left.
4. My Little Pony scarf (requires an elastic hair tie)
Center the scarf on forehead.
Bring the sides over the ears and to nape of neck like a low ponytail.
Pull half of the scarf through the hair tie and twist the tie.
Bunch and pull a little more of the scarf through the hair tie.
5. rosette low bun scarf wrap
Hold the scarf horizontally.
Center the scarf on one side of your head over the ear.
Tightly twist the sides about one quarter of the way down.
Coil the twist around itself to create a bun.
Keep twisting and coiling around the bun until you get to the end of scarf.
Tuck in the ends.
6. middle of everywhere twisted turban
Center the scarf at the nape of neck.
Bring the ends forward to front of forehead.
Tightly twist the ends together.
Bring the twist back down the center of your head.
Tuck the ends up into the scarf at the nape of neck.
Something to practice on: squares, oblongs and pre-tied, in cotton, silk and viscose from bamboo.
how to tie a scarf if you have hair
thinning, growing back, or a full head of it
The ties are shown on a head with no hair, because that is the harder version. All fourteen work just as well with hair, and a few things change.
with a full head of hair
Hair gives the scarf something to grip, at least when it is not freshly washed, so you can tie it more loosely than the videos show and it will still hold. It also adds bulk, so a scarf that sits nicely on a bare head may feel tight over hair. Go up a size if you are between two: a 28 inch square is the smallest that gives full coverage on a bare head, and a larger square is easier over hair.
Decide first whether the hair goes under the scarf or out of it. Tucked under, you get the clean line of the ties as filmed, and the No Slip Grip Cap is the easy way to do it: it is a wig cap and a grip band in one, so it holds the hair down and holds the scarf on at the same time. Left out at the nape or over one shoulder, the same tie reads as a hair scarf rather than a head covering.
making it grip on hair
Hair holds a scarf better than a bare scalp does, but freshly washed hair is slippery, and a scarf that sat perfectly in the morning can be at the back of your head by lunch. Four things can help, and none of them needs anything you would have to buy from us.
Tie it further forward than feels right. A scarf set too far back has nothing above it to hold the weight, and tightening the knot rarely fixes it. Second-day hair grips better than clean hair, and if your scalp tolerates it, a little dry shampoo or texture spray gives clean hair something to hold with. If you are tying around a ponytail, keep it loose and thread the scarf through the elastic before you knot it, so it cannot travel down the tail. On healthy hair, a couple of bobby pins behind the ears will hold the edges.
Fabric matters more here than it does on a bare head, and the two things you want pull in opposite directions. Cotton has more texture, so it stays put and is the easier one to learn on. Silk and satin slide more, but they are gentler against hair that is fine, thinning or growing back, which is why dermatologists tend to recommend them for fragile hair. If you want silk, wear a No Slip Grip Cap or a scarf gripper underneath and let that do the holding instead of the knot.
wrapping long hair in a scarf
If your hair is long and you want it up and out of the way, gather it loosely and then tie. A loose low bun at the nape sits under the classic square and the square head wrap without a bump. Wound higher on the crown, it fills out the square scarf turban in the way a volumizer does on a bare head. Do not pull the hair tight just to make the scarf easier to tie. If you would rather not build a bun, the Meridian Beanie does the same job over hair: it keeps the hair in and gives the crown its shape under the scarf.
Silk is the one to sleep in. It creates less friction against hair than cotton does, which is why silk and satin come up in every conversation about protecting hair overnight. Tie it loosely: a wrap knotted tight enough to survive a restless night will leave a mark along your hairline and flatten everything underneath. Tuck the ends in rather than tightening the knot. And if you move a lot in your sleep, a sleep cap stays on where a scarf works loose, which is the honest answer even though we sell both.
if your hair is thinning or growing back
This is the awkward middle. There is enough hair to feel the pull of a knot and not enough to hold one.
Tie looser than feels secure and let a gripper do the holding. The No Slip Grip Cap is the kinder choice here than a band, because a full cap means you do not have to rely on a tight knot or a narrow band at your hairline to keep the scarf on. A scarf gripper does the same job with less fabric underneath if you prefer that. Move the knot off the tender spot rather than tightening it, choose a bow over a knot where the tie allows, and change where the scarf sits from one day to the next.
Thinning hair and early regrowth snag and stress more easily. The thing to avoid is repeated pulling in the same place, day after day, and that is as true of a scarf as it is of a ponytail. Nothing should pull or hurt.
pre-tied head scarves: how to wear one
little tying, or none at all
Untied scarves allow you the most styling versatility. If you reach the end of chemo treatments and no longer need a head scarf, your untied scarves can be used to accessorize in many other ways. However, some women like the look of a scarf but don't like tying scarves. This is where pre-tied scarves come in. Plenty of women buy some of each for exactly that reason.
benefits of pre-tied scarves
- Pre tied scarves are a great option for those desiring a quick, easy look.
- They give the appearance of a square scarf that has been tied by hand, with less hassle.
- These are excellent for individuals going through cancer or chemotherapy treatments or who simply aren't good at tying a scarf.
- Pre tied scarves are also a great option for women with arthritis, women recovering from surgery, and women who are experiencing fatigue or fine motor difficulties.
- They can be slipped on quickly and come in a variety of styles, colors and patterns.
- Pre tied scarves are the perfect choice for women on the go.
We have created a number of options to make tying your scarf much easier. Some of these scarves come completely pre tied, while others require only a small knot to secure them. All pre-tied scarves fall into one of three categories: Triangular, Minimal Tying, or No Tie. There is no prize for tying your own.
triangle shaped pre-tied scarves: the easiest to tie
The triangle shape is a scarf that we developed for our customers. It is similar to a square head scarf but is the easiest of all untied scarves to tie. Our Padded Carol Head Scarf, available in cotton interlock and cotton prints, is one example. The Instant Tie is the same scarf in viscose from bamboo, which is the cooler and silkier of the two.
When you begin tying square head scarves, you must fold the square in half to create a triangle. By designing the scarf in a triangular shape, we have eliminated this step. The triangular shape creates two tails that are easily tied in the back. The disadvantage to triangle shaped scarves is that they offer fewer tying options.
The Padded Carol is named for my mother Carol, and it was her own favorite scarf. She wore it through her second time with cancer, and cotton was the one she always reached for. The padding at the crown is there because she was the first person to tell us a scarf on a bare head looks flat without it.
minimal tying pre tied scarves: one knot or a bow
To style scarves that require minimal tying, all you need to do is tie a simple knot or a bow to secure the cap in place. This is the most common type of pre-tied scarf. Some of these pre-tied scarves can be tied in multiple ways to achieve different looks. An added benefit of this type of scarf is that the additional ties allow for minor size adjustments to give you the perfect fit. Our Easy On Scarf, Reversible In a Snap Headwrap, and So Simple Scarf are just a few examples of this type of scarf.
no tie scarves: slip it on and go
The easiest pre-tied scarf option is scarves that simply slip on the head, no tying required. This type of pre-tied scarf consists of a cap with an attached tail in a set style. Many women love "no tie" scarves because they are so convenient, easy to use, and don't need to be styled. Keep in mind that the size of these scarves cannot be adjusted like it can be when you wear pre-styled scarves with additional ties. The Slip On Slinky Scarf and Gathered Scarf Beanie are both easy no-tie scarf options.
They are a relief on the days when you have nothing to give. Women who wear these tend to be devoted to them.
volume and grip
the small things underneath that change everything
do I need something underneath?
Not always, but it helps more than anything else you can do. A scarf tied straight onto a bare scalp has nothing to grip, so it can creep or slip, and it can look flat where hair used to give it shape.
This is also where most tutorials let you down. They assume hair to pin into or anchor on, so on a bare or thinning head the whole arrangement slides off and you decide you are bad at this. You are not. Every tie here is tied on a head with no hair to hold it.
Two small things fix both. A scarf gripper, a velour grip band or a No Slip Grip Cap stops the sliding. A scarf pad, a padded headband or a Meridian Beanie puts the volume back. You do not need all of them.
Not sure which one to choose? Call us at 1-800-264-4287. We have been helping women pick scarves since 1995, and it is a quicker conversation than it looks.
tie it looser than feels right
A scarf held by a gripper does not need to be held by the knot as well, so you can tie it far more gently than instinct suggests and it will still stay exactly where you put it.
Two more things: almost every tie works with the knot in more than one place, so move it wherever it sits most comfortably, and a bow sits softer against the head than a knot does, which is a nice reason to choose one beyond how it looks.
Comfortable is the aim. If something is not, retie it lower, looser, or somewhere else, and it will be.
If your hair is thinning or growing back, reach for the grip cap. A band sits in one line at your hairline. The No Slip Grip Cap spreads the hold across your whole head instead, which is gentler on fine hair and more comfortable on a scalp that is tender. It holds just as well.
Two separate problems, often confused. Slipping is a grip problem. Looking flat is a volume problem. Different products solve each, so once you know which one you have, the answer is simple.
Volume is the one women underrate. A scarf lying flat against the skull is a covering. Give it something underneath and it has a shape you chose. It becomes a wrap.
adding body and volume to head scarves
three ways to give the crown its shape
All three are in hat and scarf volumizers, with the rest of what we make for the job.
scarf pad
A scarf pad is a full cap made from soft organic cotton terry cloth that can be worn under a scarf or headwear. A scarf pad provides fullness and volume to the top of the head, giving the illusion of hair underneath. It matters most on a head with no hair at all, where nothing else is giving the scarf its shape.
The scarf pad prevents your scarves from slipping on your head when you tie them. This makes your scarves much easier to tie on the head. Because it absorbs and wicks away sweat, the scarf pad also allows you to wash your head scarves less often.
see the bamboo scarf pad → · see the organic cotton scarf pad →
padded headband
The Padded Headband is a soft bamboo viscose headband with lightweight padding designed to provide volume to the sides of the head under headwear and scarves. This is a cool, lightweight option that provides an ultra flattering look, especially on narrower heads and longer faces.
Meridian Beanie
Our Meridian Beanie is a unique and stylish turban that provides volume under scarves, and can also be worn on its own. Our own design, and patented. Generous pleating and light padding in the crown of this comfortable beanie expertly add body and volume, especially at the top of the head, after you tie your head scarf. This option is particularly flattering on those with round or wide faces, or short, "flat" heads. It works over hair as well as on a bare head.
adding security to headscarves
four ways to keep a scarf where you put it
scarf gripper
Our unique creation, the Scarf Gripper is a headband made of a lightweight grippable fabric that can be worn under a head scarf. The addition of this simple headband will keep the scarf from slipping on your head when you tie it. They are great for tying silk scarves or other fabrics that tend to slide or move more easily.
If you have been fighting with a silk scarf, this is the answer. Silk is the loveliest fabric to wear and the most slippery to tie, and a gripper turns it from a wrestle into a thirty-second job.
No Slip Grip Cap
A wig cap and a grip band in one, in viscose from bamboo. It is the answer if you have been wearing a cap for comfort and a band for grip and would rather wear one thing.
Front and side, so you can see how far back it sits. It comes in more than one shade too, and that matters: a cap close to your own coloring disappears at the edges, so a little showing at the hairline looks like part of the scarf.
It also solves a problem a band cannot. Because the hold is spread across the whole cap rather than concentrated in a strip at your hairline, there is no single line of tension anywhere. That makes it the better choice if your hair is thinning or growing back, and the more comfortable one if your scalp is tender.
It holds wigs as well as scarves, and if you have hair, it holds that too, flat under the scarf where you want it.
velour scarf and wig gripper
The Velour Grip Band is perfect for holding both scarves and wigs in place. The velvety fibers of this headband "grab" onto fabric and keep it securely on the head all day long. This headband is also adjustable at the back to provide the perfect fit.
Instant Hair headband and bangs
Our Instant Hair Headband allows you to instantly attach bangs or other hairpieces and wear them underneath a variety of scarves and hats. The headband has a sewn in "hook and loop" or "scratch" fastener to easily attach hair. This headband not only helps to finish off your look, it also adds additional security under your headscarf.
Choose a hairpiece to accompany your head scarf. Hairpieces are a great option for hair loss and cancer patients. A hairpiece can be as simple as bangs that are worn under your scarf. Bangs are a great option for warmer climates or situations where you don't want to cover your entire head with hair. A fringe under a scarf makes a bigger difference than you would expect. It gives you back the edge of hair around your face, which is the part anyone sees, and it is an easy thing to put on and take off again.
You can wear various "hats with hair" hairpieces underneath your headscarves. They come in several styles and colors. You can choose a color that matches your own hair or have fun and go with an entirely new color. Many of our cancer patients choose to buy our "hats with hair" hairpieces instead of a wig.
see the Instant Hair headband →
how to choose a head scarf: prints and fabrics
prints, solids, and how each fabric behaves on a head
Scarves come in fabrics, colors and patterns as varied as the farthest reaches of the imagination, which is wonderful and also the reason this is the part women find hardest.
selecting prints and solid scarves
Selecting prints: Scarves come in countless colors and patterns. You can find scarves in solids, stripes, paisleys, nature scenes and just about anything else you can imagine. Pay attention to the patterns you choose. What looks good on a clothing rack may not be suitable once it is tied on the head. All of our scarves are selected in patterns and in scale with what will look right when worn on the head and close to your face. Our designs are created to fall in place in a flattering way when tied.
Solid scarves: Solids are versatile and can be combined or braided together when tied to create truly unique looks. Another benefit of solid scarves is that you can decorate, paint or embellish them to create your own look. And if you tried a scarf once and hated how you looked, try one in a color you like before you decide scarves are not for you. Color is a bigger variable than the tying.
scarf fabrics
Headscarves are available in several fabric choices. All of these fabric options are available in a variety of colors and patterns. Here are the pros and cons to various fabrics.
silk head scarves
Breathable and durable, silk drapes beautifully and it feels soft and luxurious on the head. Because it is made of natural fibers, it breathes and absorbs perspiration at the same time. The bows tied on silk scarves are especially pretty. Silk can be worn in all seasons, depending upon the weight of the fabric. It can be more delicate than other fabrics so must be handled with care. Tying silk scarves can be slightly more difficult than tying other fabrics due to the slick nature of the fibers. Styling silk is made much easier by wearing a scarf gripper to hold it in place while tying.
Most women who love silk simply wear a gripper and never think about it again. A silk scarf head wrap is the dressiest of the lot, and the one to reach for when the occasion calls for it.
a note from our founder
If I lost my hair, silk is what I would wear. I have everything we make at my disposal and it is still what I would choose: the drape, the way it feels in your hands, and what it lets you make.
— Danielle
cotton head scarves
Cool, comfortable, lightweight, durable, and breathable, cotton head scarves also do not slip and absorb perspiration. The natural cotton fibers are appropriate for all seasons. Cotton also provides lots of body and volume to the head. Sometimes cotton can be too thick for tying on the head. The cotton scarves we offer are made of a lighter weight cotton that drapes easily. However, it is important to remember that cotton does not dry as fast as synthetic fabrics.
It is also the answer if you are running hot. If treatment and hot flashes have you running warm, the instinct is to wear less scarf. Wear a different fabric instead, and you can keep the coverage. Cotton and bamboo breathe and move moisture; polyester and thick layers trap it against a scalp that is already too warm.
viscose and rayon scarves
Scarves made from viscose offer a nice drape and feel. They are typically very soft and described as feeling "buttery." They also provide a cool feeling to the head. Most are machine washable, but check washing instructions. Many pre-tied scarves and head wraps are made in viscose fabrics because it is often stretchy and flexible.
hand made and tie dye head scarves
Hand made scarves feature dyeing techniques on 100% cotton fabric to create a completely unique look. Two of these techniques are woodblock printing and tie dye. Woodblock scarves are created by the ancient art of printing on fabric using hand carved wooden blocks, which dates back to 220 AD. To learn more about how wood block head scarves are made, click here.
Many of our scarves are tie dyed by hand, creating fabulous works of wearable art. Because each scarf is made by hand, variations in color and pattern are inherent to the design and add to the character of the scarf.
Wash hand dyed pieces separately for the first few washes. Some excess surface color can release at first, which is normal.
what "plated" means on a label
There are also fabrics called "Plated Fabrics." "Plated" refers to garments with one fabric (e.g., cotton) on the outside face, backed with another fabric type (e.g., polyester) against the skin. This approach is designed to offer the best attributes of both fabrics. Many of our scarves and headcoverings are created with all cotton liners for a comfortable feel.
It answers a common complaint: if a fabric looks right but feels wrong against a sensitive scalp, a plated version may solve it.
how to tie a scarf around your neck
the same scarf, worn a different way
Every scarf works around your neck as well as on your head, and that is the reason a good one is worth buying. On the days you would rather not wear it on your head, the same scarf goes around your neck and nobody would guess it had another life.
1. knotted necklace
A long scarf worn as jewelry rather than as a covering. It hangs at the front like a necklace, and it is the one to reach for when an outfit needs something and you do not want fabric at your throat.
2. classic neckerchief
Fold the scarf into a triangle, corner to corner.
Hold the point down at the front of your neck, with the folded edge across your collarbone.
Take the two ends around the back of your neck and tie a square knot.
Turn the knot to the side or the back, and pull the point straight.
Wear it high and close for the classic look, or loose with the point resting lower for something softer.
3. slide knot necklace
The same idea as the first, with a knot that slides so you can set how high or low it sits. Silk suits both necklace styles best, because the drape is what you are wearing it for.
A rectangular silk scarf is the easiest shape to start with, and a square silk scarf gives you both looks from one piece.
bandanas: the simplest scarf there is
what we hand a woman who has never covered her head
If everything above sounds like more than you want to take on today, buy a bandana. It is a smaller square in cotton, and it is one fold and one knot, which is the whole of it. Cotton grips where silk slides, the square is small enough to sit close without a lot of fabric to manage, and it is the cheapest thing in the shop, so there is nothing to lose by trying one.
Ours are cut at 24 inches, larger than the 20 to 22 inch squares you find in a store, which is the difference between a knot you fight with and one that ties comfortably at the back. That size is also what makes full head coverage possible, which a standard bandana cannot do.
Bandanas have a guide of their own.
Two ways to tie one for full head coverage, step by step with photographs and video, plus bandana hairstyles, a headband, ways to wear one at your neck, on a hat, and what to do if it slides on a bare head.
scarf tying infographic
something to print and keep
Our infographic puts the main ties on one page. Several women have told us they print it and keep it by the mirror, which is what it is for.
Scarves are a wonderful accessory that allow you to cover your head in style. These versatile head coverings can be tied in many different ways, achieving almost limitless options. With so many headscarf options and so many different ways of tying them, there truly is something for everyone.
put this infographic on your own site
You are welcome to use it. Copy the code below and paste it into your page, and it will show the infographic with a link back to this guide.
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<p>Infographic by <a href="https://www.headcovers.com/resources/hats-scarves/how-to-tie-a-head-scarf/">Headcovers Unlimited</a></p>questions we are asked
the short answers
how do you tie a headscarf?
Fold a square scarf corner to corner into a triangle, lay the folded edge along your forehead, take the two ends back to the nape of your neck and tie a knot above the point of the triangle. That is the classic tie, it takes four steps, and it works on any square scarf you already own.
Every other tie starts from that same fold.
how do you fold a square scarf?
Corner to corner, into a triangle. Scarf folding is simpler than it looks, and a bigger scarf folded the same way simply sits deeper on the head.
For a band rather than a covering, fold the triangle again by rolling the long edge over on itself until you have a strip the width you want.
what size scarf do I need for full head coverage?
Twenty-eight by 28 inches is a comfortable starting size if you fold the square corner to corner, since that fold leaves half the fabric. Fold off center instead, slightly less than halfway across, and a smaller square covers the same head. That is why our 24 inch bandanas give full coverage. If you want a generous amount of fabric hanging down, which reads as hair from behind, go oversized.
how do you keep a head scarf from slipping?
Wear something with grip underneath. A scarf tied onto a bare scalp has nothing to hold onto, so it creeps back through the day however tightly you tie it.
A scarf gripper, a velour grip band or the No Slip Grip Cap all solve it, and once one is on you can tie the scarf more loosely, which is more comfortable anyway. Cotton slips less than silk, so it is the kindest fabric to learn on.
what are head wraps called?
Head scarf, head wrap, headscarf and kerchief all describe the same thing: a square or rectangle of fabric tied over the head. A turban is a wrap that is tied or sewn into a closed shape. A bandana is a smaller square scarf, commonly around 20 to 22 inches and usually cotton. Ours are oversized at 24 inches, which is what makes full head coverage possible.
can you tie a head scarf if you have hair?
Yes, all fourteen ties work with hair. Hair gives the scarf something to grip, so you can tie it more loosely than the videos show, and you may want a larger square because hair adds bulk under the fabric.
Decide first whether the hair goes under the scarf or stays out of it, since the same tie reads quite differently either way.
what are the different ways to tie a scarf?
Eight ways with a square scarf, six with a long or rectangular one, pre-tied scarves that need a knot or nothing at all, three ways around your neck and one on a hat. Each has a video and written steps.
why we care about this
specialists in headwear since 1995
In 1990 my mother Carol lost her hair to breast cancer treatment. She was a hairstylist, so she knew immediately what was wrong with everything she was offered: it covered her head and stopped there. Nothing gave back the shape her hair used to make, or framed her face, or looked like something she had chosen. She said that if she lived, she would make it better for the women who came after her. She did, and in 1995 we started Headcovers together.
Scarves were not part of the plan. We did not want to do them at first, because we thought they were too hard. Then I started experimenting with fabric, and my mother tied a bow, off to one side, and that became our signature look. Everyone asked how she did it. We had tied a knot. Then we learned to fluff it out, and that turned out to be the whole look. The knot takes a second. The care comes afterward, in each fold of the fabric, and that care is what makes it a piece of art rather than a covering: a bit of love put into the fabric, a piece of expression. It was something we could give back. Everything on this page we learned through doing, and here we are teaching it. The side bow is still on this page, fourteen ties later.
If you take one thing from this page, let it be that the first scarf is the hard one. Nobody is naturally good at this, and everyone who ties one beautifully now was once standing at a mirror wondering what on earth they were doing. Watch a video twice, do it badly, do it again tomorrow. By the end of the week you will be tying one without looking.
Everything on this page, in one place.
Scarves, grippers, volumizers and bangs.
keep learning
how to tie a bandanaThe one fold that decides how big it sits, with video.
how to care for your head scarfWashing, drying and steaming out wrinkles, fabric by fabric.
how to wear a hatWhere a hat should sit, how it should fit, and which shapes suit your face.
types of hats for womenSeventeen styles, what each is called, and how much coverage it gives.
5 must have scarf accessoriesThe small things that make a head scarf look finished.
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