Bandanas add colour and personality to a summer outfit, and most never get used for more than a neck or head tie. A few other placements work just as well, and the cloth decides which ones hold.
Silk knots smaller and sits flat against hair. Cotton holds a crease and grips a bag strap. Both ideas below work in either cloth, with the difference noted where it matters.
Bandanas make great head and hair accessories beyond the classic headband style. Try folding your bandana into a triangle and tying it around a ponytail or bun for a chic and effortless look. You can also create a vintage-inspired headscarf by folding the bandana into a long rectangle, wrapping it over your head, and tying the ends under your hair at the nape of your neck.
For a bohemian vibe, braid a thin bandana into your hair or weave it through a loose braid. This works especially well with long hair and adds a playful touch to your summer hairstyle.
Silk is the easier cloth here. It slides against hair instead of catching it, and a thin silk square knots small enough to sit under a ponytail without the visible lump a cotton bandana leaves.
Give your favorite summer bag a makeover by tying a bandana around the handle or strap. This adds a pop of color and pattern to a plain bag and can be easily switched out to match different outfits. You can also use a bandana as a bag charm by folding it into a small triangle and attaching it to your bag with a keyring or clip.
For a more functional use, fold your bandana into a small pouch and use it as a compact bag organizer or makeup case. Simply lay the bandana flat, place your items in the center, and tie the corners together to create a secure bundle.
Cotton is the better pick for a handle wrap, because it grips and holds the knot through a day of carrying. Silk suits the bag-charm version, where the drape of the loose ends is the point rather than the grip.
A bandana earns its place by being the one accessory you can re-tie into something else. Worn in the hair or knotted onto a bag, the same square reads differently each time, which is why it outlasts most seasonal buys.
Choose the cloth for the job rather than the pattern alone. If you want a square that works in hair, we print custom silk bandanas to your own design, in weights that knot small and sit flat.