4 alternatives to the scrunchie

OK, so the scrunchie thing was cute for a while. Those little pieces of ruched fabric served you well in the simpler, carefree days of childhood, when your scrunchie collection met all your sartorial needs.

There were the gingham ones that matched your summer school dress, a pink sequined number that was reserved only for the coolest kids’ parties, and they even doubled up as bracelets to sneakily subvert the no-jewellery rule at school. How could you have neglected them for so long?

But then every other girl in Bristol started wearing them, and suddenly the sight of a mass of crinkled velvet fastened, pineapple-fashion, around straggles of unbrushed, unwashed hair no longer looks so cute. In fact, you’ve come to detest the scrunchie’s very existence.

Let’s face it, the scrunchie’s fashion roots in children’s hair accessories/80s songstresses with dodgy fringes make it neither the height of sophistication nor edginess. It’s time to stop clinging onto the past – and to all that hair grease that they so cunningly disguise.

Fortunately, the fashion gods have blessed us with a host of alternatives with which to adorn our locks this summer. Here are four far cooler, far chicer hair accessories for you to experiment with (fingers crossed they’ll stamp out the scrunchie for good):

1) The Bow – for those still reluctant to say goodbye to the faithful scrunchie, the bow will ease you in gently to your new hairdrobe.

The bow offers a structured take on the scrunchie, ensuring a more pulled-together look.

Head to BS8 on Park Street for handmade floral bows at the bargain price of £1.99

2) Grown-up hair ties – The everyday hair tie is given a makeover with charms, interesting textures and embellishment. &OtherStories have got the best range on the high street.

Opt for a fierce hair tie to tame your mane, like this &OtherStories number from their A/W 13 collection.

Toughen up your hairstyle with this leather ponytail holder, £12 at www.stories.com

3) Headscarves and bandannas – as featured in our nightlife trend report, these two have been incredibly popular among Bristol students recently. Easier for boys to pull off and we expect they’ll be a lifesaver come festival season.

The unisex hair accessory of the moment. Photo: Issy Croker for Bed at Bunker

BS8 deliver again with their extensive range of budget-friendly headscarves.

4) Hair bling – for those who are serious about fashion-forward hair. A great way to dress up a more casual outfit for those long summer nights.

Head to Asos for a great selection of glamorous hair jewellery, such as this
River Island Filigree Hair Crown, £8, www.asos.com

Sod it, you might as well go all out and wear a tiara. Photo: Bed at Bunker