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When you want to hit it hard at the gym or on a long-distance run, the last thing you want to be worrying about is hair falling into your face. That’s why you’ll see so many fitness experts and athletes topping off their workout outfits with a sweatband. While a workout headband’s primary role is to keep stray hairs from falling onto your face, many are also made from moisture-wicking fabrics to absorb sweat.
But, with so many to choose from in such a wide array of prices, how do you find the best one for your needs? To help you make a quick and informed purchase, we got to work researching and testing some of the most popular on the market. We also sought advice and recommendations from a range of fitness experts including Christine Bullock, a fitness trainer, lifestyle expert, and co-founder of Kayo Body Care. You’ll also find insights from Alice Barraclough, fitness expert and Nutrition Editor at Women’s Health UK. Ahead, discover our pick of the best headbands to supercharge your next workout.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: lululemon Fly Away Tamer Headband Luxtreme at Amazon
- Best Adjustable: Treadbands All-Terrain Tieback at Amazon
- Best Budget: Goody Ouchless Comfort Headwraps at Amazon
- Best for Flyaways: Junk Big Bang Lite at Amazon
- Best SPF Protection: Perspective Fitwear Don’t Sweat It Tech Headband at Perspective Fitwear
- Best Eco-Friendly: Kooshoo Twist Headband at Amazon
- Best Material: Alo Airlift Headband at Alo
- Best for Natural Hair: Dri Sweat Edge Activewear Headband at Amazon
Best Overall
lululemon Fly Away Tamer Headband Luxtreme
Materials: Recycled fabrics︱Colors: White and pink taupe
As a Latina woman with curly hair, Nathalia recommends any headband with a grip. “They do a good job of staying in place and keeping flyaways down,” she says. However, she cautions using silicone grip bands, which can damage hair. “Lululemon headbands usually come with a velvet grip on the inside that does a good job of staying in place without breaking the hairs,” she says.
Best Adjustable
Treadbands All-Terrain Tieback
Materials: Polyester and Spandex︱Colors: Multiple colors and patterns
If your head is on the smaller side and you find many headbands too big, Treadbands All-Terrain Tieback is the answer to your problems. First, it has a soft, grippy strip inside that helps it stay in place, and second, it is fully adjustable to head size since it ties up. You can wear it with the tie in front for a pin-up style, or you can tie it in the back. The patterns are gorgeous, and I particularly like my marbled one.
Best Budget
Goody Ouchless Comfort Headwraps
Materials: Recycled fabrics︱Colors: Multiple colors
Nicci Robinson, a personal trainer with the Fit Body App, says these headwraps are part of her workout uniform. “I often sweat during my workouts, and my hair gets frizzy, so I need something that will help soak up the sweat and keep my flyaways at bay. These headbands are lightweight and breathable. I honestly do not work out without a headband on. It is a part of my workout uniform,” she says.
Best for Flyaways
Junk Big Bang Lite
Materials: Polyester and Spandex︱Colors: Multiple colors and patterns
ACE-certified personal trainer, Sean Alexander, says “hands down, no contest, the absolute best headband for keeping hair out of my face while I workout is Junk. With the high-quality stretch material and tapered fit of their Big Bang Lite style headband, they aren’t just stylish; they’re also incredibly effective at doing their job.”
Best SPF Protection
Perspective Fitwear Don’t Sweat It Tech Headband
Materials: Good Human Tech™ Fabric; Airlift fabric︱Colors: 11
We own a couple of the Don’t Sweat It headbands, and they are perfect for sweaty HIIT sessions or runs. They can be worn two ways, with the gathered tie at the front, which we personally prefer, or at the back. They stay in place without squeezing your head and the technical fabric they’re made from has SPF50+ protection to protect any exposed skin. We also love that Perspective is a San Diego-based company that uses eco-friendly fabric that degrades in a landfill setting within three years.
Best Eco-Friendly
Kooshoo Twist Headband
Materials: Organic cotton︱Colors: 11
Kooshoo, which means “feeling good” in Norfuk, is plastic-free and made from organic fairtrade cotton. All of their products are biodegradable, made with safe and non-harmful materials, and use ethical manufacturing. The super-soft, easy-to-wear twist headband is a favorite for yoga, pilates, and hiking. We also love their hair-friendly scrunchies and hair ties.
Best Material
Alo Airlift Headband
Materials: Airlift fabric︱Colors: Black and pink
ALO’s Airlift headband is our top pick for material as it’s made from a double-knit Airlift fabric that’s moisture-wicking and lightweight. You can also wear it two ways: with the ruched detail at the front or with the flat logo side showing. The fabric also has a four-way stretch so it will stay in place without feeling tight on your head.
Best for Natural Hair
Dri Sweat Edge Activewear Headband
Materials: Stretch jersey︱Colors: Black
Not only is this pick great at preserving and protecting natural hair, it also feels soft and comfortable on the head while doing a stellar job of catching sweat. Ventilation in the fabric also helps the band to stay cool while you work hard. It gets extra bonus points for costing below $10, too.
None on the website: Perfect for running while keeping warm, under a hat as a base layer, or on its own, the Solstice headband by Saucony is lightweight yet insulating. There’s a fleece lining that is soft and wicks sweat. Perfect for dark morning or evening runs due to the reflective accents. This headband scores points with me for being contoured over my ears while blocking frigid wind and light precipitation.
What to Look for in A Workout Headband
- Silicone vs velvet grips: Most workout headbands have grips on them to ensure they stay put while you’re running, cycling, or working out. Silicone grips have a stronger hold but can damage your hair. However, velvet bands are much gentler and less prone to snagging. Consider the intensity of your workout before selecting.
- UPF protection: If you run or workout outside, a headband can help to protect the delicate hair and skin on your scalp from the sun and UV damage. While covering your parting and scalp up with a band will offer some protection, some headbands do come with additional UPF 50+ protection, too.
FAQ
- Do headbands keep sweat out of eyes?
"Yes!” says Alice Barraclough, commissioning editor at Runner’s World. “Workout-specific headbands tend to be made from sweat-wicking material and they're great for keeping both sweat and wispy stray hairs out of your face.”
- What is the best material for workout headbands?
“When looking for a workout headband, the best materials are moisture-wicking, lightweight, breathable, and quick drying,” says Katherine Finder, Head of Design and Brand Management at Kohl’s. “As for the best types of fabric for a workout headband, I would look for spandex, polyester and/or nylon.”
Barraclough adds, “It's also important to look for headbands without seams and made from a seamless construction, because no one wants unwanted dents or markings on their forehead hours after their workout has finished.”
Why Trust Byrdie
Catherine Hufton is a London-based lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer and editor for Byrdie since 2022. She digs deep into all things fashion and beauty to find the very best shopping must-haves—from the most effective collagen serums to the best weekender bags.
To get further insights on the best workout headbands, we also spoke with a range of experts:
- Christine Bullock is a fitness trainer and lifestyle expert. She’s the brains behind the Evolution 20 fitness series and is the co-founder of Kayo Body Care, a clean skincare and personal care brand. Currently, she serves on Byrdie’s Beauty & Wellness Board.
- Alice Barraclough is a fitness expert and Nutrition Editor at Women’s Health UK.
- Sean Alexander is an ACE-certified personal trainer based in Austin, TX.
- Nicci Robinson is a personal trainer with the Fit Body App.
