The scrunchie went from a nineties memory to something most people keep in their bag. But the difference between any scrunchie and a well-made one shows — on your hair, and over time.
Why it's gentler than a hair elastic
A plain elastic has a small surface and high friction: it concentrates all the tension on a few strands, which snap or get marked. A scrunchie wraps that same elastic in a wide, soft band of fabric: the pull is spread out, the fabric slides instead of biting, and taking it off doesn't yank.
For long, fine or treated hair (colour, straightening), it's the difference between finding broken flyaways at your hairline and not.
What makes a good scrunchie
1. The fabric: silk and satin slip most and are the gentlest; velvet grips a high ponytail better; cotton is coolest in summer. 2. How much fabric: a "full" scrunchie, densely gathered, lasts longer and adds more volume. Flat ones sag after a few weeks. 3. The inner elastic: it should be strong and stitched in, not just knotted. Ours are fixed by hand. 4. Hidden seams: a good scrunchie has no visible stitching and no fraying edges.
Which to choose by hair type
- Fine or thin hair: a small or medium scrunchie in silk or satin. A large one slides.
- Thick or curly hair: a large, full scrunchie in velvet or cotton, which holds the volume without loosening.
- A high ponytail that has to last all day: velvet.
- Night, or wet hair: silk, which reduces frizz.
How to wash it
By hand, in cold water with a little gentle detergent, and dry flat away from radiators. No washing machine: the inner elastic will not survive. Iron silk inside out on low.
Handmade in Italy
Our scrunchies are sewn by hand, one at a time, in fabrics that often don't repeat. Buy them singly or in gift sets, to match a headband or a bow in the same fabric.