One of the hallmarks of my middle and high school experience was constantly asking my classmates (or being asked) “Do you have a hair tie?” That was because we all used the classic fabric-covered elastic kind that so easily stretched, broke, fell out of your hair, got lost, etc. I remember how sad they would look on my wrist when they were on their last legs. Yet I would keep buying them by the dozen because it’s an absolute necessity to be able to toss my hair in a ponytail or messy bun the second I start to overheat.
When I first encountered the best-selling Invisibobbles about five years ago, I was skeptical. Sweet innocent me thought my pitiful elastics worked just fine! I truly didn’t know what I was missing, and now these comfy, stretchy spiral ties are the only brand I will buy.
Invisibobble Original Traceless Spiral Hair Ties, Pack of 8, $7.95+
It may sound silly for such a small thing, but my life is actually better after switching to Invisibobble hair ties because they solve pretty much all of the problems that come with typical elastics.
They claim to be “traceless,” but that isn’t even the biggest draw for me — if your hair is up for a long time, there will always be some trace, but these definitely leave less of a crease than other bands.
The difference is that I can just take it for granted that my Invisibobble will stay put, and I don’t even have to think about it. I just toss my hair up into a bun and go about my day with minimal slippage. They’re also so much more comfortable than typical elastics; unless my hair is really tangled, I don’t feel the painful yank on my strands that we’ve all become accustomed to with rubber bands (and I take that as a sign these are causing less damage, too).
The durability is simply amazing. I use an Invisibobble every single day and sleep in it every night, with the band around my wrist whenever my hair is down. Even so, one of these will last me months before it wears out and breaks. It’s made me realize how wasteful my old elastics were from both a money and materials perspective.
Although these can get stretched out, thanks to the spiral design, they pretty much snap back into place after a while. The polyurethane material doesn’t pick up dirt and gunk as easily as fabric, is easy to clean, and is waterproof, so showering and washing your hands with one around your wrist is no big deal. They look cute on your wrist, too!
I always go for the clear version since they’re the most versatile, but the combo packs of eight come with four clear and four in either black or brown, with more colors available. The originals claim to work for all hair types (I have medium–thick straight hair with a slight wave to it), but reviews are mixed from folks with thick or textured hair. The brand also offers Slim (for fine hair), Extra Hold (for textured, curly, and thick hair), and Power (for thick hair and high activity).
I’m not the only member of the Invisibobbles fan club — over 4,000 people have given them 5 stars on Amazon, with several calling out their loyalty to the brand. One reviewer writes, “Get these, not other brands. … I’ve bought knockoffs from the drugstore that appeared the same but performed poorly.” Another raves, “I have long, curly hair (3a), and these…keep my curl pattern intact between wash days, workouts, sleep, yard work, etc. SO MUCH BETTER than a scrunchie or a traditional fabric-covered hair elastic.” Sorry, other hair ties — there’s just no comparison.
Now that I work from home, I no longer have people asking me if I have a spare hair tie. That’s probably for the best because no way am I parting with my precious Invisibobble. I will, however, recommend them to anyone and everyone who cares to listen.
