Experts Share Hair Tie Options to Avoid Damage and Pain

From silk scrunchies to spiral ties, find the right hair accessory for your hair type.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Even if you have a great hair day, the wrong hair tie can ruin that feeling very quickly. Hair experts share tips on finding the right hair ties and clips for different hair types - curly, straight, thin, and thick - to avoid damage and breakage. They recommend options like silk scrunchies, spiral ties, and claw clips to minimize friction and tension on the hair.

Why it matters

Using the wrong hair accessories can lead to hair damage, breakage, and pain over time. Finding the right hair ties and clips that work for your specific hair type is important to maintain healthy, happy hair.

The details

Hair experts Marcos Diaz, Mia Santiago, and Anari LaBoard provided recommendations for the best hair ties and clips based on hair type. For curly hair, they suggest silk scrunchies or spiral ties to preserve curl pattern and reduce frizz. For fine, straight hair, soft, lightweight elastics that won't stress fragile strands are best. Thick or dense hair needs wider, stronger ties that hold securely without excessive tightness. In general, hair ties should secure the style without causing tension or pulling at the scalp.

  • The article was published on March 2, 2026.

The players

Marcos Diaz

A celebrity hairstylist in New York.

Mia Santiago

A celebrity hairstylist located in California.

Anari LaBoard

A hair and makeup artist.

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What they’re saying

“Curly hair does best with silk scrunchies or spiral ties to preserve the curl pattern and reduce frizz.”

— Marcos Diaz, Celebrity Hairstylist

“Fine hair benefits from soft, lightweight elastics that won't stress fragile strands.”

— Marcos Diaz, Celebrity Hairstylist

“Thick or dense hair needs wider, stronger ties that hold securely without needing to be overly tight.”

— Marcos Diaz, Celebrity Hairstylist

“I prefer to use a claw clip as a low-tension way of keeping my hair off my face and neck. If I need to use a hair tie, I will opt for a silk or velvet fabric hair tie to lessen the friction caused by using hair ties.”

— Anari LaBoard, Makeup and Hairstylist

“Silk scrunchies are one of the safest everyday options because they reduce friction against the hair cuticle, helping prevent creasing and breakage, especially for color-treated or fragile hair.”

— Marcos Diaz, Celebrity Hairstylist

The takeaway

Finding the right hair accessories that minimize friction and tension is key to maintaining healthy, damage-free hair. Experts recommend trying options like silk scrunchies, spiral ties, and claw clips to avoid breakage and pain, especially for specific hair types like curly, fine, or thick hair.