When the coronavirus pandemic led to a city-wide lockdown in New York last March, I realized that I wouldn’t be making it to a salon for a trim anytime soon. It was the perfect time to grow out my hair, which, after the first few months, became the longest it’s ever been, falling just past my chest and comfortably by my waist. With length came volume, and my hair became what I can only describe as a heavy curtain that my thin, feeble hair ties were no match for. Slowly, my drugstore go-tos expanded and lost their stretch, no longer able to hold my hair without falling loose five minutes into a workout. It was time for a change, and with no clue how to start, I turned to the source that many beauty insiders go to for unfiltered opinion on products: Reddit. A quick search for the “best hair ties” on Reddit will quickly point you in the direction of forums like “r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide,” “r/curlyhair,” and even a board for fans of the gym Orangetheory pointing out the best hair ties for workouts. As a lifestyle writer, I’m used to filtering through thousands of reviews to find the best product in any category, and after hours (yes, hours) of looking through Reddit’s boards, I narrowed it down to Burlybands’ game-changing hair ties. And they really are the real deal. Burlybands’ hair ties are the only ones I’ve tried that are capable of keeping my thick hair in place for hours through sweaty workouts, long walks in windy weather, and even a night of sleep when I forgot to take them out before I went to bed. I’ve had them for close to eight months now, and they’ve kept the same stretch from day one, even through my bad habit of pulling them when I’m stressed. They’re so good that I’ve since gone back to buy more, and I’ve even gotten my mom and sister hooked—my mom asked if I could bring some back for her the next time I’m home, and my sister already stole three of mine. I now stock up whenever I have the chance, and I can’t imagine waking up without Burlybands’ hair ties by my bedside table, ready to tie up my hair as I start my day. To buy: $11; amazon.com. To buy: $19; amazon.com. To buy: $11; amazon.com.
