Women wear a scrunchie on their wrist for two simple reasons: it is the most practical hair tie for wrist wear, so it is always within reach, and it looks like a soft, colourful bracelet. The habit became a full fashion trend around 2019, when the 90s scrunchie made a comeback and Gen Z made the wrist stack part of the look. Here is where the trend came from, why it stuck, and how to wear our satin scrunchies on your wrist without hurting your skin.
Quick answer: why do girls wear scrunchies on their wrist?
- It is handy. You can tie your hair up in seconds, at college, at work, at the gym or when it gets hot.
- It is a fashion accessory. A printed scrunchie adds colour like a bracelet, and stacking two or three is part of the style.
- It does not get lost. A scrunchie on the wrist is harder to misplace than one in a bag.
- It is gentler than a rubber band. A fabric scrunchie is softer on both the wrist and the hair than a thin elastic.
- It can be a sign. Some teens wear a friend’s or partner’s scrunchie on their wrist as a cute gesture.
How did the scrunchie on wrist trend start? A short timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Rommy Hunt Revson received the patent for the fabric-covered hair tie and named it the Scunci, after her poodle. The name later became “scrunchie”. |
| Late 1980s to 1990s | Scrunchies became a staple, seen on TV shows such as Friends, Full House and Seinfeld. |
| Early 2000s | They fell out of fashion, famously joked about in an episode of Sex and the City. |
| 2017 | Scrunchies returned to the runway at New York Fashion Week. |
| 2019 | The “VSCO girl” trend on TikTok and Instagram made scrunchies, often stacked on the wrist, part of a Gen Z look. Actor Jason Momoa wore a pink scrunchie on his wrist at the Oscars. |
| 2020s | The wrist scrunchie became an everyday habit for college students and working women, and printed and satin scrunchies became popular gifts. |
Hair-care brand Goody told NPR in 2019 that scrunchies were selling eight times faster than hair accessories overall, which shows how fast the comeback happened.
Why did the trend stick?
1. A hair tie for the wrist is simply practical
Long hair gets in the way while writing exams, cooking, riding a scooter or working on a laptop. With a scrunchie on your wrist, a quick ponytail or bun takes five seconds, and you never have to search your bag.
2. It works as a scrunchie bracelet
A printed scrunchie adds colour to a plain kurti, a white shirt or a denim jacket, the way a bangle or a beaded bracelet does. Many people match the print to their outfit or wear it next to a watch.
3. Nostalgia and social media
The scrunchie revival is part of a wider love for 90s fashion. Short videos and photos made the wrist stack easy to copy, and because scrunchies are cheap, it is easy to own several prints.
4. It is kinder to your hair
Thin rubber bands can snag and leave dents. A fabric scrunchie spreads the hold over a wider band, which is one of the benefits of scrunchies over regular hair ties.
Is it bad to wear a hair tie on your wrist?
A loose, clean scrunchie on the wrist is fine for most people. Problems usually come from a tight, thin elastic worn all day, which can press into the skin and trap sweat and dirt. To stay safe:
- Choose a soft fabric scrunchie rather than a thin rubber band.
- Wear it loose. If it leaves a deep mark, it is too tight for your wrist.
- Take it off at night and switch wrists now and then.
- Wash your scrunchies regularly, especially in hot, humid weather.
- Remove it if your skin becomes red, itchy or sore.
How to wear scrunchies on your wrist: 4 easy styling ideas
- The single pop of print: one bright scrunchie, such as Happy Daze Emoji or Abstract Pop, on an otherwise plain outfit.
- The stack: two or three prints on one wrist. Mix one bold print with one soft one, for example Pink Heart with White Floral Garden.
- With a watch: wear a calm print like Ocean Wave or Lavender Bloom beside a simple watch for office or college.
- Match your outfit: pick a print that repeats one colour from your top, dupatta or bag.
Want to use the scrunchie in your hair too? Try our 10 easy scrunchie hairstyles, or build a stack as a present with our scrunchie gift set ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Why do girls wear a scrunchie on their wrist?
Mainly so a hair tie is always within reach, and because a printed scrunchie looks like a soft bracelet. Stacking scrunchies on the wrist became a popular trend around 2019.
What does a scrunchie on the wrist mean?
Usually it just means the person likes to keep a hair tie handy or enjoys it as an accessory. Among some teens, wearing a friend’s or partner’s scrunchie on the wrist is also a cute sign of closeness.
Is it bad to wear a hair tie on your wrist?
A loose, clean fabric scrunchie is fine for most people. Avoid tight, thin elastics worn all day, take it off at night, wash it regularly and remove it if your skin gets red or sore.
When did scrunchies on the wrist become a trend?
Scrunchies were popular in the 1980s and 1990s and came back in the late 2010s. The wrist stack took off around 2019 with the VSCO girl trend on TikTok and Instagram.
Can a scrunchie be used as a bracelet?
Yes. A printed satin scrunchie works as a soft, colourful bracelet on its own, stacked with others, or worn next to a watch.
Start your wrist stack
Pick one print for your wrist and one for your hair. Browse all 10 designs of our printed satin scrunchies, one size and just Rs 40 each, so a three-scrunchie stack costs only Rs 120.