21 Bandana Hairstyles for Long Hair

A bandana does something immediate to long hair. It adds color, pattern, and a deliberate accessory element that shifts the whole character of the style without touching the cut or the color. A plain blowout with a bandana tied across the hairline reads completely differently from the same hair without it. The bandana is doing real styling work, and it costs almost no time or effort.

Long hair specifically gives the bandana the most to work with. There is length to braid into, wrap around, let fall over, tuck underneath. The combination of the fabric and the length creates styling options that shorter hair simply does not have access to. Every version on this list uses the length as part of the design rather than simply wearing the bandana on top of the hair.

Before picking a style: the way a bandana is folded changes everything. A narrow strip across the hairline reads casual and sporty. A wide fold across the forehead reads bohemian and intentional. A fully open bandana used as a scarf reads formal and considered. Fold the bandana before choosing the style. The fold is part of the decision.

1. Classic Headband Wrap

Fold the bandana into a narrow strip and tie it across the hairline from temple to temple with the knot at the top or the back. The long hair falls freely below. Simple, immediate, and consistently flattering on long hair because the length balances the horizontal bandana element across the forehead.

The tighter the fold, the more sporty the result. The wider the fold, the more bohemian it reads. Try both with the same bandana before committing to see which suits the occasion and the personal aesthetic better.

2. Low Ponytail with Bandana Wrap

A sleek low ponytail at the nape with a bandana folded into a strip and tied around the base of the ponytail. The bandana wraps around the elastic and knots on top, covering the gathering point and adding a deliberate, colorful detail at the back of the head that makes a simple ponytail look genuinely considered.

Wrap the bandana around the ponytail base rather than the hair itself for the most secure result. A few wraps before knotting keep the bandana in place through the day. The ponytail length falls below the knot, and the bandana sits as a visible, intentional detail at the gathering point.

3. Half-Up Bandana Style

The top section of long hair is gathered into a half-up with the bandana folded and tied across the gathered section rather than a standard elastic. The bandana becomes the fastening element and the decorative element simultaneously. The long lower sections fall freely, and the bandana tie at the crown is the focal point of the style.

This works best with a bandana folded into a medium-width strip rather than very narrow or very wide. Tie loosely for a more relaxed result. Tie with a deliberate bow rather than a simple knot for a more formal occasion.

4. Braided Bandana Style

A loose braid created from long hair with the bandana woven into the braid from the beginning. The fabric threads through the braid sections so the color and pattern of the bandana appears at intervals throughout the length of the braid. The braid and the bandana become one integrated style element.

Start with the bandana folded into a narrow strip and incorporate it as a fourth strand from the very first section of the braid. Weave it over and under through the braid rather than crossing it the same way every time. The irregular weaving creates the most natural, integrated result.

5. High Pony with Bandana

A high ponytail with a bandana tied around the base creates a sporty, energetic style that suits casual and active occasions. The bandana adds color and personality to what is otherwise the most straightforward version of an updo. On long hair, the ponytail length creates significant drama below the bandana tie.

Secure the ponytail with a standard elastic first, then wrap the bandana around it and tie. The elastic does the structural work and the bandana does the decorative work. This prevents the bandana from slipping during the day.

6. Scarf Wrap with Long Hair Down

A bandana used fully open or folded into a wide strip and wrapped around the head like a scarf with the long hair worn completely down below it. The fabric covers the crown and the hair flows freely from underneath the fabric at the back and sides. The combination of the patterned fabric and the flowing long hair is immediately striking and bohemian.

Wrap the fabric around the head starting at the forehead and crossing at the back, bringing the ends forward to tie at the front. Let the ends hang loose or tuck them in depending on the occasion. The long hair should fall naturally beneath the wrapped fabric.

7. Side-Swept with Bandana Headband

Long hair swept to one side with a bandana tied as a headband across the top of the head. The bandana holds the side-swept direction in place while adding a deliberate accessory element at the crown. The long swept hair falls over one shoulder below the bandana. Two styling elements working together rather than competing.

Set the side part and sweep before placing the bandana so the fabric holds the directional styling in place rather than being placed on top of already-styled hair. A light-hold spray on the side-swept sections before the bandana goes on helps the direction hold.

8. French Braid with Bandana Tie

A loose French braid running from the crown down to the nape with the bandana folded into a narrow strip and used as the tie at the end of the braid rather than a standard elastic. The bandana ends hang loose below the braid tie, adding a deliberate decorative element at the end of the French braid.

The French braid should be kept loose and relaxed rather than tight and structured so the overall effect reads as effortlessly bohemian rather than formally braided. Pull individual sections gently outward after braiding to loosen the braid before tying with the bandana.

9. Twisted Half-Up with Bandana

The top section of long hair is twisted before being secured at the crown, with the bandana folded into a strip and used to tie the twisted section rather than a clip or elastic. The twist creates a structured, considered element and the bandana adds the color and personal detail. The lower long sections fall freely beneath.

Twist the top section loosely before using the bandana to tie it so the twist has some relaxed volume rather than sitting completely flat against the head. The bandana knot or bow should sit at the top of the gathered section where it is visible from the front.

10. Long Hair Tucked into Bandana

All the long hair tucked up and under a wide bandana wrapped around the head, with no hair visible below the fabric. The whole style reads as a deliberate fabric-forward look where the bandana is the hairstyle rather than an accessory to the hairstyle. Bold and completely intentional.

This works best with a larger bandana or a silk scarf that has enough fabric to wrap fully around the head and contain the length of the hair. Gather the long hair at the nape before wrapping so all the length is contained within or behind the fabric wrap.

11. Bandana Bow on Ponytail

A high or low ponytail with the bandana tied into a large, deliberate bow at the base rather than a simple knot. The bow adds a playful, intentional quality that reads differently from a simple knotted bandana on the same ponytail. On long hair, the ponytail length contrasts beautifully with the structured bow above it.

Tie the bandana around the ponytail base and create the bow deliberately by pulling the loops wide and arranging the tails symmetrically. A wider bandana fold creates a more impressive bow. A narrower fold creates something more delicate and understated.

12. Pigtails with Bandana Ties

Two low pigtail braids or ponytails with a bandana split in half and used as the tie on each pigtail. The matched bandana fabric on both sides creates a cohesive, deliberate accessory detail that makes simple pigtails read as a considered style rather than a default option.

Fold the bandana and cut or tear it carefully along the fold line to create two equal strips. Use one strip to tie each pigtail braid or ponytail at the base. The matching fabric on both sides creates symmetry and intention.

13. Headscarf Style with Volume

A bandana tied as a headscarf at the back with the knot at the nape and the fabric sitting across the crown, with the long hair teased or volumized at the crown before the scarf goes on to create a lifted, full shape beneath the fabric. The volume shows above and below the scarf, and the overall effect is deliberately bohemian and full.

Create volume at the crown with a light backcombing at the roots before placing the scarf over the top. The scarf holds the shape, and the volume creates the lift that makes this style more interesting than a flat headscarf worn on flat hair.

14. Space Buns with Bandana

Two space buns on long hair with a bandana tied across the forehead below the buns in a narrow headband style. The buns sit high above the bandana, and the interplay between the high playful buns and the patterned fabric across the forehead creates a style with genuine personality and considered visual interest.

Create the space buns first, then place the bandana across the hairline below them. The bandana should sit below the bun line rather than across it so both elements are visible simultaneously. A fitted bandana tie rather than a loose one suits the energy of space buns better.

15. Long Waves with Bandana Headband

Loose, long waves worn down with a bandana folded into a medium-width strip and worn as a headband across the crown from ear to ear. The bandana holds the hair back slightly from the face while the waves cascade freely from behind it. One of the most effortless and consistently flattering bandana styles for long hair.

The bandana should sit slightly behind the hairline rather than across it for the most flattering placement. A slightly behind-the-hairline position creates a halo effect that frames the face without covering the forehead. The long waves below do the rest of the styling work.

16. Fishtail Braid with Bandana

A loose fishtail braid on long hair with the bandana woven through the braid sections at intervals throughout the length. The patterned fabric appears at regular intervals through the intricate fishtail structure and creates a style that looks significantly more complex and considered than the technique actually requires.

After completing the fishtail braid, carefully pull individual bandana sections through specific sections of the braid and redistribute them. This post-braid weaving technique is easier than incorporating the bandana from the beginning and allows more control over where the fabric appears through the finished braid.

17. Top Knot with Bandana Wrap

A high top knot with the bandana wrapped around the base of the knot and tied in a knot or bow at the front. The bandana wraps around the bun itself rather than the gathering point below it. The wrapped fabric and the bun together create a more elaborate, considered updo than either element achieves independently.

Wrap the bandana around the bun rather than the elastic at the base. Two or three wraps around the bun body before tying at the front create the most secure and visually interesting result. The fabric should cover part of the bun rather than simply encircling the base.

18. Braided Crown with Bandana

Two braids from either side of long hair brought across the crown and pinned at the back, with a bandana folded into a narrow strip and tied around the head at the same level as the braided crown. The bandana and the braided sections sit at the same horizontal level across the head and create a layered, complex crown detail from the combination of fabric and braid.

Place the bandana first and then braid over and around it so the fabric is integrated into the crown rather than simply sitting on top. The braid sections should cover part of the bandana and the bandana should be visible at intervals between the braid sections.

19. Low Bun with Bandana Wrap

A low bun at the nape with the bandana wrapped around the entire head and knotted at the side or front. The long hair is all contained in the low bun, and the bandana wraps over the top of the head and around to the front. Elegant, covered, and completely put-together with minimal effort once the bun is created.

Create the low bun first and secure it firmly. Then wrap the bandana starting at the forehead, bringing it back over the top of the head and around the bun at the nape, knotting it at the side or the front. The bun should be visible at the back below the wrapped bandana.

20. Knotted Bandana at Crown

A bandana folded into a medium strip and tied in a knot at the very top of the crown rather than at the back or side. The knot sits upward from the head as a deliberate sculptural element, and the long hair falls freely below. The knotted bandana at the crown reads as intentionally architectural and fashion-forward.

Tie the bandana directly on top of the head with the knot pointing upward rather than lying flat. The two fabric ends can hang loose below the knot or be tucked under the wrapped section. Long hair worn in loose waves below creates the best contrast with the structured knot above.

21. Boho Bandana Wrap with Braids

Multiple thin braids through long hair worn down combined with a bandana wrapped loosely around the head with the ends hanging loose at the front or side. The braids, the loose long hair, the wrapped fabric, and the hanging fabric ends all exist together in a deliberately layered, bohemian combination that reads as personally expressive and effortfully effortless.

Create two to four thin braids through random sections of the long hair before wrapping the bandana loosely around the head. The braids should be loose and slightly undone rather than tight and neat. The bandana wrap should also be intentionally relaxed. The overall effect reads as bohemian only when neither element is too neat.

FAQs

How do I stop a bandana slipping on long hair?

A light texturizing spray or dry shampoo applied through the hair before placing the bandana adds grip that prevents slipping. Tying the bandana over a small section of hair rather than directly against the scalp also prevents slipping because the hair creates friction for the fabric to grip. Bobby pins placed under the bandana at the temples add additional security.

What fabric works best for bandana hairstyles on long hair?

Cotton bandanas hold their position best because the texture grips the hair rather than sliding. Silk and satin scarves look more luxurious but require more pinning to stay in place. For everyday casual styles, a standard cotton bandana is the most practical. For formal or special occasion styles, a silk scarf in a similar fold creates a more elevated result.

Can bandana styles work on very long or very thick long hair?

Yes, but the bandana needs to be secured more deliberately because the weight of thick or very long hair creates more downward pull on the fabric. Bobby pins under the bandana at multiple points, tying over a gathered section rather than loose hair, and using a more substantial bandana all help manage the additional weight and volume.

Wrapping Up

Bandana hairstyles for long hair reward experimentation more than most styling categories because the same bandana produces genuinely different results depending on how it is folded, where it is placed, and what the long hair is doing beneath it. The options are much wider than they appear before trying them.

Start with the simplest versions, the headband wrap or the ponytail tie, and work toward the more complex integrated styles as comfort with the technique grows. The fold, the placement, and the tension are the three variables that determine every result. Adjust those three things and the same bandana becomes an entirely different style.