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The hair tie is probably the most overlooked item in your daily beauty routine. You put your hair up dozens of times a week without thinking about it — and then wonder why your hair has a persistent crease at the same spot, why there are short broken hairs around your hairline, why your ends feel increasingly rough and split despite conditioning treatments.
The answer, more often than people realise, is the hair tie itself.
Here is a straightforward comparison between the three most common options — regular elastic, fabric scrunchie and mulberry silk — and what actually happens to your hair when it interacts with each one.
A standard elastic hair tie works by gripping the hair tightly enough to hold a ponytail in place. The grip comes from friction between the elastic surface and the hair shaft — and friction, repeated dozens of times a day and hundreds of times a week, is what damages hair.
When a regular elastic is wrapped around hair, it compresses the hair shaft at the point of contact, creating a physical crease. It creates friction against the hair cuticle — the outer protective layer of the hair shaft, which consists of overlapping scales like roof tiles — roughing those scales up and lifting them away from the shaft. And when removed, it often catches and pulls on individual hairs, creating breakage at precisely the point where compression has already weakened the shaft. Studies comparing hair tie types have found that sleeping with a standard elastic can cause up to five times more breakage than leaving hair loose.
The fabric scrunchie creates a broader, softer contact point that distributes tension more evenly across the hair shaft and reduces the severity of the crease. This is genuinely better than a standard elastic. Scrunchies cause less breakage and less creasing, particularly when used to hold a loose ponytail or bun overnight.
The limitation is the fabric itself. Cotton and polyester both create friction against the hair cuticle. Cotton in particular can absorb the hair's natural moisture and any products applied to the hair, contributing to dryness over time. If you wear your hair up for most of the day or sleep with it tied, this matters.
Mulberry silk has a surface friction coefficient that is significantly lower than any cotton or synthetic fabric. When your hair slides against silk, the cuticle scales are not caught or lifted. The hair moves across the silk surface without resistance, without roughing, without the micro-tearing that creates split ends and breakage over time.
Silk also does not absorb moisture from the hair the way cotton does. It allows the hair's natural oils and any applied products to stay where they are, rather than wicking them away into the fabric. Trichologists and hairstylists consistently recommend silk hair ties as the safest everyday option, particularly for colour-treated hair, fine hair, and curly and coily hair types.
Regular elastics cause the highest friction, create the most crease and cause the most breakage. They are best for occasional use with thick, resilient hair and worst for overnight use or fine and colour-treated hair. Fabric scrunchies reduce friction compared to bare elastic, distribute tension more evenly and cause some creasing. Better than elastic overnight, but not optimal. Mulberry silk hair ties offer the lowest friction, no creasing, and do not absorb hair moisture or products. Best for all hair types, especially overnight use, fine or fragile hair, and colour-treated or chemically processed hair.
The best overnight approach is a loose braid or a soft, low bun secured with a silk hair tie. This keeps the hair gathered and reduces the surface area exposed to pillow friction while minimising tension at any single point. For most women, switching to a silk hair tie for overnight use produces visible results within two to four weeks — less halo breakage, less frizz in the morning, and a more consistent crease-free result when hair is released.
The Charlotte Silk Hair Tie in peacock blue is 100% mulberry silk over a soft elastic core. It holds without pulling, releases without snagging, and does not leave the crease that every other hair tie does. Browse the Sleep and Silk collection.
Free shipping on orders over $200 Australia-wide. Returns accepted — $10 return postage paid by the customer. Beautifully gift wrapped.
