Ribbon Hairstyles: 9 Ways to Tie Ribbon in Your Hair

Ribbon hairstyles: start here

Ribbon hairstyles use a length of satin, velvet or chiffon ribbon tied, braided or wrapped into your hair. The easiest are the ribbon-tied low ponytail, a ribbon woven into a three-strand braid and a ribbon wrapped around a bun. All you need is about one metre of ribbon, an elastic and a few bobby pins.

Ribbon differs from a ready-made bow clip because it is flexible: you can braid it, wrap it, and choose how long the tails fall. It is cheap, endlessly customisable and a lovely way to match hair to an outfit exactly.

Ribbon also suits every budget. A metre of good satin or velvet ribbon from a craft or haberdashery shop often costs less than a single fancy clip, and ready-made ribbon packs in mixed colours are widely available online.

Choosing ribbon: width, fabric and length

Width changes the effect. Skinny 3 to 6 mm ribbon is ideal for weaving into braids and for delicate wraps. Medium 10 to 15 mm ribbon makes the classic bow on a ponytail. Wide 25 to 40 mm ribbon gives dramatic statement bows and can double as a headband tie.

Fabric: double-faced satin looks the same on both sides, which matters when ribbon twists in a braid. Velvet grips hair well and does not slide, making it the most practical choice for silky hair. Chiffon and organza are soft and floaty for summer. Cut 80 cm to 1 metre for ponytail bows, 1.5 times your hair length for braids. Seal cut ends with clear nail polish or cut them on a diagonal to stop fraying.

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Ribbon ponytails and wraps

Classic ribbon pony: tie a low or high pony with an elastic, then loop the ribbon around the base twice and tie a bow. Leave tails at least 15 cm long. Wrapped pony: knot the ribbon at the base, then criss-cross it down the length of the ponytail and tie it off near the ends. This bubble-like wrap looks great on straight hair and keeps it neat on windy days.

Bubble pony with ribbon: add small elastics every 6 to 8 cm down your ponytail, puff out each section, and tie ribbon bows over the elastics instead of plain ones. It is a fun festival and college fest look.

For a quick half-up version, tie the top section at the crown with a small elastic and finish it with a ribbon bow, leaving long tails falling over the open hair. It is a soft, romantic look for dates and brunches, and one of the fastest ribbon hairstyles to master if you are a beginner.

How to braid a ribbon into your hair

Tie a small elastic at the top of where your braid will start. Fold your ribbon in half and slide the fold under the elastic, so you have two ribbon tails. Divide hair into three strands and lay each ribbon tail along one strand. Braid as normal, treating each ribbon-plus-hair as one strand. Tie off the bottom with an elastic and finish with the ribbon ends in a bow.

For a French or Dutch ribbon braid, secure the ribbon at the crown with a bobby pin hidden under a section of hair, then add ribbon to the centre strand each time you cross it over. The ribbon runs like a line down the braid. A contrasting colour, like ivory on dark hair, makes the pattern pop.

If you find a full ribbon braid fiddly, start with the simplest variation: braid as normal, then thread a skinny ribbon through the finished braid with a large blunt needle or a bobby pin, weaving in and out of the sections. It looks almost identical and takes far less coordination.

Ribbon buns and headband ties

For a ribbon bun, make a low bun, pin it, then wrap ribbon around the base twice and tie a bow beneath the bun with tails hanging. A black velvet ribbon on a sleek low bun is an elegant evening look with a little black dress.

Ribbon as a headband: slide wide ribbon under your hair at the nape, bring both ends up over the top of your head, and tie a knot or bow just off-centre above the ear. It holds back short hair and fringes beautifully and works as a softer alternative to a hard headband.

For short hair, a ribbon headband is the most practical option because there is not enough length for braids or ponies. Tie it at the side of the head with short tails for a neat finish that suits bobs and pixie cuts.

For a romantic evening look, wrap a velvet ribbon around a loose side-swept bun, cross it once underneath and tie it at the side, letting tails drape over the shoulder.

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Ribbon hairstyles with Indian outfits

Ribbon braids are a natural fit with ethnic wear; braided parandi traditions show how well a woven accent suits Indian hair. For Navratri garba nights or a college ethnic day, weave a bright gota or zari-edged ribbon into a long side braid and finish with a tassel. A gold satin ribbon around a low bun complements silk sarees.

Match ribbon to dupatta or border colour for a coordinated look. In humid weather, velvet and grosgrain ribbon hold better than satin, which can slide on sweaty hair.

Browse sarees →Ghungroo sarees for festive nights →

Ribbon hairstyles by occasion

College and casual days: a cotton or grosgrain ribbon in a bright colour tied around a high pony or two braids is fun, cheap and easy to swap daily. Checked and gingham ribbons pair well with denim and plain tees.

Office: choose a skinny black or navy velvet ribbon tied in a small bow at the base of a low pony, or wrapped around a low bun with short tails. It is subtle and neat, and it hides a hair elastic more elegantly than a plain tie.

Parties and dinners: a wide satin ribbon in black, champagne or burgundy with long tails falling down a sleek low pony or bun makes a strong statement with a slip dress or a little black dress. For daytime events like birthday brunches or baby showers, pastel chiffon ribbons in a loose braid look soft and pretty.

Festive and ethnic events: zari, gota or brocade-edged ribbons woven into a braid, with a tassel or small latkan at the end, are a modern take on the traditional parandi and photograph beautifully at garba nights and sangeet functions as a guest.

Ribbon care and storage

Roll ribbons around a cardboard tube or a clean empty spool rather than folding them, which creates hard creases. Keep velvet away from moisture, since water spots it. Satin can be steamed or ironed on a low setting under a cloth. If ribbon ends start fraying, trim them on a sharp diagonal or dab them with clear nail polish.

Before an important event, try the style once in advance. Ribbon braids especially take a little practice to keep the ribbon flat and evenly spaced. Five minutes of rehearsal the day before saves a lot of frustration on the day.

Common ribbon mistakes

Tying ribbon directly on loose hair is the most common mistake; it slides off within an hour. Always secure hair with an elastic first and tie the ribbon over it. Cutting ribbon too short means a stingy bow with no tails, so err longer and trim. Single-faced satin shows its dull side when twisted, so buy double-faced for braids.

Finally, wash ribbons gently by hand when they pick up oil from hair, and iron satin on low heat. A well-kept ribbon wardrobe in five or six colours covers almost any outfit.