5 Best Hair Ties For Babies That Won’t Pull or Tug
Hair ties are the perfect way to keep your baby’s hair cute, styled, and out of their eyes.
But, did you know that not all hair ties are good choices for your baby? Some elastics can be too tight while others may not be strong enough to hold back those oh-so-cute little curls.
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When it comes to baby hair ties, one quick search will show that you have a lot of options! So, what should you look for?
What are the best hair ties for babies and toddlers that won’t pull or tug on their hair when it’s time to remove them?
Here’s a list of our favorite baby hair ties to save you some time:
- Best disposable hair ties for thin hair: Youxuan Girls Elastic Hair Ties
- Best elastics for babies with thin or short hair: WillingTee Baby Hair Ties
- Best hair ties for babies with thick hair: J-Mee Baby Hair Ties for Kids
- Best baby hair ties with bows: Jolly Bows Mini Boutique Elastic Hair Ribbons
- Best scrunchie for babies and toddlers: Tsful Baby Hair Ties for Toddlers
How to choose the best hair tie for your baby
There are a few important considerations to keep in mind when you are shopping for no-pull hair ties.
Size
First, you will definitely want to consider the size of the hair tie. Adult hair ties probably won’t stay put in babies’ hair.
Instead, choose hair ties that are designed with babies and toddlers in mind. These are usually smaller in size and have a more gentle grip.
You’ll also want to take into consideration the type of hair your baby has.
If your baby has thick hair and you try to use an elastic that’s too small, it may break or get tangled.
Whereas, if your child has thin hair and you use a hair tie that’s too loose, it may fall out.
Material
Next, always look at the type of material the hair tie is made out of. Elastic bands that are made out of cotton or polyester are more gentle on thicker hair but may fall out of thin hair easily.
Simple rubber bands can cause damage to the hair and can even hurt. If you’ve ever tried to put your own hair up with an old-school rubber band, you know how much it hurts and pulls!
Look for materials that won’t lose their elasticity too soon, but also aren’t super easy to break.
You may also want to consider looking for materials that you can wash.
If you are going to wash your hair ties, you’ll also want to pick up a small mesh laundry bag to keep all of them together and to prevent them from getting lost in the dryer and inside of other clothes.
Design/color
Does it matter to you if the hair ties come in different colors? This may be another consideration, especially if you want to color coordinate with your child’s outfits.
There are so many very adorable hair tie designs to choose from ranging from cute baby hair ties with bows to adorable scrunchies with bunny ears.
Design/color may or may not be important to you, but it’s worth mentioning.
Value
And, of course, are the hair ties a good deal for the amount you are getting?
Considering how easily elastics get lost in the day-to-day shuffle (just like bobby pins do!), you definitely don’t want to overpay.
Do you need disposable hair ties?
Finally, some people prefer to use disposable hair ties because you don’t have to worry about keeping up with them. You use them once and toss them when you’re done.
Other parents prefer hair ties that can be used multiple times because they are better for the environment and you can use them over and over again.
Plus, disposable hair ties tend to be very basic. You have way more options as far as the “cute” factor with reusable hair ties.
The best hair ties for babies and toddlers
1. Best disposable hair tie for thin hair: Youxuan Girls Elastic Hair Ties
The Youxuan Girls Elastic Hair Ties are some of the best hair ties for babies with thin hair. These elastic rubber bands are strong enough to stay put even if your baby doesn’t have a lot of hair yet.
They are thicker and more elastic than other rubber bands, so they do not break easily when stretched.
Don’t let the “rubber” fool you. The texture of these elastics is nice and soft, so you can rest assured that your baby will not be uncomfortable in cute little ponytails all day long.
These elastics are disposable, but each pack comes with 1000 pieces, so it will last you a long time!
If your baby has thicker hair then 2.5 cm will be a better choice. If you are worried about damaging the hair when you are taking the ponies out, simply use a pony pick and snap the elastics from the hair without pain or damage.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very sturdy and stretchy | Can be hard to remove because they are so small and sturdy |
| Designed to not damage hair | |
| Comes in 2 sizes – 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm |
2. Best for short hair: WillingTee Baby Hair Ties
Not a fan of the disposable hair ties for one reason or another? Try these baby hair ties by Willing Tee – They’re perfect for babies with shorter hair that’s not super thick.
Made with high-quality rubber and nylon that can stretch with ease, these elastics are designed to last.
You won’t have to worry about them getting stuck or damaging your baby’s hair due to their soft and seamless design.
If you haven’t had much luck with the rubber band elastics, these are a great alternative! Each elastic band is 2 cm in diameter and they come 200 in a pack.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Do not pull or damage hair | Not great for super thick or longer hair |
| Have multiple strands | |
| High-quality rubber and nylon |
3. Best for thick hair: J-MEE Baby Hair Ties for Kids
If your baby was blessed with thick hair, we love the J-MEE Baby Hair Ties for Kids. These soft polyester hair ties are hard to break, and they won’t damage your child’s hair.
These also work for thin hair, so if you have multiple children with different hair types, these elastics may be the best option for you.
They are soft polyester hair elastics that do not damage or get tangled up in soft baby hair.
Each pack includes 100 brightly colored elastics. While this may not seem like a lot compared to other options, keep in mind that these can be washed and reused.
Since they retain their elasticity quite well, these should last you a while.
Plan to wash them? We recommend drying them out on a towel or putting them in a small mesh laundry bag when washing and drying to prevent them from getting all over the place.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Thicker material | Slides off easily |
| Easy to remove without damaging hair | Can become overstretched |
4. Best hair bow ties for babies: Jolly Bows Mini Boutique Elastic Hair Ribbons
What if you are looking for a metal-free hair bow for your baby? Take a look at the Jolly Bows Mini Boutique Elastic Hair Ribbons.
These cute mini hair bows are made with high-quality grosgrain ribbon. The bow itself is 2 inches wide, so it’s the perfect finishing touch to piggies or bunnies.
As far as elasticity goes, these elastics are quite stretchy. They will work on both thin and thick baby hair. However, if you are working with thinner hair, you may have to wrap the elastic a few extra times to keep it secured.
Since each pack comes with 40 colorful bows, you should have no problem matching outfits!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Made from high-quality grosgrain ribbon | Bows may detach from elastic after some use |
| The metal-free bows are glued onto the elastic | These are bigger than other baby hair ties, so you may need to wrap around hair multiple times to keep it from falling out |
| Several colors come in the pack |
5. Best scrunchie for babies and toddlers: Tsful Baby Hair Ties for Toddlers
Your heart cannot take these baby rabbit ear scrunchies!
You can use them to secure ponytails, half up half down hairstyles, and more. Each pack comes with several different patterns, so you will have the perfect baby scrunchie for every outfit.
The elastics are 2 inches in diameter, so they are perfect for thick or curly hair. You can use them in fine hair too, however, keep in mind that you may have to wrap them a few extra times to keep them in place.
One thing you have to watch out for with baby hair bows is how easily they come apart. You don’t want the bow to fall off easily as it becomes something your baby can put in their mouth.
The good thing about the rabbit ear design is that it’s actually sewn into the elastic so it’s pretty tricky to pull the ears off!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The rabbit ears are sewn onto the scrunchie so it’s harder to become detached | The diameter is a little larger than other baby hair ties so you may need to wrap around hair 2-3 times for thinner hair |
| High quality | Babies may think the rabbit ears are toys if they fall off |
| Come in several different designs – Easy to match outfits! |
FAQs about using hair ties for babies
What is a pony pick?
A pony pick is a small, handheld tool that helps you easily remove hair ties from your baby’s hair.
They are simple to use – All you have to do is place the pointed tip under one of the loops of the hair tie, lift it up and away from the hair, and then snip it free.
Pony picks can be especially helpful when you are using rubber or silicone elastics that are difficult to remove with your fingers. No more discomfort for baby or tangled curls!
Are hair elastics safe for babies?
As every parent already knows, a baby will put nearly anything they can get their hands on in their mouth – Including hair ties if given the chance.
Hair ties are safe for babies as long are you use them under supervision as they can become a choking hazard.
Also never allow your baby to play with the hair tie as if it is a toy.
Can babies sleep with hair ties?
No.
Always be sure to remove any hair ties before putting your baby down for sleep.
While they’re sleeping the elastic could fall out. A baby may wake up and find the hair tie in their crib and put it in their mouth, which can be a choking hazard.
Are hair ties bad for your baby’s hair?
If you wrap a hair tie around your baby’s hair too many times, it could cause breakage.
Tight hair ties may also cause a condition called traction alopecia. This is a type of hair loss that can occur when the hair is pulled too tightly into the same direction or hairstyle over a period of time.
However, rotating hairstyles instead of putting your baby’s hair in the same style every day may help you prevent this. The goal is to avoid overstressing the hair in one region.
If you start noticing any sort of hair damage, it’s probably best to give your child’s hair a break from the hair ties.
What hair ties are least damaging?
Hair ties that are the least damaging will be ones that are made for babies and toddlers and suitable for their hair type.
You will want to avoid hair elastics that have a metal clamp in them as they are more prone to damage and tangles.
If the hair tie is made from a rubber material, be sure to look for options that are smoother so that they will glide through the hair and not get tangled easily. It may also be a good idea to pick up a pony pick if you are using this type of elastic.
Generally speaking, cotton or polyester material is a good option that’s less likely to damage a baby’s delicate hair.
While there are plenty of excellent options on the market – These are the top 5 best baby hair ties!
Finding the best hair ties for babies can be a tough job. You don’t want a hair tie that will break or damage fine baby hair, and you definitely want something that is durable enough to withstand lots of baby wiggling and activity.
When looking for the best hair ties for babies we looked into a number of factors such as damage and hair breaking aspects, safety concerns, and elasticity.
Make sure to use a nice baby conditioner to keep baby hair soft and smooth. This makes it much easier for you to manage your baby’s hair on a daily basis too.
