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I know that scrunchies are high on the Polarizing Fashion List, but I’d argue that it’s time we all collectively reevaluate that stance and get over it.
That’s partially because we let everything else come back in due time — even mom jeans and kitten heels — but mainly because I’m personally currently obsessed with them. (Cue you thinking about Carrie Bradshaw shrieking “a scrunchie!” in disapproval.)
Scrunchies are not a thing I ever expected to be into. I was born in 1992, so my only real-life memories of the scrunchie start and end with Michelle Tanner from Full House. But here I am, thanks to the $12 assorted pack from Urban Outfitters that I got as a gift this past Christmas. At first I laughed it off as a joke (that’s what you get when your gifting limit is $15), but lately I’ve really started to lean into scrunchies.
Let me explain.
I started wearing my scrunchies after applying hair masks and deep conditioning treatments because they put a lot less pressure on my thick curls than typical elastic bands. Now, I wear them pretty much whenever I’m home. Scrunchies give me the luxury of being able to put my hair up, then down, then up again as I please without risking a severe ponytail dent. And they’re much harder to lose given their size.
The whole scrunchie vibe is a lot more chic now than in years past (well, in my memory at least; I wasn't around for this iconic look), so if you’re still envisioning puffy neon fabric wrapped around crimped hair, don’t. What’s out there now is a lot cooler and more subtle in size — so much so that when I’m not wearing one in my hair, I’ll actually put it on my wrist.
It’s not just me who’s saying so either, okay? Mansur Gavriel sent scrunchies down its spring 2018 runway and made them available for purchase online. They’re a standout styling piece in Balenciaga’s resort 2018 lookbook, and just last week, WWD reported that the scrunchie revival is in full swing. You don’t have to be into them right now, but don’t say I didn’t tell you so.