A bandana is a square piece of cloth, usually cotton, often decorated with patterns or bright colors. People wear bandanas in many ways: folded and tied around the head to keep hair back or absorb sweat, wrapped around the neck like a scarf, or even tied around a dog's collar for decoration.

Bandanas became popular in America during the 1800s when cowboys wore them on the frontier. A cowboy might pull his bandana up over his nose and mouth to help filter out dust on a cattle drive, or dip it in water to cool down on a hot day.

Today, people wear bandanas for sports, outdoor work, or just for style. Rock musicians sometimes wear them on stage. Hikers tie them around their necks on long trails. The classic red bandana with white paisley patterns remains one of the most recognizable styles, though bandanas now come in every color and pattern imaginable.