A scrunchie is a fabric-covered elastic hair tie that gathers hair into a ponytail or bun. Unlike plain rubber bands that can snag and damage hair, a scrunchie has soft fabric (like cotton, velvet, or silk) sewn around the elastic, creating a puffy, gathered ring. The fabric protects your hair while the hidden elastic inside holds it firmly in place.

Scrunchies became wildly popular in the 1980s and 1990s, when people wore them in bright colors and patterns that matched their outfits. They fell out of fashion for a while, but made a comeback in recent years. Today you'll see scrunchies in all kinds of materials and styles, from simple solids to fancy velvet ones.

The word itself is playful, capturing the scrunched or gathered look of the fabric bunched around the elastic. When you pull your hair back with a scrunchie, you're using a gentler method than a tight rubber band. Many people also wear scrunchies as bracelets when they're not using them in their hair, keeping them handy for whenever they need to pull their hair back.