A ponytail can be purely practical or part of the plan, and a scrunchie works just as well either way. Pull the hair back for the day, twist it into a bun, or use one to finish a half-up style when leaving everything down isn’t quite working. The gathered fabric adds color and print along the way, turning a basic hair tie into something that actually feels like part of the hairstyle.

Scrunchies have been around long enough to make their way through plenty of trends and somehow come out the other side still useful. They can feel playful, nostalgic, colorful, or completely everyday depending on the fabric and how they’re worn. Maybe that staying power is why they’ve earned a permanent spot alongside all the other hair accessories that come and go.

There are days when doing your hair is part of getting ready and days when pulling it back is about as far as the plan gets. Scrunchies belong comfortably in both. They don’t need much thought, they work with all kinds of personal style, and sometimes choosing a good print is enough to make the five-second hairstyle feel like a perfectly respectable decision.