We’re With the (Head)Band: 16 Festival Headwraps to Buy + DIY

The festival grounds are almost as gawk-able as the red carpet—they’re full of cool girls with an effortlessly awesome sense of style. But the breezy boho chic look is easier to pull off than they may lead on, and it starts with a simple hair accessory: the headband. Worn ‘round your forehead like a ‘70s wild child, these 16 headbands ensure you’re on the fast track to It girl style status this festival season. So rave on!

1. Deepa Gurnani Bright Lights Headwrap ($28): Colorful gemstones pop from this circular headwrap trimmed with tiny seed beads. It’s the perfect accessory for second day hair.

2. Leather Tie-On Headpiece in Aztec Print ($32): Aztec patterned fabric gives a festive pop to this leather tie-on headpiece. That rich vintage trim is to die for.

3. Braided Bead Strappy Headwrap ($20): As far as your festival get up goes, you just can’t go wrong with neon. Metallic beads sit pretty on silky orange thread—mimic the weave in the headband with a braided ‘do of your own.

4. DIY Leather Feather Headband: The second we saw soft gold leather for sale, we pounced on it, and for good reason: the lavish material looks ultra luxe as this feather headband. Print the template in our tutorial to get the exact look. (via Brit + Co.)

5. Tribal Woven Headband ($12): An ombre chevron headband! Yeah, we’d rock this beauty around our forehead at any festival this season, and maybe even to work worn old school style.

6. Golden Leaf Beaded Turban ($38): We’re straight up swooning over this super chic turban that’s beaded to perfection. That marigold color doesn’t hurt either!

7. Asos Seedbead Headband ($19): This wavy headband is the one to choose if you’re looking for multiple pops of color in one trendy accessory. The elastic strap ensures it will grip tightly to your wild locks.

8. Limited Edition Pom Headband ($23): It’s no secret we’re suckers for pom poms, so of course we fell for this headband at first sight. The mix of gem tones and neon colors—not to mention it’s size—makes this piece seriously eye-catching on the festival grounds.

9. DIY Multi-Strand Headband: The mix of textures and colors (that gold!) in this five-strand headband is highly covetable—good thing you can totally make it yourself! (via Sincerely Kinsey)

10. Asos Knot Turban Headband ($15): You can’t head to a music festival without something tie-dyed! This knotted turban is the way to wear the far out fashion with a modern edge.

11. Geo Woven Headwrap ($14): When all else fails, turn to geo print. While the color lover in us wishes this piece came in a more vibrant palette, the black and white design makes this headband super versatile.

12. DIY Golden Clay Leaves Headband: Turn clay leaves into luxe charms on this DIY headband. Golden wire creates the base of this stunning crown—just twist the edges under your hairstyle to secure. (via Dreaming Out Loud)

13. DIY Bead Embellished Headband: Itching to rock a pattern that’s a little more personalized? Create your own with seed beads! We’re totally taken with this Southwestern-inspired arrow and zig zag detail. (via A Bit of Sunshine)

14. DIY Glitter Feather Crown: Rock this gilded feather crown to any festival and we promise you’ll be the envy of every It girl. Take it up another notch by adding glitter to the tips—so dreamy! (via U La La)

15. Mixed Chains Goddess Headwrap ($18): Whoa, this chain headwrap is taking us back a few decades, and we’re totally okay with that. If you can’t rock a ‘90s classic on the festival grounds, then where could you?

16. DIY Hanging Chains Headband: Who needs highlights when you can amp up your locks with metallic chain? ;) Just add thin strands of chain to a pronged headband to get this cool girl look. (via …love Maegan)

17. Moonbeam Embellished Headband ($18): Keep it chic on the festival grounds with this black and gold beaded headband. We love how this piece looks over loose curls.

18. Asos Double Seedbead Headband ($15): This double strand headband boasts three of our fave details: neon, stripes, and gold trim. It’s a must-have in our eyes.

BONUSAsos Feather & Charms Hair Grip ($15): Headband it is not, but this feather and charm hair grip might the the most quintessential festival hair accessory out there. Wrap it through your braid like you see here, or match it up PIC-style with one of our must-have headbands above!

What accessories are you looking to score before you head to the festival grounds? How else do you prep for festival season? Tell us in the comments below!

Okay, so you know that instant confidence boost you get when your sunglasses push your hair back perfectly? The warm weather combined with a gorgeous tan, hair down, and the right pair of sunglasses is every girl's self-proclaimed peak. And it turns out, there’s a headband that does exactly that — but without the glasses part — so you can achieve that look all year round. One TikTok influencer, @sophiacuerquis found the brand Zazzy Bandz that takes the elusive “sunglasses” effect and enacts it.

How to Wear Zazzy Bandz: Straight Hair

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How to Wear Zazzy Bandz: Straight Hair

The brand offers three different styles (original, relaxed, and wrapped) in a variety of patterns for every outfit, advertised as “the redesigned headband that fits like sunglasses.” Beach girlies (AKA us) are allll over this. A headband goes for anywhere from around $17 to $21 — but some TikToker’s are not completely thrilled with the cost.

One commenter said that she prefers to wait for a knockoff version on Shein, while others claim that they are waiting for the dupe version of the accessory. Dupes have been all the rage online lately— meaning shoppers are looking for cheaper versions of their favorite (and presumably more expensive) products and clothing items.

“Someone find a dupe cause this is $30,” one person wrote. Zazzy Bandz replied, “Let us know, because our design is patented!” While internet users claim that the price point is a ripoff, the brand did explain that the headbands “very rarely need to be replaced” and are “a sustainable purchase.” Looks like only time will tell if that’s true or not.

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How to Wear Zazzy Bandz: Curly Hair version 2

This product is apparently also worth it for the curly haired girlies, as another user wrote, “It’s great for those with curly hair cause it doesn’t dent it! Keeps the hair out of my face — wear it all the time around the house.” As a curly haired girl myself who has struggled to style it for years, I know how hard it is to find an accessory that successfully holds your hair back—so it’s safe to say I am officially intrigued. Hot girl summer is officially underway and I’m ready to swipe my credit card!!

Shop Our Favorite Zazzy Bands

Espresso Headband ($17)

This chocolate brown headband is giving espresso martini vibes, and we are so about it.

Rose Wrapped Headband ($21)

We love how this wrapped headband adds a little texture to any look. Plus, we're still suckers for millennial pink TBH.

Purple Translucent Headband ($17)

We wanna pair this headband with our favorite skort and a pair of jelly shoes all summer long!

Black Headband ($17)

A black headband that Blair Waldorf would approve of — sign us up!

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Header image via Vicky / PEXELS

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

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The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.