The best gym headbands are here to stop your hair from sticking to your face or having it jab you in the eye while you're exercising.
If you're looking for the best fitness gear to help you live your best life, and you're not a fan of holding a gym towel around while you work out, then the best sports headbands for women are one to consider. Don’t be quick to dismiss this often-overlooked sports accessory. Before putting headbands to the test, they weren't on our radar, let alone in our gym bags.
The best gym headbands at a glance 2023:
• Best overall gym headband for women: Nike Dri-FIT Fury Headband - View now on Sports Direct
• Best budget gym headband: Gym Sports Yoga Headband - View now on Amazon
• Best quality gym headband: Sweaty Betty Super Soft Headband 2.0 - View now on Sweaty Betty
All of these headbands have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching gym headbands for women, so you can choose the best one. Plus, we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
The best gym headbands for women:
Best overall gym headband for women
www.sportsdirect.com
The Nike Dri-FIT Headband is designed to keep sweat at bay and hair out of your face during intense workouts. Its moisture-wicking Dri-FIT technology ensures that perspiration is quickly absorbed and evaporated, leaving you feeling cool and dry even during the most challenging training sessions. The Fury headband features a secure, non-slip fit thanks to its silicone grips, ensuring it stays in place no matter how intense your activity.
Available in an array of vibrant colours and designs, it adds a touch of personality to your athletic attire.
Pros
- Our top headband
- Nike is renowned for their quality
- Aesthetic colours
Cons
- Thin material
| Brand | Nike |
| Colours | Available in a variety of colours including: Red, Black, Pink |
- Customer review: "I got two of the Nike Dri-FIT Fury headbands and really enjoy them. I have should long hair and use this headband either working out or for keeping my hair in check while it dries and it fits perfectly! It will also stay in place during workouts! It definitely does while running but even yoga is no problem!"
Best budget gym headband
If a no-frills, budget headband is what your after, you've struck gold with this one. Choose from 26 different colours and patterns, including neon green and tartan. This is our favourite value yoga headband - less than £2? A bargain!
Pros
- Mass of colours to choose from
- Great value
Cons
- Lower quality than our other options
| Brand | Generic |
| Colours | Various colours available including: Neon Yellow, Blue Polka Dot, Hot Pink |
- Customer review: "This Gym Sports Yoga headband arrived quickly, I used it to add a hot pink flash of colour to my sun hat when doing the Race for Life on a very sunny day."
Best quality gym headband
www.sweatybetty.com
The Sweaty Betty Super Soft Headband 2.0 is the ultimate companion for active individuals seeking comfort and style during their workouts. Crafted with an emphasis on softness, this headband is made from a luxurious, moisture-wicking fabric that feels gentle against the skin while efficiently managing sweat. Its wide design and feminine twist detail make this headband a must-have accessory.
Pros
- Made from a soft, sweat-wicking fabric
- Matches their yoga leggings
- Silicone grips to keep headband in place
Cons
- Not as wide as some of the other headbands on our list
| Brand | Sweaty Betty |
| Colours | Ambient pink |
- Customer review: "I bought this Sweaty Betty headband as it wasn’t as wide as the others for sale, it’s lovely, soft and comfy. I’d like more colours and would be very happy wearing it all day for keeping my hair out of my face. Have used it whilst cycling on the turbo and it does a fab job!"
Best thin gym headband
Pick a thin band because it'll stay put, even if you're caught out running in the rain. Plus, you won't have the problem of losing a headband in the bottom of your bag either, as this pack comes with five sweat headbands. Winning.
Pros
- Comes in a pack of five
- Unisex
- Made for running
Cons
- The thin band style may not suit everyone
| Brand | OSELEE |
| Colours | Various colours available including: Grey, Orange, Fluorescent Green |
- Customer review: "First headband that doesn't ping off my fine hair! Really happy with these little OSELEE bands, and they even came with a clip to really secure it in place. So far, I've tested them with running and in two CrossFit classes and they've stayed firmly put.
"I use two together to really hold back my awkward postpartum regrowth short hair around my hairline. Might leave a little dent in your hair after your head heats up during exercise, especially if you use product, but that's to be expected from any headband/hair tie. So far, they haven't stretched out of shape either, so I'm really pleased with this buy!"
Best high-end gym headband
www.aloyoga.com
The Airlift headband is crafted from Alo Yoga's double-knit Airlift fabric, offering a compressive feel that comfortably stays in place during intense workouts. The Airlift material also provides a four-way stretch, for that extra secure fit. Its headband, which is available in three different colours, adds a touch of sophistication to your athlete ensemble, making it versatile enough to wear beyond the gym.
Pros
- Features no-slip grips to keep the headband in place
- Cinched centre detail to add a feminine touch
- Made from double-knit Airlift fabric
Cons
- Some reviewers are asking for Alo Yoga to make their Airlift headband in alternative neutral colours
| Brand | Alo Yoga |
| Colours | Black, Violet skies, Ultramint green |
- Customer review: "The colour of the Airlift headband is really pretty, the headband feels comfy on your head, it makes you look really girly and pretty, it’s such a good daily accessory or you can wear it at the gym or any other type of exercise, Alo vibes and their aesthetic are amazing to me! You can wear your headband any time, any day, and on any weather. I totally recommend it."
Best basic gym headbands
There's nothing basic about this pack of headbands. As you can see, you don't even have to wear them at the gym. If they're good enough as an accessory for a burpee sesh in the living room, they should be good enough to rock on a walk around the local park.
Pros
- Comes in a pack of two
- Can be worn casually too
Cons
- Not the best for intense exercise
| Brand | Pretty Little Thing |
| Colours | Grey, Black |
FAQs
How do I wear gym headbands?
Sportswear can sometimes be boring, right? Sweat headbands are a quick and easy way to add a chic touch to your gym outfit. You'll be surprised with how many types of headbands there are to be honest.
Here are some top ways to pull off the sports headband look, in case you have to open the door to the postie or nip to the shop halfway through your session:
Match a headband to your hair colour: Blend in, but stand out with a sports headband that matches your locks.
Sweep it all back: 70s fringes are so hot right now, but they can massively get in the way when exercising. If your hair is bothering you, sweep it back with one of our choices above.
Style across your forehead: A favourite Kardashian staple from the late 00s, wearing a headband across your forehead is a great way to ensure long hair is out of your way when practising yoga or whatever.
Why should I add a gym headband to my training?
First off, you’ll be looking stylish and sporty if you add a headband to your next gym trip. But other than looking fashionable, sweatbands really deal with the worst thing when you’re exercising – sweat.
Keeping sweat out of your eyes and your hair out of your face stops distracting you from your fitness routine. You can keep the sweat at bay and because there are so many choices, you can look good while doing it too. Check out our choices below for the best gym headbands and sweatbands for you.
Lily Anderson is a Senior Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, where she tests products for titles such as Heat, Closer, What’s the Best and Mother&Baby.
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