You’ve seen them everywhere. They look like old-school telephone cords—the kind you’d twirl around your finger while gossiping in the 90s. But hair coils hair ties aren't just a retro gimmick. Honestly, if you’re still using those thin, elastic bands with the metal crimp, you’re basically asking for split ends. I’ve seen people transition to coils and literally watch their "breakage halo" disappear within a month. It’s not magic; it’s physics.
Traditional elastics work by strangulation. They apply concentrated pressure on a tiny circumference of your hair shaft. Hair coils hair ties, often called spiral ties or cord ties, work by distribution. Because of that "telephone wire" shape, the pressure isn't hitting one spot. It’s spread out. This means no more "pony bump" when you take your hair down, and way fewer snapped strands in the sink.
The Science of Tension and Why Your Scalp Hurts
Ever get a ponytail headache? It’s a real thing. It’s called external traction headache. When you use a standard hair tie, you’re often pulling the hair too tight to keep it from slipping. This pulls on the highly sensitive nerves in your scalp. Hair coils hair ties grip the hair differently. They sort of "nestle" into the strands. You don't need to wrap them as tight to get a secure hold.
The material matters more than you think. Most high-quality coils are made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It’s non-absorbent. If you go for a run or hit the pool, a fabric scrunchie or a standard elastic stays wet and breeds bacteria. TPU stays dry. It’s hygienic. Plus, if they stretch out—which they will—you just toss them in a bowl of hot water. They shrink back to their original size in seconds. It's wild to watch.
Comparing the Big Names: Invisibobble vs. The Rest
When we talk about this category, Invisibobble is the 800-pound gorilla. Sophie Trelles-Tvede started the company after using a literal phone cord to tie her hair back for a "bad taste" party and realizing her hair didn't hurt the next morning. It’s a classic "lightbulb" moment.
✨ Don't miss: How to Sign Someone Up for Scientology: What Actually Happens and What You Need to Know
But here’s the thing. Not all hair coils hair ties are built the same.
Cheap knockoffs from the dollar bin often have visible seams. That seam is the enemy. It’s a tiny, sharp edge of plastic that catches on your hair cuticle and rips it. If you run your finger along the inside of a coil and feel a jagged edge, throw it away. Truly. It's doing more damage than a rubber band. High-end versions are fused together with heat in a way that’s almost seamless. You pay more, but you aren't paying for a haircut to fix the damage later.
Hair Coils for Different Hair Types
If you have fine hair, you might hate coils. They can feel like they're sliding right out. For you, the "nano" or "slim" versions are the move. They provide more friction without the bulk.
Thick, curly, or coaly hair? You need the "power" versions. These have a tighter, more reinforced spiral. I’ve talked to stylists who specialize in Type 4 hair who swear by these because they don't get "lost" in the volume. They provide enough tension to hold a heavy bun without snapping mid-day.
🔗 Read more: Wire brush for cleaning: What most people get wrong about choosing the right bristles
- For Fine Hair: Stick to the slim, delicate coils. They won't weigh down your roots.
- For Thick Hair: Look for the heavy-duty, thicker plastic versions.
- For Workouts: The "grip" versions often have a slightly matte texture that stays put during burpees.
Stop Doing These 3 Things With Your Coils
First, don't leave them in the sun. TPU can degrade over time with heavy UV exposure, making the plastic brittle. A brittle hair coil is a hair-snapping hazard.
Second, don't overstretch them just for fun. Yeah, it's satisfying, but you're weakening the structural integrity of the plastic. Eventually, the hot water trick won't work anymore.
Third, and this is the big one: stop ripping them out. To remove hair coils hair ties, you should unroll them. Don't pull them like a traditional elastic. Because they're intertwined with your hair, pulling creates friction. Friction creates frizz. Frizz leads to sadness. Just unwrap it. It takes two extra seconds.
The Hygenie Factor
We don't talk enough about how gross hair ties get. Skin cells, sweat, hair product, and environmental dust. Fabric ties are basically sponges for grime. Hair coils hair ties can be washed with simple hand soap. Or, honestly, just wear it into the shower and wash it while you're washing your hands. It’s one of the few beauty tools that is genuinely easy to keep sterile.
💡 You might also like: Images of Thanksgiving Holiday: What Most People Get Wrong
Real-World Performance: Are They Really "Ouchless"?
Most brands claim to be 100% ouchless. That’s a stretch. If you have a sensitive scalp, anything pulling on your hair might cause a bit of discomfort eventually. However, compared to the mechanical damage of a standard band, coils are a massive upgrade.
I remember reading a study—well, more of a consumer trial—where participants tracked hair fall during removal. Those using hair coils hair ties reported roughly 40% less hair "stuck" in the tie compared to those using metal-fused elastics. That's a significant amount of hair you're keeping on your head over a year.
What About the Aesthetic?
Let's be real: they look like plastic. If you're going to a black-tie wedding, a plastic coil might look a bit out of place. This is where the "scrunchie-coil" hybrids come in. It’s a hair coil on the inside, covered in silk or velvet on the outside. You get the internal benefits of the spiral tension with the external look of a high-end accessory. It’s the best of both worlds.
Actionable Steps for Your Hair Health
If you're ready to make the switch or optimize how you use them, do this:
- Check your seams. Take your current hair coils hair ties and run a fingernail along the inner circle. If you feel a sharp "joint," replace it with a high-quality, smooth-fused brand.
- The Hot Water Reset. If your ties are currently twice their original size, boil some water. Drop them in for 30 seconds. Watch them shrink. Dry them off and they’re good as new.
- Match the size to the Task. Use the "slim" versions for half-up styles and the "power" versions for high-impact activity. Using a massive coil for a tiny bit of hair just leads to it slipping and causing tangles.
- Unwrap, don't pull. Change your muscle memory. When you take your hair down at night, mentally remind yourself to uncoil the tie rather than sliding it down the length of your hair. This prevents the "scraping" of the hair cuticle.
- Rotate your placement. Even with a coil, don't put your ponytail in the exact same spot every single day. This prevents "tension alopecia," which is thinning caused by constant pulling on the same follicles.
Switching to hair coils hair ties is one of those small, five-dollar decisions that actually makes a measurable difference in hair density over time. It’s about minimizing the "micro-traumas" we put our hair through daily. Less breakage means more length. More length means you finally get that look you've been trying to grow out for three years.