If 2025 was the year of the scarf skirt, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the bandana kerchief. While Rihanna and Zoë Kravitz have been fans of the look for a while, the trend has really taken off this summer. The classic red bandana is the most popular choice among celebrities. Kim Kardashian tried it out on a 4th of July trip with her family and boyfriend, Lewis Hamilton, wearing a cherry-red scarf low on her forehead. Elle Fanning and model Amelia Gray, on the other hand, wore their kerchiefs pulled back to show their hairlines.

Dua Lipa on her honeymoon in Italy in June.
Photo: Courtesy of Dua Lipa

Zendaya at Rakestraw Books in Danville, California, June.
Photo: Instagram (@rakestrawbooks)

Elle Fanning on vacation in June.
Courtesy of Elle Fanning

When it comes to colors, Dua Lipa, Zendaya, and Gigi Hadid went a different route. On her Italian honeymoon, Dua Lipa paired an all-white outfit with a sky blue kerchief and also wore a navy scarf with a metallic bikini, as you do. Zendaya, in the middle of her big The Odyssey press tour, stopped by Rakestraw Books in Northern California and wrapped her bixie haircut in a classic navy bandana. Gigi Hadid went for the opposite look, sharing a mirror selfie on Instagram with a white kerchief featuring navy details tied over her bun.

Kim Kardashian tried the trend over 4th of July weekend.
Courtesy of Kim Kardashian

Amelia Gray in June during Paris men’s week.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Even though the trend is heating up this summer, the bandana has a long history. It was invented in India (the Sanskrit word bandh means “to tie”) and made its way to the West when Dutch and British traders brought them back. In America, the bandana has been a political symbol since the Revolutionary War, when Martha Washington likely ordered one with George’s picture on it. Candidates like Theodore Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, Andrew Jackson, and Dwight D. Eisenhower used them as campaign merchandise. And of course, there’s Rosie the Riveter, who represented women working in factories during World War II.

Axl Rose performing with Guns N’ Roses at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness at Wembley Stadium, 1992.
Dave Benett/Getty Images

Tupac Shakur at Club USA, 1994.
Steve Eichner/Getty Images

Bandanas also have a huge place in pop culture. In the 1980s, Axl Rose and Bruce Springsteen made them part of their signature looks, folding them over their foreheads as makeshift sweatbands. They’re also important in hip-hop culture, often linked to Tupac Shakur. Though he usually wore durags with a knot in front, he sometimes wore a bandana kerchief-style over his head. The look continued in the late ‘90s and early 2000s: Aaliyah, Beyoncé, and Missy Elliott all rocked it in many colors, sometimes with rhinestones on their bandanas.

While the paisley bandana kerchief is quickly becoming the top trend of the summer, it won’t fade away in 2026—it carries a deep meaning that spans hundreds of years.

Madonna at Lifebeat’s ‘The Beat Goes On’ benefit, 1994.
Steve Eichner

Rihanna, December 2024.
XNY/Star Max

Zoë Kravitz, 2025.
Aeon

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the bandana kerchief as a celebrity summer styling trick written in a natural tone with clear concise answers

Beginner FAQs

1 What exactly is a bandana kerchief and how is it different from a regular scarf
A bandana kerchief is typically a square piece of cotton fabric smaller and lighter than a regular scarf Its usually folded into a triangle or rectangle to be tied around the head neck or wrist while a scarf is longer and often worn draped

2 Why do celebrities love this for summer
Its an easy way to add a pop of color or pattern to a simple summer outfit It also keeps hair off your neck in the heat and adds a cool retro vibe without much effort

3 How do I actually tie it around my head
Fold the square bandana diagonally into a triangle Place the longest edge at your hairline tie the two ends at the back of your head and tuck the pointy end under the knot Thats the classic rock star look

4 Is this just for women or can guys wear it too
Anyone can wear it Guys often wear it tied around the neck as a headband under a hat or folded into a thin strip and tied around the wrist or ankle

5 Whats the best fabric for a summer bandana
Lightweight breathable cotton or linen Avoid silk or polyester as they can get hot and slippery A soft cotton bandana will stay put and feel cool

Intermediate FAQs

6 How do I keep a bandana from slipping off my head
Use a fabric with a bit of texture You can also spray a little dry shampoo or texturizing powder on your hairline before tying or use a few small bobby pins underneath the knot to secure it

7 Can I wear a bandana with a ponytail or messy bun
Yes For a ponytail tie the bandana around your head and then pull your ponytail through the back opening For a messy bun wrap the bandana around the bun and tie it into a bow on top or to the side