Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

How to Tie a Hachimaki: Handpicked Cute & Cool Styles Perfect for Sports Festivals

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Many schools use hachimaki headbands at sports festivals to boost team spirit! The most common way is to wrap it around your forehead or slightly above, then tie it at the back of your neck.

But maybe you’ve wanted to take it up a notch with a cuter or cooler style than the simple wrap.

In this article, we’ll introduce different ways to style a hachimaki.

We’ve gathered a variety of patterns—from cute arrangements combined with hairstyles to cool looks that radiate fierce determination.

Stand out from other teams with a hachimaki style that’s a cut above the rest!

How to Tie a Hachimaki: Top Cute & Cool Styles for Sports Day (1–10)

hood worn for fighting; a head covering used in brawls (kenka-kaburi)

This is the right way! How to wear a super authentic, badass “Kenka Kaburi” headwrap

hood worn for fighting; a head covering used in brawls (kenka-kaburi)

I’ll show you a cool way to tie the ‘kenka-kaburi’ head wrap.

Place the towel on your head, grab both ends, and twist them tightly.

Bring the ends to the back and cross them, then secure the twisted sections.

Next, bring the back part of the towel up from below and cover the crossed section to finish.

You can change the vibe by adjusting how tightly you twist and where you position the towel.

To make it look sharp, keep the fabric tight and avoid any sagging.

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Twisted headband in two colors

For those who want a colorful headband, we recommend a twisted headband made with two colors.

Prepare two headbands of the same length in different colors and twist each one individually.

Once both are twisted, combine them and twist them together to complete a two-tone twisted headband! If you want a more polished finish, try folding each headband into a narrow strip and sewing the two colors together with a sewing machine.

It has more presence than a single-color headband and adds a colorful, playful touch.

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Combine with other items

If you just want an easy, cute style, we recommend a headband arrangement combined with other items.

Wrap a headband as usual—or do a twisted headband—and then place various accessories on top of the wrapped band.

For example: flowers, ribbons, small balloons, tiaras, or character items.

Just attach your favorite pieces with pins or safety pins! If you’re worried about them coming off during activities, don’t worry—they’re easy to remove quickly.

You can effortlessly enjoy a glamorous, personality-filled look!

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How to Tie a Hachimaki: Top Cute and Cool Styles for Sports Festivals (11–20)

Bakabon Papa Knot

How to Tie a Hachimaki: The Headband Knot Like Bakabon’s Papa

Bakabon Papa Knot

Here’s a headband idea inspired by Bakabon’s Papa from “The Genius Bakabon.” All you need is a plain white tenugui cloth.

Fold the tenugui lengthwise into eight equal narrow sections, place the center at the back of your head, and bring both ends forward.

Adjust it so the knot sits right in the middle of your face, above your eyebrows, and tie it in a bow—this bow in front is the key feature.

If you keep the bow from getting too large, it creates a cute, retro look.

It’s a classic vibe with a fresh twist that draws the eye.

Choosing plain white adds a clean feel, highlighting individuality while leaving a good impression.

It’s a unique arrangement that won’t blend in with others, letting you enjoy both nostalgia and novelty.

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Flower bow with a twisted rod headband

How to make a flower knot hair ornament with a twisted rod headband! Festival hairstyle arrangement ideas

Flower bow with a twisted rod headband

If you tie a twisted headband like a flower, it becomes a splendid hair accessory! Start by shaping the twisted rod into a T-shape.

Proceed carefully so the order of layering and threading the cords doesn’t get mixed up.

Finally, pull the cords taut so the five loops spread out evenly.

Tighten the central knot firmly to finish.

By flaring the tips of the petals outward, you’ll create a three-dimensional flower knot.

Pair it with a glamorous hairstyle, and you’re sure to turn heads!

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Braided twin tails

If you want to take on a slightly more advanced hachimaki challenge, this twin-tail style is recommended.

Place the hachimaki on top of your head, then braid it together with your hair on both the left and right sides down to around your ears.

Once you’ve braided to a good point, let go of the hachimaki for a moment and tie the braided sections together with the remaining hair at the back to make twin tails.

After that, finish by tying the hachimaki in a bow at the nape of your neck.

It’s a bit tricky, but once you get used to it, it’s easy—so if you want to enjoy stylish ways to wear a hachimaki, definitely give it a try!

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Double ribbon

Hachimaki arrangement showcase!!

Double ribbon

This arrangement creates a double-ribbon style with bows on both sides.

Fold the headband in half so the lengths are even, then start forming a bow from each end.

Leave enough length to tie the bows, and make two loops.

Thin out the end of the headband and wrap it around the two loops.

Then tie the longer remaining part of the headband with the shorter part to complete one bow.

Do the same on the other side to finish the double-ribbon look.

It’s a slightly advanced arrangement, so practice the tying method beforehand.

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