Holly Mandarino headbands make a statement and a great holiday gift @SweetHairTies

Hair jewelry can be a tricky thing. You want to look you made an effort, but that sparkly hairband or clip or pin that looked so alluring in the store, is just sitting at a curious, rakish angle in your hair. No matter how many times you try to fix it, it still looks more weird than wonderful. But I’ve found a headband that really works with all sorts of hairstyles, and head shapes. Check out this gorgeous, Vintage Crystal headband that from Holly Mandarino/Sweet Hair Ties, designer/owner at Sweet Ties Hair Ties & Headbands (www.sweettieshairties.com). With the holidays fast approaching, party time is not far away, and hair jewelry can be stuffed in your handbag for a quick change to “evening” after office hours. These are also nice for travel, because they are soft-sided and fold-able, so they don’t take up much room, and they aren’t going to crack or break in your bag.

What is so cool about Holly Mandarino is that it’s mother/daughter business. Sweet Ties Hair Ties & Headbands began with Anna,. a young girl living in Santa Barbara, Ca. Looking to be more creative, she starting creating hair ties for herself and friends. Before long, local salons and boutiques were carrying Sweet Ties Hair Ties and Headbands. Now, living in the Pacific Northwest Anna is busy with school, friends, and helping with the design and idea aspect of the business. She will be entering high school this year and is looking forward to gaining more knowledge in fashion design and art. Holly Mandarino is her mom and business manager. She runs the business alongside her three daughters. You can only imagine how enterprising this family of women, is!

I selected this simply beautiful headband that features gorgeous crystal and silver flowers with a band color of your choice in the back because it is deceptively simple, but also very easy to wear, adaptable to just about any hair length or style. The hair band is one half inch wide, adjustable in length because the elastic is just tied in a knot, although when you get yours, it will be sized for teen/adult. The elastic helps it stay put, but it also is flexible enough so you can adjust your hair around it.

What captivated me about this headband is that there is sparkle but it’s not overdone. the bezel-set rhintestones capture the light, but they are not blinding like full cut crystals, so you could wear this in sunlight and daytime. You might call it “demure” but it’s enough of an accent to carry in a purse and add to your hair for a quick “date night” change after work or for a party. You can see the detail in the photo.

The photo shows the headband worn one way ( a bridesmaid might wear it this way like a crown, a bride might attach a light veil to it in back), but you can wear it down on your forehead (hippie style), or in a traditional way, like a regular headband from ear to ear. The back of the headband is an elastic tied in a knot. I untied mine and re-tied it to fit me, perfectly for a custom fit.

Priced at $22.00 this floral headband is available in black, dark gray, silver, latte, champagne, chocolate, peach, mint green or ocean mist blue. For a Fall or Winter bride, it would be a lovely gift for bridal party. These hand-crafted headbands also make nice holiday gifts at under $25.00 and they’re nicely boxed. Get it here.

There are plenty of other headbands, hair ties, and hair pins on Holly’s website that are affordable and would make nice stocking stuffers. Learn more about Sweet Ties here

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