The products: Invisibobble Sprunchie (scrunchie), Waver (bobby pins), and Original (hair tie)

There are lot of things that are terrible in 2020, but the Invisibobble Sprunchie isn’t one of them. No: instead, it’s the hair tie that I’ve waited my entire life for. Soft, velvety, and kink-free, the Sprunchie is the Invisibobble upgrade that I didn’t know I needed.

I’ll be the first to admit that this year has been really, really hard. There’s been the normal pandemic stuff, but on top of that, I’ve been trying to shift my attention even more toward my body (over my work). While even being able to do so is an immense privilege, the act of seeing it happen is like a constant gnawing. I am so, so proud of my friends as they advance their careers; get married, have children, tuck publication after publication under their belt. But, still, it feels like self-disembowelment to let theNotice slowly die off. With each of their achievements, I feel like I can feel my own body of work crumbling.

(Isn’t that quite the thing: the way that many disabled people have to choose either their body or their body of work to waste away.)

Why choose Invisibobble?

I was a late adopter to the Invisibobble game. Hair ties tend to give me headaches, so I never sought a better version the way that many did.

When I tried my first Invisibobble, I liked it—but I could go without. Yes, it’s nice that they don’t leave a solid line crimped into your hair. And yes, it’s kind of magical that they shrink back to their original size when you warm them up. But did I really need another hair accessory? I braid my hair as often as I wear it in a ponytail, after all, and I liked the flexibility of having a super-tiny black elastic that would stay on my fine hair no matter how I used it.

I don’t think I really needed an Invisibobble in my life, and I don’t feel like the “original” works any better than the hundreds of knockoffs that you can find. But the fact that every single brand seems to make an Invisibobble-type product now (I even found one in my Sephora Advent Calendar this year) suggests that I’m an outlier. I didn’t need a new hair accessory, in my lazy state—but many others did.

(Me when I know I’m going to have to blow-dry my hair — using the Invisibobble “True Black” Sprunchie and Waver for some nice, loose waves)

The Invisibobble Sprunchie review you didn’t know you needed

A new hair tie is something I can always do without, but a new scrunchie is another story entirely. I love scrunchies. They’re a staple in my daily routine: I wear them when I wash my face; when I clean the house; when I’m a greasy mess and I just can’t bring myself to shower.

You lose some of the benefits of the brand’s original hair ties with the Sprunchie, but you gain even more. It’s covered in fabric, making it absorbent and a little less hygienic. But the fabric… well, that’s the part that makes me love it.

I’m the Marge Simpson of scrunchies: I just think they’re neat. And this one is even neater than the rest. 

The Invisibobble Sprunchie has just the right elasticity to hold firmly without pinching, and I love that it won’t stretch out quickly (the way that cheap scrunchies can). Pair that with the fact that they come in two of my favourite colours/prints (black and leopard) and you have a winner. True Black is super sleek and simple, while the leopard Purrfection is a little bit flirty.

I used the Sprunchie with the Invisibobble Waver hair clips to give my hair some shape and volume for these photos, then finished the look with a few flat iron passes. The Waver isn’t really “for” me, in general; it’s a great concept, but my hair is just too thin for the clips to grip. But the Sprunchie did great. I’m making a bit of a face because I hate blow-drying my hair, but I do love how easy this low-heat styling solution was—perfect for a Christmas morning styling session.

The verdict of this Invisibobble review?

I love the Invisibobble line, but especially the Invisibobble Sprunchie in Purrfection. Each of the products makes a great holiday present, for yourself or someone else.

You can find Invisibobble online, but one of the things that I truly love about them is that they’re honestly everywhere — so it’s easy to snag a few at a curbside pickup or by local delivery if you need a low-contact gift in a pinch.

Availability: Around $10 each at Sephora, Shopper’s Drug Mart, and other drugstores. All permanent.

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Disclaimer: This post contains product samples.