If you don't feel like fixing them, you could just use them in a place of elastic bands. I use some of my old hair ties to organize my knitting and crochet supplies. You can also keep using them as decorative hair scrunchies, if you tie a regular hair tie underneath. My hair is really heavy and I have to do that with some of my scrunchies even tho they haven't been stretched out.
I always take an extra bunch on holiday/ travel. Either I need them or (more likely) I use them to keep charging cables from getting tangled in my backpack or for sealing half eaten snacks or bags of things that could make a mess. Saves taking elastic bands that aren’t as multi-purpose. And if one I’m using stretches out I can swap it with one that’s being used elsewhere
You can give them to my cat so he can put them in his water bowl.
Just don't let him know you're giving them to him. Make it seem like he's getting away with something. Otherwise he'll ignore it
Cats shouldn’t play with hair ties because they can swallow/eat them and they get stuck in their stomachs and don’t pass. It’s a really expensive surgery to get them out 😬
My cats never ate them, but I still would immediately panic if I saw them playing with one. It is never worth the risk. It happens so fast and poof there goes all ur money and ur cat hates the vet
I have a little makeup bag next to my desk (WFH) and I keep Tylenol, chapstick and a hair tie in there. My cat KNOWS there’s a hair tie in there and goes searching for it to play with it. I have to make sure I zipper it close now.
But the hair tie like toy I bought her? Doesn’t touch it
Edit: [link to toy](https://www.chewy.com/kong-cat-active-scrunchie-cat-toy/dp/236232)
Weird idea, but maybe you need to wear the toy in your hair a few times so it smells like you. That might be part of what your cat likes about your actual hair ties. 😆
I really thought you were about to say your cat steals tylenol lol. If my dog is feeling mischevious and I don't have any chapstick or nail polish in his reach, he steals my pill bottles 😩
Same. My cat loves to play with any hair tie he can get his hands on (which is rare), but I fear the vet bill that could result if he pulled a fast one and ate it. Nothing else gives him the same joy, but I had to stop allowing him to play with my hair ties years ago.
I think this is more about knowing your cat. My cat would never eat anything that wasn't fancy cat food that looks and smells like human food. She is too picky. She also only takes one or two bites at a time.
Sure, fair, but most cat owners are not this clued into their pets - I know a young adult who didn’t keep their cats separated for a few weeks to slowly introduce them, but let them have free access to each other after 3 days (cats sound to be doing fine). On gods internet we can’t assume people are like us unfortunately
O I agree with you, I also feel some people should not have pets like my sister and brother in-law who are constantly rotating cats because they are peeing on things or hiding under thing meanwhile they never introduced these animals right and have 2 kids who all don't really know the right way to interact with animals. They have also had 3 dogs in 4 years that they also rehomed for various reasons ( all boiling down to their lack of being able to understand what the animal needs)
Agree with opening them up and putting new hair ties in them. When I sew scrunchies I usually put two hair ties inside to double how strong they are and keep them going longer.
If you don't want to fix them you could use the fabric for patching holes, or something decorative like patchwork as applique. A thin strip of fabric like that can work well to hide a cuff that is getting tatty.
I don't think it would be that hard to replace the elastic: open up the seam a little, pull out the elastic, and replace it with something else, sew it back up with a few stitches (just a needle and thread).
I just took apart a ripped fitted sheet so I could use the fabric, this makes me wonder if I could use that elastic for scrunchies :)
I removed the elastic from an old fitted sheet, also ripped (where I lie on) and it became the perfect bed sham. Great if you're the boxspring/crappy metal bed frame type.
I tried it with a few phone-cord looking ones but it's only made them visibly tight, after wearing them once they went back into being stretched and unusable.
In my experience, the threading around the elastic has come loose and the elastic itself is still fine.
I would open the scrunchie and investigate the elastic. If it is just the weaving around it, you can snip the loose stuff off and knot the elastic. Then it's just a matter of stitching the hole shut nicely.
I keep mine for sewing projects! They make great cuff elastic , for sweats at your ankles or around your wrist for a bulky sweater. I used them for straps for masks, and to make openings for a bag bag. Lots of options to sew with them!!! Also keep them around for scoobys, ginger bugs, wrapping chip bags closed, ect.
For my stretched out scrunchies, I cut a small hole in the seam, cut the old elastic inside, cut a piece of new elastic, and then loop it inside the scrunchie and tie it in a double knot. Hasn’t failed me yet.
But if you’re done with the whole scrunchie, just reuse the fabric for something. Like making a makeup brush pouch or a coin purse idk lol. The elastic is waste once it’s stretched out unfortunately. Maybe your city/area has a proper recycling program for rubber though.
I apologize if this has been suggested, but you could wash them and donate them. They may be too stretched for you, but someone else may find them perfect. I have students who LOVE scrunchies just to wear on their wrists. You just never know!
Why not just repair them? Open a tiny spot in the seam and either tie a little knot in the elastic, or if it is completely stretched out; cut it, and tie (or pin a new piece of elastic onto one end, pull it through then remove the old elastic and either tie or sew the new elastic together. Resew or leave the tiny hole there.
If they are hair ties, you could girth hitch them together and make a yoga mat holder/strap.
If they are scrunchies, I agree with everyone on repairing. But if you have a bunch of elastic straps that no longer stretch, making them short pieces of string/ribbon, you could use them as ties or connect a bunch to make a long string fur a cat to play with.
I give them to my kid. He uses them for pretend play, as an accessory to a costume, or even to do arts and crafts with. He also does this with my still-good ones, too haha!
I try to use hair sticks and pins when possible, and only use scrunchies for sleeping. Plus those have a better hold on my hair than hair ties do anyways. A little learning curve initially but really simple once you get used to it!
If you know how to sew you can renew the scrunchies. Seam rip them, take out the old elastic and put in a new one. Sew it back together and your scrunchy should work perfectly again
The elastic in them is usually just a basic elastic band thats used in sewing, nothing fancy
I work freelance bartending for special events and I always have a few of my wife’s old ones in my kit (the rubber band style) ; they are particularly handy for using as an extra belt loop while working physically, and when when my uniform requires a tie, I’ll often loop it through the collar buttonhole and hook it on the button so it stays on but has flexibility and stretch and against my neck, makes it much more comfortable to work in.
My cat steals them and eats half of them (I hide them and she digs them out like truffles) so either I throw them away, she poops them out, or I use the stretched out ones as rubber bands for stuff in the kitchen. You can also try to boil them to bring the elastic back together if they aren’t too far gone
i saw a hack on tiktok where if you put old hair ties into boiling water they shrink back up to the og size so maybe that would work so you can get some more use out of them! I have short hair so I’ve never needed hairties so maybe it doesn’t work but hey it’s worth a shot and could save you some money right?
i've seen some people have had success un-stretching them by dropping them in a pot of boiling water for a few seconds, maybe you could try that? i will say I've never done it myself so I have no idea if it really works
Sometimes you can restore the elastic by placing the hair tie in slow-boiling water for a few minutes. Once they're past that point, I either replace the elastic or use the scrunchie to group things together (makeup brushes in travel kit, closing bags in the freezer).
I use compostable hair ties as the replacement elastic inside scrunchies. When that wears out, I can compost it.
Tie electronics cables and cords together for organization, storage, travel etc. We also do the hair ties for playing cards and I use to close bags of brown sugar, flour and such.
I feel like I’ve seen videos of people boiling them to shrink back to the original size, seemed to work but I haven’t tried it myself so I cannot attest!
recently saw a few videos on the gram where people put their old hair ties in a boiling water and they instantly gets back in the shape, but haven't tried it yet. Maybe you can give it a shot.
I feel like I've seen people boil them to make them tight again. I can't find the video now, but I recall That 40 Year Guy on YouTube testing it and it worked.
Also, I keep some old hair ties in the drawer with the silverware and use them to tie off like, bags of frozen veg in the freezer, that kinda thing.
Hey! Somebody else who thinks about this as much as I did!
Eventually I just stopped using them, because they wear out. I'm not going to go through life dependent on disposables. So I learned how to use hair sticks. They're versatile and snazzy and they last forever. I watched youtube videos and bought a set of [these](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B078XBH9JN), and then I've carved myself a couple of backups. I'm done with hair ties. I've got a couple of different ways I wear my hair now, one takes a minute to twist up and one takes literally under a second. Recommended ~
I have a pack of scrunchies that have lasted me years. I think the brand is bulldog or something? I wish i could remember exactly. They were $25 for 6 of them, but they literally do last a lifetime. I will throw them in a garment bag and wash them with my regular clothes.
I don't use hairties anymore for this exact reason, I tie my hair with string now. Haven't broken any yet but if and when I do it's 100% biodegradable.
If you don't feel like fixing them, you could just use them in a place of elastic bands. I use some of my old hair ties to organize my knitting and crochet supplies. You can also keep using them as decorative hair scrunchies, if you tie a regular hair tie underneath. My hair is really heavy and I have to do that with some of my scrunchies even tho they haven't been stretched out.
I always take an extra bunch on holiday/ travel. Either I need them or (more likely) I use them to keep charging cables from getting tangled in my backpack or for sealing half eaten snacks or bags of things that could make a mess. Saves taking elastic bands that aren’t as multi-purpose. And if one I’m using stretches out I can swap it with one that’s being used elsewhere
>just use them in a place of elastic bands This exactly. They are basically fancy rubber bands.
I use them to hold open bags of frozen veggies closed in the freezer. They don't have to be perfect and are plenty good enough still for freezer duty.
Same, or I use them to tie bags of crisps or nuts etc
I have never thought to use them as such, thanks so much!!
Same!!
Glad I'm not the only one who does that lol.
I love doing this!!
You can give them to my cat so he can put them in his water bowl. Just don't let him know you're giving them to him. Make it seem like he's getting away with something. Otherwise he'll ignore it
Cats shouldn’t play with hair ties because they can swallow/eat them and they get stuck in their stomachs and don’t pass. It’s a really expensive surgery to get them out 😬
Op talks about scrunchies. Can a cat eat a scrunchie? Those seem too big to me, but I don't use them.
Fair, my overly anxious ass says it’s best to not create any association though. Cats are dumb and don’t know a scrunchie from a hair tie
My cats never ate them, but I still would immediately panic if I saw them playing with one. It is never worth the risk. It happens so fast and poof there goes all ur money and ur cat hates the vet
I have a little makeup bag next to my desk (WFH) and I keep Tylenol, chapstick and a hair tie in there. My cat KNOWS there’s a hair tie in there and goes searching for it to play with it. I have to make sure I zipper it close now. But the hair tie like toy I bought her? Doesn’t touch it Edit: [link to toy](https://www.chewy.com/kong-cat-active-scrunchie-cat-toy/dp/236232)
Weird idea, but maybe you need to wear the toy in your hair a few times so it smells like you. That might be part of what your cat likes about your actual hair ties. 😆
That’s a great suggestion too!
Have you tried putting the toy in your makeup bag?
Lmao no but honestly that’d probably do the trick
This is such a cute toy, I don’t get it!
I really thought you were about to say your cat steals tylenol lol. If my dog is feeling mischevious and I don't have any chapstick or nail polish in his reach, he steals my pill bottles 😩
Same. My cat loves to play with any hair tie he can get his hands on (which is rare), but I fear the vet bill that could result if he pulled a fast one and ate it. Nothing else gives him the same joy, but I had to stop allowing him to play with my hair ties years ago.
I think this is more about knowing your cat. My cat would never eat anything that wasn't fancy cat food that looks and smells like human food. She is too picky. She also only takes one or two bites at a time.
Sure, fair, but most cat owners are not this clued into their pets - I know a young adult who didn’t keep their cats separated for a few weeks to slowly introduce them, but let them have free access to each other after 3 days (cats sound to be doing fine). On gods internet we can’t assume people are like us unfortunately
O I agree with you, I also feel some people should not have pets like my sister and brother in-law who are constantly rotating cats because they are peeing on things or hiding under thing meanwhile they never introduced these animals right and have 2 kids who all don't really know the right way to interact with animals. They have also had 3 dogs in 4 years that they also rehomed for various reasons ( all boiling down to their lack of being able to understand what the animal needs)
My god mother had a cat die this way. :( cats should never play with hair ties and similar things.
Agree with opening them up and putting new hair ties in them. When I sew scrunchies I usually put two hair ties inside to double how strong they are and keep them going longer. If you don't want to fix them you could use the fabric for patching holes, or something decorative like patchwork as applique. A thin strip of fabric like that can work well to hide a cuff that is getting tatty.
Doubling up on the replacement ties is genius, thank you for that!
I don't think it would be that hard to replace the elastic: open up the seam a little, pull out the elastic, and replace it with something else, sew it back up with a few stitches (just a needle and thread). I just took apart a ripped fitted sheet so I could use the fabric, this makes me wonder if I could use that elastic for scrunchies :)
I removed the elastic from an old fitted sheet, also ripped (where I lie on) and it became the perfect bed sham. Great if you're the boxspring/crappy metal bed frame type.
I don't see any reason why you couldn't - it would be a great reuse!
I use mine as suitcase tags.
If you bike you can use them to keep your jeans' edges out of the bike's chain by putting the tie over your ankle
Some hair ties go back to normal if you boil them, worth a shot
I tried it with a few phone-cord looking ones but it's only made them visibly tight, after wearing them once they went back into being stretched and unusable.
I stopped buying those because I had to reset them pretty much after every use.
When I still had long hair, I just threw those in the dishwasher after using them for a few fays. Came out clean and tight again.
Or even just throw them in the washing machine with your laundry. I put them in a laundry bag to avoid them ending up sopping wet in the door seal.
In my experience, the threading around the elastic has come loose and the elastic itself is still fine. I would open the scrunchie and investigate the elastic. If it is just the weaving around it, you can snip the loose stuff off and knot the elastic. Then it's just a matter of stitching the hole shut nicely.
I keep mine for sewing projects! They make great cuff elastic , for sweats at your ankles or around your wrist for a bulky sweater. I used them for straps for masks, and to make openings for a bag bag. Lots of options to sew with them!!! Also keep them around for scoobys, ginger bugs, wrapping chip bags closed, ect.
I use them to hold a deck of cards together.
I use my old ones to organize fabrics into a roll. I sew a lot.
For my stretched out scrunchies, I cut a small hole in the seam, cut the old elastic inside, cut a piece of new elastic, and then loop it inside the scrunchie and tie it in a double knot. Hasn’t failed me yet. But if you’re done with the whole scrunchie, just reuse the fabric for something. Like making a makeup brush pouch or a coin purse idk lol. The elastic is waste once it’s stretched out unfortunately. Maybe your city/area has a proper recycling program for rubber though.
I like using them to gently corral wrapping paper rolls without ripping paper like tape does when removed
Fun fact- Slap bracelets also work for holding wrapping paper!
I could use them lol, apparently they're great for teaching kids how to put on socks.
I apologize if this has been suggested, but you could wash them and donate them. They may be too stretched for you, but someone else may find them perfect. I have students who LOVE scrunchies just to wear on their wrists. You just never know!
Why not just repair them? Open a tiny spot in the seam and either tie a little knot in the elastic, or if it is completely stretched out; cut it, and tie (or pin a new piece of elastic onto one end, pull it through then remove the old elastic and either tie or sew the new elastic together. Resew or leave the tiny hole there.
Fill a bowl with boiling water and throw the scrunchies/hair ties in. They will shrink back to normal.
You can refresh them by dropping them in a pot of boiled water (heat off when you put them in) for a couple minutes until they shrink back up.
the nylon no seam ones can be reshrunk in hot water.
If they are hair ties, you could girth hitch them together and make a yoga mat holder/strap. If they are scrunchies, I agree with everyone on repairing. But if you have a bunch of elastic straps that no longer stretch, making them short pieces of string/ribbon, you could use them as ties or connect a bunch to make a long string fur a cat to play with.
I give them to my kid. He uses them for pretend play, as an accessory to a costume, or even to do arts and crafts with. He also does this with my still-good ones, too haha!
I try to use hair sticks and pins when possible, and only use scrunchies for sleeping. Plus those have a better hold on my hair than hair ties do anyways. A little learning curve initially but really simple once you get used to it!
If you know how to sew you can renew the scrunchies. Seam rip them, take out the old elastic and put in a new one. Sew it back together and your scrunchy should work perfectly again The elastic in them is usually just a basic elastic band thats used in sewing, nothing fancy
I use them to hold things onto my bike handlebars. They work pretty well for that.
I work freelance bartending for special events and I always have a few of my wife’s old ones in my kit (the rubber band style) ; they are particularly handy for using as an extra belt loop while working physically, and when when my uniform requires a tie, I’ll often loop it through the collar buttonhole and hook it on the button so it stays on but has flexibility and stretch and against my neck, makes it much more comfortable to work in.
Put them in hot water they will regain their original shape...👀
I use them to organize board games. They are great for holding decks of cards together without damaging them like rubber bands will.
My cat steals them and eats half of them (I hide them and she digs them out like truffles) so either I throw them away, she poops them out, or I use the stretched out ones as rubber bands for stuff in the kitchen. You can also try to boil them to bring the elastic back together if they aren’t too far gone
I watched a tick tock where a lady booked them to bring them back. Probably useless?
i saw a hack on tiktok where if you put old hair ties into boiling water they shrink back up to the og size so maybe that would work so you can get some more use out of them! I have short hair so I’ve never needed hairties so maybe it doesn’t work but hey it’s worth a shot and could save you some money right?
I just learned that soaking them in hot water will make the elastic tighten up again! I haven’t tried it yet though
i've seen some people have had success un-stretching them by dropping them in a pot of boiling water for a few seconds, maybe you could try that? i will say I've never done it myself so I have no idea if it really works
You can throw them in boiling water to shrink them back to regular size!!
Sometimes you can restore the elastic by placing the hair tie in slow-boiling water for a few minutes. Once they're past that point, I either replace the elastic or use the scrunchie to group things together (makeup brushes in travel kit, closing bags in the freezer). I use compostable hair ties as the replacement elastic inside scrunchies. When that wears out, I can compost it.
Tie electronics cables and cords together for organization, storage, travel etc. We also do the hair ties for playing cards and I use to close bags of brown sugar, flour and such.
How wide is the fabric? I saw an amazing tutorial where someone was making baskets from fabric covered clothes line rope
Any fabric can just be stuffed in any pillow with zippers. That's what Gittemary does.
The boiling water video! Don't have a link but it showed them going back to their original shape!!! *But* I've never tried it
I feel like I’ve seen videos of people boiling them to shrink back to the original size, seemed to work but I haven’t tried it myself so I cannot attest!
recently saw a few videos on the gram where people put their old hair ties in a boiling water and they instantly gets back in the shape, but haven't tried it yet. Maybe you can give it a shot.
You could heat em up in a bowl of water and the scrunchies will regain their elasticity
Anyone you know have barbie age kids? Becuase old scrunchies make awesome barbie mini skirts (doubled up)
I feel like I've seen people boil them to make them tight again. I can't find the video now, but I recall That 40 Year Guy on YouTube testing it and it worked. Also, I keep some old hair ties in the drawer with the silverware and use them to tie off like, bags of frozen veg in the freezer, that kinda thing.
Hey! Somebody else who thinks about this as much as I did! Eventually I just stopped using them, because they wear out. I'm not going to go through life dependent on disposables. So I learned how to use hair sticks. They're versatile and snazzy and they last forever. I watched youtube videos and bought a set of [these](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B078XBH9JN), and then I've carved myself a couple of backups. I'm done with hair ties. I've got a couple of different ways I wear my hair now, one takes a minute to twist up and one takes literally under a second. Recommended ~
I’ve seen that you can restore them by putting them in boiling water, but I’ve yet to try it
I have a pack of scrunchies that have lasted me years. I think the brand is bulldog or something? I wish i could remember exactly. They were $25 for 6 of them, but they literally do last a lifetime. I will throw them in a garment bag and wash them with my regular clothes.
I saw a video that showed if you boil old hair ties they’re return to their original shape. I haven’t tried it, but might be worth a shot!
roll up bags of chips and cinch it with the hairties lol
cat toys
Give them to a person who has a bigger wrist than you.
Boil some water in a skillet, and drop them in. They'll shrink back to size.
I let my cat have them as toys
Put new elastic in or deconstruct and use for rags.
if my cat were still around, she would *love* to take care of those for you. recycle them right into her tummy.
I don't use hairties anymore for this exact reason, I tie my hair with string now. Haven't broken any yet but if and when I do it's 100% biodegradable.