beware if you have a normal to large head this will be too tight [SEP] so let s set this straight this hair band has a very thick black accordion style piece of elastic at the bottom portion that goes across the base of your skull about half of the band at about ear height are thick fabric pads that press into your ears that after about minutes start throbbing painfully the upper portion that would hold your hair back is not elastic it is thick folded fabric that fans out rather nicely about the only positive thing to say about this hair band these are extremely tight with very little give once you have them on so unless you have a tiny head or use them on a small child or like the feeling of a boa constrictor around your head do not buy these