Braiders, loctitians, and anyone doing box braids, cornrows, twists, or sectioned ponytails at home or in a salon. The small size makes them better suited to detail work on individual sections than to gathering a full loose ponytail.

The value here is in the count and size: 300 small bands in one pack cover an entire head of braids or twists, which matters when a single style can use dozens of bands, and the smaller diameter grips thin sectioned hair more securely than a standard fabric hair tie would.

Divide hair into the desired sections, then wrap a band around the base of each braid, twist, or cornrow two to three times until it feels secure but not overly tight. For ponytails made of sectioned hair, loop the band until tension is even across the gathered ends. Remove bands gently, snipping with small scissors if a band has tangled, rather than pulling, to avoid hair breakage.

• Pro: 300-count pack means enough supply for a full head of braids without buying multiple packs
• Pro: small size grips fine sections tightly, which helps braids and twists hold their shape
• Pro: inexpensive enough to treat as disposable, so bands aren't reused on tender hairlines
• Con: standard rubber can dry out, stretch, or snap with age or repeated stretching
• Con: removing rubber bands carelessly can pull out strands or cause breakage at the point of tension
• Con: too small to secure a thick, gathered ponytail on their own