The US Women’s National Football Team secured its spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final after defeating England in a close 2-1 match on Tuesday.
While fans marveleld at Alyssa Naeher’s incredible saves and Christen Press’s early header goal, many were impressed by something unrelated to the action of the game: What are these colourful headbands the players wear, and how do they stay in place so effectively?
Most millennial girls in the US who played sports in high school or college would know the answer right away: It’s prewrap.
Prewrap (also spelled pre-wrap) is a stretchy, foamy material that athletes can use to cover their skin before applying medical tape to an injury. That way, the tape doesn’t stick to their skin or body hair, which may cause irritation or pain upon removal. Other names for the material include underwrap, M-Wrap and pre-taping foam.
Though the first appearance of prewrap as a hair accessory is unknown, it’s clear that someone at some point realised this thin, no-slip material actually makes a very effective headband. And thus a trend was born.
There are multiple ways to style prewrap.
Alex Morgan rolls it into a thin band, while Julie Ertz keeps it thick and flat. The two USWNT starters also have signature colours. Morgan famously wears pink prewrap in honour of her mother-in-law, who has battled breast cancer. Ertz sports a nice blue colour.
“People are definitely particular about their colour, although obviously some less than others,” a friend who played collegiate soccer told me when I asked about prewrap headband styles. “Many only do one colour because it’s lucky or that’s what they’ve always done.”
Another athlete friend noted that some of her teammates tried to match their prewrap colour to their college uniform, “but in general we just wore whatever was available.”
Colour preferences aside, everyone seems to agree on one thing: Prewrap makes a damn effective headband. In addition to staying in place better than actual headbands you can buy from sportswear brands, it seems to absorb sweat well.
Many players have also reported using prewrap to keep their shin guards in place. And there are nonathletic uses, like holding together flower arrangements, marking trails and wrapping it around pencils for a more comfortable grip.
Not everyone is enamoured with the magic of the prewrap headband, however. The accessory has attracted some Twitter hate during the tournament and beyond. There have also been reports of high school athletic associations banning prewrap headbands due to the “danger” of “knotted devices.”
Still, it seems the prewrap headband look is here to stay ― at least for a bit longer. So, if you want to show up to your next workout looking like your favourite player, head to your local sporting goods store or check out the many colourful offerings online. (Unless you prefer Megan Rapinoe’s short, dyed hairstyle, of course).
