A snood is a netted or solid cloth hairpiece that's gone in and out of fashion over the years. This hairnet-like cap, which is placed onto the back of a hairstyle, like a chignon or braid, is often knitted, crocheted, or made from silk or lace. The odd-sounding word was first recorded in Old English around the year 725. During the Middle Ages, women wore versions of the snood, and these hair "sacks" have also been used throughout history for hair-covering purposes for religious reasons, and even to indicate married status.
During World War II, snoods regained popularity once again. While we don't see too many women wearing these types of netted hair accessories these days, for modern options, you might find snoods that are closer in appearance to closed scarves, resembling neck protectors. Or, you might also recall Amy Adams's hairstyle at the 2009 Oscars, for which her hairstylist used this super old-timey hairnet for the inspiration behind the actress's tousled chignon.
Get Your Sparkle On With a Zooey-Inspired Headband
I've long admired Zooey Dechanel's retro style, and at the Hollywood Awards Gala, she walked the red carpet while wearing this swirly, sparkling headband. The side angle of the hair accessory adds a playfully modern feel, and the bangs bring a fashionable element to her signature look. For a similar take on Zooey's throwback style, check out the widget below for some sparkly black headbands.
Love It or Hate It: A Bevy of Bows at Marc by Marc Jacobs
Hmm, let's see. Where else have we seen '80s-influenced styles on the runways thus far? We caught a glimpse of the totally awesome decade with Derek Lam's rainbow of eye colors, Gwen Stefani's rocker chic looks at L.A.M.B., and we even experienced a touch of it from the twisted headbands at Charlotte Ronson. Let's add Marc by Marc Jacobs to the growing list of rad styles, where the famous designer featured these big, bold, and completely bodacious bows on the Marc by Marc Jacobs runway for Spring 2010. If you were a child of the 1980s, I'm sure you can't help but think Madonna-meets-Minnie Mouse, right? You can always do your own hair-inspired hair bow, but when it comes to the material-girlness of it all, are you feeling these cheeky headpieces, or are they a bit too colorfully cockeyed for your liking?

Love It or Hate It: Audrey's Big Black Bow
I can only dream of having thick, wavy hair like Audrey Tautou, but in the meantime, I'll just admire it from afar. At last night's LA premiere of Coco Avant Chanel, Audrey accessorized that enviable cute and flirty wavy pixie with a silky black bow with multiple folds. Notice how the placement and dark color of this hair accent almost mimics the texture and dark tones of the actress's short locks. It's almost as if it's an extension of her hairstyle. But what do you think of Audrey's scrunched accessory? Is it stylishly quirky, or a bit too offbeat?
Be Like Eva: Create Two Different Looks With One Bejeweled Headband
It appears Eva Mendes, who is currently in Italy at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival, has mastered the art of packing light, by using one accessory for use with multiple looks. With her chunky, jeweled headband in tow, she has already created two different hairstyles over the course of two days. Yesterday, she opted for a sexy bouffant ponytail (For a similar look, try out my stacked ponytail tutorial). Then, earlier today, while out and about in the romantic city, she wore a slick, classic bun for a sophisticated style. Thinking about copying her looks? Check out my widget below for some similar bands:

Would You Wear Headphones as a Hair Accessory?
I've been coveting these adorable Aerial 7 Matador headphones ($50), but just wearing them to the gym kind of seems like a waste, and I want to show my friends how cute they are. So I'm thinking about wearing them as a hair accessory around town — kind of like a headband with earmuffs. I am a blogger after all; I'm supposed to be techy cool. What do you think? Could these headphones make for a cute look? Or am I just daydreaming?
Splurge or Steal? Hair Accessories
Nothing beats a good bargain, does it? Earlier while perusing ShopStyle, I found several very similar looking hair accessories but at very shockingly different price points. Many of you excelled at my first hair accessories quiz, so let's see what you know about these other hairstyle-enhancing items.
What's Your Hair Accessory of Choice?
When it comes to hair accoutrements, I'm a hat lover all the way, particularly now that the sun's rays are beating down on my professionally colored locks. But, I'm also an avid sunglasses-on-the-head kind of gal, too. What about you? When it comes to dressing your hair up or down, which is your go-to accessory?

These Headbands Will Have You Feeling Zippy
The zippered clothing and accessories trend has been going strong for quite some time. Take, for instance, contemporary artist Cat Chow’s designs, whose fabrics are often intermingled with everyday items like corks, dollar bills, and even zippers. It probably comes as no surprise that now this style is popping up in the hair accessories category.

Earlier this year, I mentioned the $20 Urban Outfitters Zipper Flower Headband (middle photo) in my April must haves, and now, it looks like two other ones have joined the mix, at both higher and lower price points. Hooray. For a low-cost option, try the $6 Forever 21 Zipper Trim Flower Headband (on the left), and for a little bit of a splurge, check out the $39 Bebe Zipper Flower Headband (photo on right).
Splurge or Steal? Headband Edition
When it comes to hair accessories, price tags can be surprising. Take, for instance, the hair bow that originally retailed for $575 that could be duplicated quite easily with a trip to the fabric store and about five minutes of gluing and tying. While you might not have nearly 400 bones to fork over for a little white bow (and let's face it — who does?), can you spot which headband is the splurge and which one's the steal? There's only one way to find out . . .