Fur earmuffs are warmer than a fur headband, because the cups cover the whole ear and the band runs over the top of the head, while a headband wraps a single strip of fur around it. A headband is flatter, lighter and easier under a hood or with a high ponytail; earmuffs win on cold, windy days, with glasses and with hair worn down.
Fur earmuffs vs headband: the quick answer
| | Fur earmuffs | Fur headband | |—|—|—| | Warmth | Higher: full ear coverage | Medium: a band over the ears | | Wind | Blocks it well | Can gap at the bottom of the ear | | Hair | Leaves hair free below the ears | Pushes hair down and back | | With glasses | Cups sit over the arms | Can press the arms in | | Under a hood | Fine under a roomy hood | Best under a close hood | | In a pocket | Folds small | Rolls or folds flat |
If you live somewhere cold, walk a lot or wear glasses, choose earmuffs. If you want the lightest possible accessory, wear a hood often or like your hair up, choose a headband.
Which is warmer?
Earmuffs, in most cases. Warmth comes down to how much of your ear is covered and how much wind gets in. Earmuffs have a cup over each ear, so the whole ear is wrapped, including the lobe. A headband has to stretch around the whole head, and on many heads it slides up and leaves the bottom of the ear in the cold.
The type of fur matters too. Rex rabbit is short and very dense, because its guard hairs are the same length as the underfur. That density keeps the wind out without bulk. Long fox fur gives more volume but less density right against the ear. You can read more on our rex rabbit fur page.
For an evening at minus 5°C or colder, especially a walk home, earmuffs are the better choice. For a quick dash between the car and a restaurant, a headband is plenty.
Which suits your hair?
- Long hair worn down. Earmuffs. The band sits over the top and your hair falls freely below the cups. A headband pushes the hair flat at the sides.
- Short hair or a pixie cut. Either. Earmuffs show off the neck; a headband looks sharp and graphic.
- High ponytail or top knot. Headband. Earmuffs’ band runs over exactly where the ponytail sits.
- Low ponytail or low bun. Either. Both sit comfortably above the nape.
- Fringe. Earmuffs leave a fringe untouched. With a headband, always wear it behind the fringe, never on it.
- Curly or voluminous hair. Earmuffs, which flatten the least.
Which suits your face?
This is about where you want the volume.
- Longer or narrower faces look lovely in earmuffs: the cups add soft width at the sides, at cheekbone level.
- Rounder faces often prefer a slimmer headband worn back from the hairline, or earmuffs in a colour close to the hair so the width blends in.
- Strong jawlines and short hair carry both well; a thick fur band looks very chic.
Colour does as much as shape. Ivory and pale camel bounce light onto the skin and look fresh in winter sun. Black is the sharpest against dark hair.
Which works better with glasses?
Earmuffs, with a little care. Put your glasses on first, then let the cups sit over the arms. Soft fur cushions the arms, and if you feel pressure after a while, nudge the cups slightly back. A tight headband tends to press the arms into the side of your head along their whole length, which is what causes that headache after an hour. Earmuffs that pinch can do the same, so a flexible band is worth looking for.
Which goes under a hood?
A headband, if the hood is close-fitting. It is flat, so it adds almost nothing at the ears. Earmuffs work under a roomy hood or a big fur-framed one, as long as they sit close to the head. Many people simply wear earmuffs until it rains or snows hard, then take them off and put the hood up.
Our earmuffs: a headband and earmuffs in one
The piece we keep reaching for here is the Halo Earmuffs, because they solve the dilemma rather than picking a side. They are rex rabbit, so they feel like velvet rather than fluff and shed less than long-haired rabbit. The band is thick and covered in the same fur as the cups, all in one piece, so from the front they read as a wide fur headband. The cups are large and slightly oval and cover the whole ear, so you get earmuff warmth. They fold with the cups tucked in and are rated 4.9 by 31 customers.
If you would rather have a true headband, our Lumi Collar is a ring of hand-knitted rabbit fur, about 11 to 15 cm tall, that can be worn at the neck or pulled up over the hair. It sits snugly as a headband, so it suits hair worn down or tied low. Knitted rabbit can shed a little in the first wears; that settles. Our rabbit fur page explains the difference between rabbit and rex.
When to wear which
- Après-ski terrace: earmuffs. Warm, photogenic and they stay on when you move. See our guide to après-ski earmuffs and headbands.
- Christmas markets: earmuffs for hours standing outside; more ideas in what to wear to a Christmas market.
- City commute with a hooded coat: headband.
- Gym hair, high ponytail: headband.
- Wearing glasses all day: earmuffs.
How to look after both
Rabbit and rex rabbit need a little more care in the wet than fox. The French fur house Yves Salomon advises protecting rabbit from moisture, so take either off in heavy rain. If they get damp, shake them gently and let them dry at room temperature, away from radiators, and never use a hair dryer. Store them in a cotton bag or box somewhere cool and dark, not in plastic.
Still deciding between ear-level fur and a full hat? Our après-ski hat guide covers when a hat is worth it.
