Call it Murphy’s Law of Hair. No matter the length, it’ll get in your way. I’ve had mine in short layers (remember the "Rachel" cut?), down to the middle of my back, and most lengths in between. And with every cut, it always ends up in my face.

What’s a gal to do, besides go the way of Demi Moore in G.I. Jane? One word: headbands. And this season is serving up a host of styles to keep women from pulling their hair out. Unlike the hard, plastic variety of yesteryear — those tight tiaras that poked painfully into your head — these bands are pliable, practical, and pretty.

The trendy teenybopper store, Wet Seal (be prepared to feel old and fat in there if your age or waist size is over 20), has a nice selection, including a brown leather headband ($7) that’s woven together in a style similar to the stitches you may remember practicing with lanyards at summer camp. The underside is made of elastic, ensuring a comfy fit on every head. The store also has white and beige linen headbands ($6), perfect for wearing with the peasant shirts that are everywhere this season.

You can find a few different headband styles at H&M. These are a bit simpler in design — and cheaper. The thin stretchy headbands ($1) are similar to the elastics you’d use to hold back a ponytail, and come in purple, green, and sparkly pink and blue. They also have thicker cotton bands with stripes and flower patterns ($1.50).

Macy’s doesn’t offer as much of a selection, but what it does have will do the trick, like a black leather headband with a flower pattern cut out of it ($4.99). It also sells a few thin leather ones with contrasting color stitches running up the middle ($4.99).

Of course, scarves can easily mimic a headband when tied the right way. Filene’s Basement has a wall full of scarf varieties, everything from the romantic and flowery to serious stripes and sexy animal prints ($14.99–$39.99).

The Basement also has a few unique headband options, such as reversible ones, with denim on one side and a floral design on the other ($2.99), and a suede-like band with Velcro backing that comes in a few colors ($2.99).

With such a variety to choose from, women everywhere can bid adieu to the days of perpetually pushing back their tresses.

Where to get it:

• Filene’s Basement, 426 Washington Street, Boston, (617) 542-2011.

• H&M, 350 Washington Street, Boston, (617) 482-7001.

• Macy’s, various locations, www.macys.com.

• Wet Seal, The Corner, 7 Winter Street, Boston, (617) 695-3590; CambridgeSide Galleria, 100 CambridgeSide Place, Cambridge, (617) 252-0830.