The scrunchie was so critical to the plot that when Heathers was adapted as a musical in 2014, costume designer Amy Clark made custom jumbo ones that could be seen from the back of the house.

Each of Ngo’s scrunchies is distinguishable based on its design and the material it is made of, said Vanessa Acusa, a nursing student at California Baptist University.

Scrunchies cause less breakage than plain elastic bands. And they evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, one that’s in keeping with the ’90s references now showcased by labels such as Rodarte, Rag ...