Ah, the beloved bangle. What’s not to love about these beautiful bracelets?

They look good on any wrist and come in styles to pair with any outfit, for any occasion. 

If you’ve got questions about bangles, we’ve got answers. Read on for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about bangle bracelets!

What Is a Bangle Bracelet?

Bangles have one key difference from most other types of bracelets: they’re missing a clasp. What can we say, bangles are all about breaking the rules. Instead of a chain that’s clasped together, bangles are a solid ring of metal, wood, or plastic that you slip over your fingers and wrist. 

As for style, bangles can be thin, thick, funky, or elegant. Check out these bangle bracelets:

How to Measure Bangle Size

Ever wonder how to measure your bangle size? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

1. First, assume the position! Clasp your fingers together and fold your thumb in, as if you were about to put a bangle on. 
2. Then use a tape measure to measure the widest part of your hand in inches. This should be the area including your lower thumb knuckle. 
3. Finally, match that measurement to bangle size. Typically, bangle sizes range in quarter inches from 7 to 9 inches.

How to Make a Bangle

Want to know another fabulous thing about bangles? They’re easy enough to make on your own. If you’re a DIY gal, here’s what you’ll need to make a basic bangle:

• 20 gauge wire in a metallic finish you love
• A pair of wire cutters
• Flat or chain nose pliers

Once you have your bangle-making ingredients, follow these steps:

1. Find a glass or some cylindrical item in your house that’s about a quarter- to a half-inch larger than your bangle size (see questions above). 
2. Cut a 40-inch piece of the wire, and wrap it around the cylinder tightly. 
3. Then, holding the coils together, carefully slide it off the cylinder. 
4. Take one of the outer wire ends and bend it 90 degrees so it lies flat across the other coils. 
5. While holding the coils together tightly, wrap it around three times. 
6. Then do the same with the other wire end, aiming to keep the two wrapped ends close together. 
7. Let go, and trim the ends with your wire cutters. 

Congrats, you’ve made a bangle! To adorn it with beads and other neat designs, check out these bangle making tutorials:

How to Wear a Bangle

Girl, you can wear a bangle any way you want. But, if you want some tips, some common ways to wear a bangle include:

• Stacked with other bangles of a similar finish, style, or width
• Layered with different bangles, or a watch
• All on their own

Take a look at these fun ways to wear a bangle:

Have a specific outfit in mind? Read this for tips on pairing jewelry with your outfit.

How to Clean a Bangle Bracelet

How to clean your bangle depends on what it’s made of. If you have a sterling silver bangle, polish it regularly with a cleaning cloth, rubbing with a back-and-forth motion. 

You can also make your own jewelry cleaner at home, with a few household items. You’ll need aluminum foil, baking soda, salt, dish soap, warm water, a bowl, and a toothbrush. Here’s what to do:

1. Lay the aluminum foil so that it roughly covers the inside of the bowl. 
2. Add 1 cup of warm water.
3. Add 1 tablespoon each of baking soda, salt, and dish soap to the bowl and combine.
4. Lay your bangle inside to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Take your bangle out and scrub it gently with a toothbrush.
6. Rinse it off in a bowl of cold water.
7. Place your bangle on a cloth to dry.

Get more tips for cleaning your bangle from our Pinterest board:

Different Bangle Styles

There are actually a few different styles of bangle bracelets. You have the traditional bangle, which is a solid band you slip over your fingers. 

There’s also the tongue clasp bangle. These have a hinge halfway around the band. One side of the bangle has a little tongue on the end that you lock into place onto the other side, forming the solid band. These offer a little more flexibility when putting them on since you can more easily slide your wrist through. 

There are also cuff bracelets, which are really open bangles in disguise. These bangles have an opening on the side that you can adjust to be wider or narrower, using just a bit of finger pressure. These are ultra-versatile since you can stretch them to fit anywhere on your arm, whether that’s your wrist or your upper arm.

And then there’s our favorite type of bangle: the hair tie bangle. These combine style with functionality, for the girl who needs her jewelry to do a bit more. These look just like a regular bangle but have a small groove on the outer perimeter so you can slip your hair tie onto them. 

The Lift, our hairtie bangle from Roam Often, comes in silver, gold, and rose gold, and looks beautiful with or without your hairtie along for the ride. It’s engraved with our “Roam Often” mantra to inspire you every time you slip it on and step into adventure! Get yours here.

Roam often, stay stylish.