On Sixth Avenue in New York, the line stretches in front of the cult pharmacy CO Bigelow. Tourists, fashion editors and students wait for the same trophy: the Carolyn Bessette headband, this thick tortoiseshell headband that has become viral again. For a simple hair accessory, the craze is surprising, almost as much as the object itself.
The series, or on the platforms, has revived the fascination for its minimalist nineties look, while TikTok and Instagram are multiplying videos around the CBK headband. But behind the views, a very concrete business is organized on site.
In New York, Carolyn Bessette’s tortoiseshell headband queues up
For several weeks, the storefront of CO Bigelow Apothecary, at 414 Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village, has seen customers waiting to buy the tortoiseshell headband by Charles Wahba. 3.8 cm wide, handcrafted in France, it is produced exclusively for the New York pharmacy.
Sold for around 40 dollars (around 37 $), available in several colors, this headband caused sales of hair accessories to explode, which reached six-figure amounts in one month. The store, founded in 1838, has become a pilgrimage stop for Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy fans visiting New York.
The tortoiseshell headband, a summary of Carolyn Bessette’s quiet luxury style
Former communicator at Calvin Klein, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy imposed a silhouette of almost radical sobriety: straight coats, neutral palette, absence of logos and very little jewelry. In this cozy setting, the wide tortoiseshell headband was a signature, often associated with retro glasses and barely visible makeup.
Placed a few centimeters from the forehead line, on loose or pulled back hair, it instantly gives volume to the roots and structures the hair, without hairspray or sophisticated blow-drying. This is exactly what fans of quiet luxury are looking for today: a quick gesture that transforms flat hair into a sophisticated hairstyle, while remaining discreet.
How to adopt the Carolyn Bessette headband in 2026
On TikTok, tutorials detail how to recreate the look, renamed CBK headband: soft blow-dry, parting in the middle, thick tortoiseshell headband placed loosely. Fine hair particularly benefits from this accessory, which creates a small, subtle bump at the scalp, while curls gain structure without being fixed.
The original, by Charles Wahba, remains available at CO Bigelow and Zitomer Pharmacy on the Upper East Side, but stock shortages are frequent since Ariana Grande adopted the same headband hairstyle. Everywhere else, very similar models are popping up at H&M, Mango or on e-commerce platforms, to copy the spirit without necessarily traveling to New York.
What is the exact headband worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy?
It’s a thick 3.8 cm tortoiseshell headband, signed Charles Wahba, sold for around 40 dollars ($37).
Where to buy the Carolyn Bessette headband in New York?
It is mainly found at CO Bigelow Apothecary, at 414 Sixth Avenue, and at Zitomer Pharmacy in Manhattan.
How to wear the CBK headband without having flat hair?
Place the headband a few centimeters behind the hairline, on a lightly textured base, leaving a few strands free.
