I interpret the two inch maximum in 3-5-4b to be referring to WIDTH of said headband.

Plus is that thing really black, white, beige, or a team color??

I don't have the rule book in front of me, but when it comes to headbands the only limitations I know of involve color. There's nothing that says part of it can't hang like this one does.

Therefore, outside of color, the only reason I can see not allowing a player to play with it on (we've been taught to NEVER request a player remove something, only to tell them they can't play with it on*) would be if there was a bead or other hard substance that could be a real safety issue.

By the way, I use the word "real" because there's a better chance that a player were to get poked in the eye by an opponent's finger rather than the two inches of fabric hanging from this headband.

*this is a legal issue, as apparently players have been told to remove something and some type of medical issue ensued. So by telling a player they simply can't play with it on an official is not telling them to remove something that may be vital to said player's health, thus avoiding legal trouble.

Two Sides Of A Coin ...
 

I can certainly see your point, headbands are equipment, and fall under equipment rules, and ponytails aren't equipment.

But "nothing" is going a little to far.

Both fall under safety guidelines (different guidelines, but both have to do with player safety, that's what they have in common, safety). If the officials believe that equipment, hair, or fingernails, are unsafe, then they can remove that player from the game, at least until the problem is rectified.

In my opinion, the cloth ends of a headband create the same danger as flowing hair. If an official lets a player play with long hair, then that official should let another player play with cloth ends on a headband.

What's Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander ...
 

As long as I believe that the hair, or the headband cloth ends, don't create a player safety issue. Nobody in my game is going to be tripping over a piece of cloth at the end of a headband, or a very long ponytail.

Same for boys.

Not That Simple ...
 

Number, width, logos?

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I was only speaking in terms of OP, which didn't seem to bring the number, width, and logo into question. Although the color of the headband could have been a problem.

Correct, I was only addressing the hanging tail of the headband.

The pic I posted was only to show an example of the length, not the various colors.

Is a logo legal on a headband?

3-6 ...
 

ART. 1 One visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference or school
logo/mascot is permitted on the wristbands, headband, compression shorts and
arm compression sleeve. (3-5-3, 3-5-4, 3-5-7).

ART. 2 The size shall be limited to 2¼ square inches and shall not exceed
2¼ inches in any dimension on any item.

I was able to personally see and discuss with BNR what he's brought up in this thread.

Irrespective of the legality or not of the equipment in question here, the discussion, as far as head color, width, color, etc is everything I hate being fashion police. Safety issues I can buy (and I'm not sure it applies here). But color, width, height, length, logo...in practice, we shouldn't be responsible for IMO.