Did Zeniba's hair tie help Chihiro in any way? Nearing the end of Spirited Away, Zeniba weaves and gifts Chihiro a hair tie and claims that it will protect her.



Is there any indication that this (presumably magical) hair tie played any useful role during the rest of the movie?
There is a scene towards the end where Haku warns Chihiro to never look back until she reaches the outer end of the tunnel. When she's about to enter the tunnel, she stopped for a while and started turning her head around but stopped at the very last moment. At the same time the hair tie sparkled. Its a very subtle scene.

Now Haku did not tell her the reason why. But if you are familiar with Asian cultures, looking back would have trapped Chihiro in the spirit world forever.
Yes, the hair tie did save her. At least in my interpretation.