Various examples and schemes pertaining to simple Ethernet header compression are described. A first network node transmits a first packet with a full header to a second network node. The first network node determines whether a header compression context for the full header has been established by the second network node. In response to determining that the header compression context for the full header has been established by the second network node, the first network node transmits a second packet with a compressed header to the second network node. In response to determining that the header compression context for the full header has not been established by the second network node, the first network node transmits the second packet or a third packet with the full header to the second network node.