A vehicle headrest has a support rod extending along an axis formed with a plurality of radially open notches, a head support carried above the notches on the support rod, and a guide sleeve mountable in a seat back and slidably receiving the support rod. An actuation element can shift axially on the sleeve between an actuated position and an unactuated position. An elongated and longitudinally incompressible latch element has an outer end shiftable radially and engageable in the notch and an inner end engaging the actuation element and shiftable axially on the sleeve on movement of the actuation element from the actuated position to the unactuated position between a latching position with the outer end engaged radially in one of the notches and securing the rod against movement in the sleeve and a release position with the outer end clear of the notches and permitting such movement.