Hair Accessories: The Complete Guide
A comprehensive guide on all types of hair accessories (clips, barrettes, etc.) for updos, for decoration, and a variety of looks for your hair.
If I’m missing any hair accessories, please let me know! And follow me on youtube for lots of hair style tutorials.
For Updos
Hair Sticks
A hair stick can be as simple as a chopstick or a pencil, but it’s even better to get one crafted just for hair so that it slides in and out smoothly and doesn’t snag.
A hair stick can be just put in after as a decoration or it can be used as the foundation to a bun/updo or even as the only tool used to hold the hair up.
Hair Forks
Forks are a lot like hair sticks but they have multiple prongs instead of just one.
Most of the styles you can do with hair sticks can also be made with hair forks and they can be more stable if you have a lot of heavy hair.
Here are some hair forks on Etsy
Ficcare
The ficcare is a very popular hair clip with super long haired people, though I myself have not tried it yet! It is a strong metal clip with a lot of room for hair thickness, but they are expensive. It is a form of beak clip just with more space for hair.
You can get the ficcare on Amazon here: Ficcare
Slides
Slides are a piece of material that goes over the hair with a stick to hold it on. They can be made of all sorts of materials and have different styles.
You can find them on Etsy here
Flexi Hair Clips
The flexi, or flexi-8, is a type of slide with the unique feature that the stick part is permanently attached, so it will never get lost or separated from the rest of the slide.
There are many, many gorgeous styles and several sizes. These can be used in almost all hair stick styles and can replace hair elastics and barrettes in many styles as well.
The 8 part is made of super strong piano wire strung with beautiful beads, the stick has grooves to help it clasp really well, and it comes easily out of the hair without snagging.
You can browse the many styles here: Lilla Rose with Long Hair Don’t Care (click “hair clips)
Barrette
This one is an old stand-by. A barrette has two sides that clasp together with hair in the center. They are easy to use but can snag hair and the sizing has to be just right. If you have too much hair to fit most barrettes, try a ficarre or a flexi
Comb
Hair combs are used in many cultures around the world in a variety of ways. They have a slightly curved bar with many teeth. Sometimes they are meant to disappear into the hairstyle and sometimes the bar has something decorative on it to stick out. They are often used in french twists or a gibson tuck.
Claw Clips/Clutcher
Claw clips are easy to come by, cheap, and simple to use. The most secure way to use it is to open it, drag it from the edge of your hair to the place you want it to hold, then close it and give a little push together.
My friend JJJLongHair on youtube does amazing things on her ankle length hair with claw clips.
Banana Clip
The number one hair accessory of the 1980s, used to create the coveted elongated ponytail. I always struggled with getting the clasp to stay! There are some new ones with a different kind of closing, an elastic.
Beak Clip (Banana Clip, Alligator Clip)
A beak clip is shaped a little like a bird’s beak with a thicker part where the hinge is, narrowing into a point on the other side. It’s a lot like a barrette without a clasp. I don’t personally find them very useful because the hair can slide out the narrow end too easily. You can see them on Amazon here.
Swerve
A swerve is like a giant U pin, particularly great for a quick way to hold a simple cinnamon bun, or a french twist. Some have decorations around the edge to peek out like a hair comb. I’m mad the orchid one sold out before I got one! [UPDATE: I bought it as soon as it restocked!]
Crescent
The crescent moon hair stick is really elegant and amazing. It’s literally shaped like a crescent moon and you can use it in the same styles you do with a hair stick.
I think these on Etsy are particularly gorgeous. I got two wood ones from this shop and they are beautiful!
African Butterfly Clip
This is basically two hair combs connected by a beaded elastic webbing to hold the hair up. Here are some on Etsy.
Helix Pin
This is a really unique hair accessory that I think was created by the shop FurnivalsWorkshop on Etsy. It’s basically an enormous spin pin. Just like the swerve is a giant U pin! They are made of wood and twist directly into the updo.
Snoods
Snoods are a type of hair net. They were much more common in the 1940s but you can still get nylon snoods (and as a teen in the 90s I wore them all the time!) or you can easily crochet them. I’m very drawn to this look, though I haven’t done it in a while. My four year old has taken my one snood to use as spiderman’s web… You can get them on Etsy here. Or find free patterns on Ravelry!
Bun Covers
Similar to snoods these are like tiny snoods just for buns. If you took ballet classes you might have worn one! For a little while even Claire’s in the mall was selling them. They are tiny snoods connected to a barrette with a bow on it. Or they might be just the crochet/netting part held on by drawstring, elastic, or pins.
See some different styles on Etsy here, here, and here. And my friend makes really cute crocheted flower bun covers, see her Etsy store here.
Bun Cage
A bun cage is the same idea but made from a hard material like metal or plastic. Usually they are held on by a stick that goes through it but there are some that are actually plastic clips with a bun cover on top. The danger with these is that they have to be an exact size to fit your bun.
Clips
Clips are a small metal piece that snaps closed over the hair and may be hinged. Oversize clips are very in right now! Such as these resin ones on Etsy.
Pins
Amish Pins
These are stainless steel U shaped pins that are safe for the hair and hold updos really well. I use these every day! If you need pins for an updo you need Amish pins. I recommend the three inch size.
You can get them on Amazon here
Bobby Pins
For most people bobby pins are the only ones they know exist! Bobby pins are great for certain applications but these other two styles of pins are much better for updos. Bobby pins can subtly hold hair in place or they can slide into the hair as a decoration.
Many don’t know that bobby pins are meant to be used with the ridged side against the scalp (to be honest most manufacturers don’t seem to know that either…). You can also get more stability from them if you take two and cross them over.
Bobby pins are easy to find but a word of caution, I tried to get some from a dollar store and they were terrible. They look exactly like the ones from the drug store but the drug store ones worked great and the dollar store ones were awful! And you can find decorative ones from Lilla Rose here or Etsy here!
Spin Pins
Spin pins are amazing for hold in updos. They twist into the hairdo like a screw and they hold super well. They are said to replace a dozen bobby pins. I started using them just this year and I use them nearly every day. I’ll never go back!
You can get them here on Amazon or even at the drug store. Goody makes them now.
Decorative
Hair Spikes
These hair spikes are hand crafted by a friend of mine in Scotland. If you’ve ever wanted to be a kung fu princess this will definitely make you feel like one!
Protection for the ends of your braid too, and your hair’s ends are the most delicate part.
You can buy these and also hair cuffs from her shop on Etsy here: Daughter of Mercury
Miao Tribal Headpieces
The Hmong are a Chinese tribe that is a subset of the Miao, known for spectacular hair decorations! They are silver and have lots of dangles. I have been trying to get my hands on this style!
Unfortunately the place I ordered one from said it was sent four months ago and has not responded to emails. I may try getting it on AliExpress.
Little Twist Jewels
These things are a pretty touch to a hairstyle, but kind of a lot of trouble to twist in and out. I’m not a fan. I actually would suggest using stud earrings for the same look!
Hair Twists/pony tail wrap
These metal or leather wraps are a cool way to contain hair. I got a metal one for my whole ponytail but it doesn’t work great with my length! I like them a lot as an accent, using just a portion of hair.
Hair Chain
These are a gorgeous way to add decoration to a half up style! They dangle against your hair, usually secured by combs or clips on either side. Take a look on Etsy!
Bharatnatyam Decorations: Rakodi, Billai
Classical Indian hair decorations are stunning! I used to do bharatnatyam dance and our costumes included incredibly beautiful decorations for our hair.
Rakodi are decorated hair donuts or a jeweled bun cover.
Billai are a series of decorations that go down the length of a braid (the inspiration for the “hair armor” below. They have hooks on the back to hand onto the braided hair.
Here is a jeweled “crown” to go over the top of a bun.
Hair Armor
A very similar idea to the bharatnatyam braid decoration, it’s a series of decorations that go down in a line. See it here on Etsy.
Geisha Decorations (Kanzashi and bira bira)
The fluttery metal “wind chimes” are bira bira and the kanzashi usually refers to fabric flowers and clusters of fabric flowers. Here is a beautiful antique piece. Here is an antique fan bira-bira and here is an interpretations on the kanzashi. Here is a lovely clip inspired by these decorations.
Loc jewelry/dread beads/hair cuffs
There’s a lot of small decorations that can be used with various kinds of locs and braids. There are rings, cuffs, beads, and twisted metal elements.
Structure
Donut/Rat
A donut or hair rat is meant to be hidden within the hair structure and was originally made out of a person’s shed hair! You can get mesh hair donuts at drug stores (or Amazon) and they are great for sock buns. You can also cut them apart to make a rat for victory rolls. I recently made an edwardian hair rat, which is a full ring around the head.
Elastics (small)
Tiny elastics are useful for the ends of braids or for making a pull through braid. A lot of people are using tiny silicone clear elastics, which you can break (or dissolve with a drop of lemon essential oil) to get out of your hair. I prefer to use standard elastics in a tiny size.
Elastics (standard)
I think everyone is probably familiar with the good old standard hair elastic. Endlessly useful, even though I don’t use them often (preferring updos with gentler accessories that don’t rub at hair). I did discover on Amazon these that are apparently biodegradable?
Scrunchis
Scrunchis are back in fashion and that’s good news for hair. Scrunchis are hair elastics that are covered with fabric and they are usually far gentler on your hair than the elastic. Even better if you use a satin or silk scrunchi, though those may slip out of your hair more. See a variety of them on Etsy!
Pro Hair Ties
These are a great new alternative to hair elastics. I’ve been using them for several months. They are strong, you can customize the sizes, and they have a clasp so you can get them out of your hair without dragging. They are more expensive than standard elastics and you have to be careful not to lose the clasp, but I find them much better for my hair! You can get them on amazon here.
Pony-O
This is another new alternative to a ponytail holder/elastic. I haven’t tried it but it is supposed to help you get a ponytail with more height and bounce. Ponytails aren’t really my thing so I haven’t bought one. You can get them from their website here.
Telephone Wire Ties
A lot of people swear by these. They are cheap and easy to find and they are supposed to be gentle on your hair and not leave creases! See them on Amazon here. I also discovered this neat and creative new way to use them:
Hair Bobbles/Knockers
A very old classic! I remember these from my childhood in the 80s. Though they are usually worn by little girls, an adult could use them too. They wrap around your hair and then you slide the elastic part over one of the bobbles to secure.
Ponytail cuff
This is a new one to me, but it’s a metal cuff for over the top of your ponytail. See it on Etsy here. And a similar idea is this clip that has a decorative element held to the ponytail with a pin across the back.
Bungee Cord Elastics
These are a similar idea to the bobble hair ties, wrapping the elastic around your hair and then hooking it. I think this would help get a customized size, though I have not tried them. See them on Amazon here.
Cloth Hair Ties
Another type of ponytail holder meant to be gentler on your hair! These are a small strip of cloth with a knot on the side. See them on Amazon here.
Pulleez Sliding Ponytail Holder
These are the bolo ties of hair ties! It’s a clever mechanism and I like that they have charms on them. It’s a subtle touch of decoration. See them on Amazon here.
Other
Headband
There’s several forms of headband, having in common that they are the shape of a semi-circle and made to hold hair back from the face. Some of them are plastic, some are cloth, some are wide, and some are thin. Some have decorations on them and some are more for keeping baby hairs out of the way during sports. See a variety on Etsy and Amazon.
Scarf
Scarves can be used in a variety of ways in your hair. They are of course used as covering for some religious practices such as a hijab or tichel. Thinner scarves can be braided into hair either for the look or to provide length or structure. There’s a couple of tricks for using a scarf headband to make long hair appear shorter. Here’s a nice thin hair scarf on Etsy.
Gadgets
Hairagami: These came out in the 90s and I tried it. But I’ve never been able to get my hair to work with any device where you need to pull it to the ends of your hair and wrap up. My hairs are too many different lengths with too much taper in my hem. I don’t trim so that’s an issue but it would be a similar struggle for anyone with layers in their hair! I loved the idea of a device that could create a variety of different buns. That was before I learned so many updo styles!
Bump-it: I had one of these when they first came out. That poof in the front of your hair was in style and I couldn’t do it very well (doesn’t help that I don’t tease my hair or use hairspray!). I especially liked the volume for a half-up. The website was confusing and I ended up getting the light color instead of the black that would match my hair. It was also rougher on my hair than I am okay with, the little plastic teeth pulling on it. But it is a hair accessory that exists! Turns out you can also get a hair comb with a bit of a hair rat on it to accomplish a bump. (The models faces being blurred out makes me wonder if they are actually wearing one of these…). Or there’s also a sponge version.
Tacticlip This one was a surprise to me as I was browsing for any odd hair accessories that I hadn’t seen yet. It’s a multi-tool hair clip! It has a ruler, a mini screwdriver, and a blade on the clip. Pretty creative and remarkable.
Bunstar: This is a way of holding a bun that is a similar idea to the crescent hair stick except it disappears within the bun. You basically just twist it in and it holds.
Bun Formers: There’s a lot of different styles of wrapping type foam or cloth where you twist your hair up into it and then close it around to get a “ballerina” style bun. Like the hairagami I struggle with these because they work best when your hair is all one length.
Volumizing ponytails: Turns out there’s a high demand for ways to make a ponytail thicker and bouncier. And a whole lot of odd gadgets to try! Bump It Up Pony (I’ve tried this one and it did not work at all, in fact it was rather painful), Poofy Pony, Pony Puffin, Pony Popper, Perfect Pony, and the Pony-o fits in this category too.
Conair The Perfect Bob: This has terrible reviews and is totally not necessary, but I’m trying to make this list as complete as I can! If you want to fake a bob, here are some easier ways!
Speert swiss ponytail holder: I’ve never tried anything like this so I can’t speak to whether it works
That’s everything that I’ve found
But if you know of other hair accessories (I’m keeping this list to accessories that stay in the hair and not ones that help you achieve a style and then come out) please let me know!
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