Hair clips—big ones, small ones, colorful ones, gold-studded ones, expensive ones, and cheap ones, too–are making a come back. Or are they? As a mother of a curly-haired duo, clips have been an integral part of our everyday styling. River started out with felt floral ones that pinned her fine wisps back from floating into her eyes. A bit later, we moved to sturdier ones that could manage the varying twists of her mane. Recently, they’ve been used for her bangs-depending on the day, weather, and her mood.
Oak of course, has had his run with clips, too. His hair is lighter brown, fine, and easily tangled. On a random day, you’ll find a bobby pin buried somewhere deep below because I attempted a mohawk , at his request, late before bed the night before. Their clips are sorted in a woven basket with a matching top, full of scrunchies and bobos, too. On any given day, they’ll be strewn across the woven rug in their room or on the sink next to the brush and comb in the bathroom.
When I was younger, I, of course, had my own experiences with every hair clip, bead, and bobo imaginable. My mother was a natural hair braider, so having a hairstyle and matching hair accessories to match was my every day as a kid. Hair, and a relationship with it is unique to everyone–to each individual child; and I often find myself reflecting on this as I do my kids hair in the morning.
But what is it about hair clips and style right now when it comes to adult women? They’re everywhere and in every gift basket. I even watched someone shop at a hair clip “speciality store.” (In Brooklyn, we simply call it the hair store.) You’ll find many of them, rows of multi-coloreded clips, beaded clips, and ones fitting for an adult too, should you desire such a thing. Is it a need to go back in time and attempt a dry-erase on age? Is it a grand attempt to show the boundless nature of style? Or, at its worst, is it an attempt to co-opt what belongs to one group or community–the things they’ve used for centuries to find separation between coils and curls–and make it socially acceptable?
I’m honestly not sure, and I won’t attempt to know. In general, I love when people just do the things they love. I also know that, right now, the price to be “in” the clip crazy costs just a good few bucks locally. While I love everything (like these and these), I will never be convinced that a clip should cost the same price of a massage or a light bill! So long as it floats somewhere under that and as long as I get to look as cool and as free as my kiddo, I’m all for it.
How do you feel about this trend?
(Photography by Amanda Petersen for LaTonya Yvette)
bobos!
hahah!!
My kids could not go a day without clips (in their fine nordic hair that is somewhere between wavy and straight and with weird natural partitions/”swirls”. Maybe I should take it up again for myself… My own hair being everything between straight and curly at the same time and thick with very fine hairs.
Hi Elisabet!
A friend of mine just posted a photo of her in children’s clips (she has a son) so I say go for it!
xo
I have two daughters, 5 and 3 – the elder has thick, honey-colored waves that are very manageable, and the younger has tight white-blonde ringlets that stop people in the street at least four times a day but are so tough because they mat at the slightest provocation (Side note – tips on how to deal with constant hair comments? You probably have experience in this, because your kids have wonderful, stand-out hair, but my little one is so tired of hearing other people talk about her hair and notice little else about her). I myself have a ton of multi-patterned, wild wavy curls. We have been through so many clips it’s absurd. Any suggestions of types that actually hold? Seems like every smaller clip I’ve tried, for both my kids and myself, doesn’t grip enough to actually keep a hairstyle.
Hi Sophia!
Sounds like a gorgous curly-haired bunch!
When it’s like that, I have luck with the old-school metal and sturdy ones. No plastic, not frills. I rhink they’re mostly designed for adults.
L
As a young girl with thick long hair, hair clips were my most used accessory. And again as a teen when I grew out my fringe (after cutting it myself-haha!) Now I stick to bobby pins but I appreciate the variety of designs & choices available.
Hey Katherine, Love that it was part of your childhood and young adult. And definently used for the growing phases!
I linked some bobby pins that have turned a bit fancy. I’m bobby pin obsessed-and always looking for them (and finding them) in the most random places.
L