Hair clips and claw clips: how to choose

How to choose hair clips and claw clips

Start with the job the clip has to do. A claw clip gathers a whole twist, a bun or a half-up section in one movement, so the jaws need to open wide enough for the bundle of hair you have and close with steady tension. A ponytail clip or a coil works at the crown or the nape and holds the shape of a gathered style. Smaller pins, bows and slip-on clips are for finishing: a sweep above the ear, a section beside a braid, a quiet point of interest in an updo.

Think about weight. Some pieces are deliberately light, such as the metal pins, the pearl bow and the resin plumeria, and they suit fine hair or a style you will wear for hours without noticing it. Others carry more presence in the hand, such as the crystal flower clip and the ball detail ponytail clip, and that weight is what keeps a thick twist neatly gathered.

Then consider how often you will adjust. Clips with a firm spring hold through a working day, while decorative bows and tassels move with the hair and ask for a slightly neater base so they sit straight. If you tie your hair up and take it down again during the day, choose something you can open and close easily with one hand.

Materials, details and fit

Most of our clips are built on an alloy frame, which gives a claw or a pin its spring and its shape. Moulded shapes bring colour and depth, and a hand-finished surface catches light along the curve rather than sitting flat. Pearl, rhinestone and crystal details read differently from one another: pearls give a soft, rounded gleam, while faceted rhinestones and crystal petals throw brighter points of light.

Fabric changes the character entirely. The silk ribbon bow is a smooth, wide piece of cloth on an alloy clip, so it moves with the hair instead of holding a rigid line, and the clip-in ponytail is made from fibre with a low sheen and an adjustable inner band. If you want a piece that settles into the hair, choose a slim pin or a small slip-on clip; if you want the clip to be the ornament, choose a flower, a bow or a wave of pearl-set metal.

Scale matters as much as material. A generous clip holds a wide section of hair, while a small bow measures just 2.4cm and sits close to the head beside a braid or a low bun. Compare the dimensions given on each piece with the section of hair you plan to gather, and think about the balance you want: a large claw at the nape reads calm, while an oversized pearl wave across the crown is a deliberate focal point.

Colour is the last decision. Deep glossy tones sit quietly against tailoring and prints, gold and silver metal finishes suit jewellery you already wear, and a bright flower or a soft pink bow can be the single note of colour in a plain outfit.

How to style them

Position is everything. Gather the hair into a twist, bun or half-up section, open the clip wide and seat it where the style needs support, at the crown for lift or at the nape for a low, quiet finish. Take a little more or less hair as you close the jaws to adjust the tension, so the clip holds without pulling at the scalp.

For a ponytail, brush your own hair to the height you want and tie it securely, then add the detail at the base. The ball detail clip sits at the back of the head and turns a simple tie into a considered line, the rhinestone coil opens around the bundle so no pins or elastic are needed, and the wrap-around clip-in ponytail seats over your own and folds to hide the join.

Decorative pieces want a slightly neater base. Slide a bow above the ear, at the back of a half-up style or beside a low chignon, and let the ribbon fall in a wide line over braids or loose waves. Hair pins and the pearl bow sit best when the section they hold is smooth, so brush through first and tuck stray ends before you slide them in along the curve.

For evening, place a flower or a tasselled orchid at the side of a swept-back style rather than the centre, so the detail shows in profile. Keep the rest of the hair simple, since one ornament reads more clearly than three, and check the clip from the side as well as the front before you go out.

Care and storage

Store metal clips where they will not knock against each other. A small dish with a soft lining, or a compartment in a jewellery box, keeps springs from catching and stops pins from bending. Wipe metal and pearl surfaces with a dry, soft cloth after wearing, and keep rhinestone and crystal pieces away from perfume, hairspray and lotions, which can dull a bright surface over time.

Fabric bows and fibre pieces need a little more room. Lay the silk ribbon bow flat, or coil it loosely so the ribbon does not crease, and keep it away from anything with a rough edge that could snag the surface. The clip-in ponytail holds its straight fall best when it is stored hanging or folded loosely, with the wrap smoothed down and the inner band left relaxed.

Give claw clips a quick check now and then. Clear loose hair from the spring and open and close the jaws to make sure they still meet evenly; a clip that has been stretched by too much hair at once will not hold as firmly. Resin and acetate shapes prefer a cool, dry drawer to a sunny windowsill, as prolonged heat can dull a glossy finish.

Keep a small pouch in your bag for the pieces you wear often, so a pearl bow or a pair of pins does not roll loose among keys. When you travel, pack clips at the top of a case rather than under heavier items, and keep tassels and bows flat so they arrive in the shape you left them.

Standout pieces

• Large Acetate Square Hair Claw Clip: A hand-finished acetate clip with deep, glassy colour and a square silhouette, cut to give a full twist or low chignon a clean, sculptural line.
• Satin Ribbon Bow Hair Clip: The ribbon measures 22cm by 11cm on an alloy clip with an elastic band, gathering a ponytail or half-up style with a wide bow that moves as you turn.
• Rhinestone Coil Ponytail Hair Clip: Clear rhinestones line the plastic frame, and an open centre of 7.5cm across holds a ponytail or bun without pins or a tight elastic.
• Crystal Flower Hair Claw Clip: White crystal petals sit in an electroplated gold or silver flower, and the real metal weight keeps a thick twist or low bun gathered through a long afternoon.
• Plumeria Flower Hair Claw Clip: Each clip is hand finished in glossy resin at 23-25g, with six colours running from soft pink and rose pink to purple, green, blue and yellow.