Hair clips prove their worth through tension and mass instead of embellishment. Clips must grip without stretching – it’s scientific (spring tension versus angles of teeth narrow enough to hold onto fine hair, yet wide enough not to get caught on each other). Cheap ones will advertise themselves by falling apart after an hour, or leaving a noticeable crease imprinted onto your hair. The good clips (many times tipped with horn, acetate or a heavier duty metal) will keep their shape and hold all day without needing to adjust in front of your desk mirror. Scale and ratio matter more than most know – fullness is created by actual length and dramatic curvature when it comes to claw clips, otherwise it just rests in your hair. Pro Tip: Secure instead of just putting on for show.
Snap clips or smaller barrettes serve as the cherry on top of an outfit instead of doing all the work themselves. They can reunite a section at the top of your head, or hold back a fringe that won’t decide which side it wants to lay on. If you have long/thick hair, weight is your number one priority – tiny clips on top of a large square inchage of hair will fall out before lunch no matter how good it looked on Instagram. When it comes to styling, your clip should look like you put hair there on purpose, as opposed to your hair commandeering your accessory. Try twisting claw clips into a messy bun at the bottom of your neck to look just as chic with blazers as you do with dresses. It gives you a clean shoulder line without the awkwardness of a pompadour-style bun. A decorative barrette pinned halfway off center on an otherwise sleek straight look will make more of a statement than ten subtle clips thrown on wherever.
Metal clips that catch light are great worn up against clean knitwear or a button up, where it acts as that one detail you know you were put there. Occasion will determine your clip’s weight and finish – matte acrylics, or horn clips are your best bet for daytime, and/or occasions where you know you’ll be looking down at a computer all day. Night time is where you can play around, as a sparkly or stone clipped can act as your “earrings” when your hair is up. Airport layovers and beaches are where claw clips truly come into their own. They lift your hair off your neck in humid weather and still look like you took awhile to get ready in the morning. Remember: Grip, silhouette and finish. That’s what’s important.
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