obsessive tester
By Erica Smith and Brooke LaMantia
Photo-Illustration: by The cut; Photos: Retailers
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There was once a time when bejeweled headbands and scrunchies reigned supreme in the world of hair accessories. Now it’s safe to say that “bow mania” has completely taken over. It’s impossible to scroll through social media or go out to dinner without seeing one. Not to mention the fact that bows — and the Sandy Liang aesthetic as a whole — helped shape balletcore and coquette core, two of the most popular fashion trends of the year. If you still can’t get enough of bows, good news: We rounded up a few of our current favorites below. But if you’re all bowed-out, we found other hair accessories that are just as practical and stylish, including claw clips, hairpins, and a sculptural chrome ponytail holder.
Which hair accessory is the right one for your head? Well, a claw clip swiftly frees your forehead, neck, and shoulders of all your grown-out, unwashed, unbrushed hair in a single chomp that makes a pile of hair look delightfully retro. The claw clip’s softer, stretchier cousin the scrunchie does something similar, but claw clips are better at encouraging you to get stuff done when need be. Switching from a scrunchie to a claw clip is like changing from sweatpants into leggings. It’s still casual and easygoing, but the relative rigidity is a little more motivating. The structure encourages you to do your daily doomscrolling sitting upright in a chair, rather than lying horizontally on a bed, and the sleekness encourages you to venture outside to do some conversing, whether with a horse or a baby who stopped for a quick selfie.
Pins and decorative ponytail holders also help hold your hair out of your face and secure your style, but they provide a more formal look than scrunchies and claw clips. Instead of wearing them around the house or while running errands, we recommend pulling these accessories out for weddings, cocktail parties, and other fancy events that call for an elevated hairstyle.
Read on for the best hair accessories for spring.
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Our Top Picks
From $8
You’ve seen these all over TikTok and we’re here to inform you they are worth the hype. They are the perfect size to hold your desired look in place. Ours are always secured in the strap of our purses and tote bags.
$165
Try Sandy Liang’s signature style in a solid black colorway for a look that feels more current and timeless.
We’re still not over all things checkered. And this brand comes recommended by deputy style editor, Joanna Nikas.
$10
This extra-sturdy clip teeth with extra spaced-out teeth was made for sectioning and securing thick, curly hair (and lots of it). Our former senior fashion writer, Emilia Petrarca, swears by it.
$158
Elevate your ponytail or bun in seconds with this geometric accessory that is specifically designed to hold thick hair in place. (If you have thin hair, try this smaller version instead). It’s available in gold and silver to match your everyday jewelry.
$84
This was the most talked about clip amongst our experts. Just like Arielle, content creator Isa Sung is a huge Emi Jay fan, especially since she loves an accessory with a sparkle. Cut Editorial assistant Brooke LaMantia also has this clip and gets complimented on it all the time. Who doesn’t love a hair accessory with their name on it?
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More tried-and-true-options:
$6
A more modern take that creates some nice negative space on fourth- and fifth-day hair.
The classic French pin gets a sparkly upgrade with this piece from luxury hair-accessory brand Jennifer Behr. The gold pin — which is expertly shaped to hold a wide range of hairstyles in place — is set with a fine crystal, making it perfect for formal events and special occasions.
$3
Classic claw clips that look just like the ones you snapped back in the day, at a price you could afford with your allowance.
$29
“This claw clip is probably one of my favorites on the market right now,” says content creator Devin Arielle. “I been an Emi Jay girl for years but this clip was the icing on the cake. I am big on jewelry as an accessory of my outfits and this silver clip just adds to any outfit.” It’s heavyweight, making it the perfect accessory for any hairstyle and type. Need a style tip? Arielle suggests hair spraying the ends of your hair to really add to that punk element.
$75
Brides-to-be, this magnolia-shaped claw clip that features hand-set faux pearls should be on your radar, whether you’re shopping for your bachelorette trip or looking for a fancy claw clip that will hold your hair back during the after-party.
This pack of mini-clips are perfect for keeping bangs at bay, or playing around with different hairstyles. “In light of spring coming around, there is something about tiny clips, two on each side of the head to be exact, that has me feeling girly,” says Arielle. I don’t know about you, but we want to give them a try.
$24
Perfect for half-up-half-down situations.
This bow barrette has long ribbons like the Sandy Liang design above, but the bow itself is smaller and more subtle if that’s what you prefer. It’s available in black, pink, and white.
This hand-cut and polished tortoise-shell clip from France looks and feels more grown-up than the plastic ones of yore.
$30
This mega clip will easily hold all your hair (no matter how thick) and look amazing while doing it.
$54
Coming in a 2-pack, these handcrafted clips from haircare brand Crown Affair are made with hair health in mind to keep hair in place without any kinks. We’re imaging them for braided hairstyles, to clip at the end of pigtails, or even to hold hair back while doing your makeup.
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