Hair clips can be small, medium, or large—designed to hold back some or all of your mane. Even the smallest clips can still offer major style and staying power. For example, butterfly clips are famously compact but accent any half-up hairstyle. Clips for thick hair have a wider jaw to grip coarse strands, while clips for thin hair have more compact jaws to grasp delicate locks.
Claw clips are one of the most popular accessories, and use a simple spring design to compress and keep hair in its hold. Buns, twists, sprays, and sections pair perfectly with claws and other clips of various shapes and sizes.
Popular types of hair clips include:
- Alligator hair clips: These long tapered clips have jagged teeth for a secure grip.
- Banana hair clips: Curved to fit the shape of your head, these long clips pull back a whole head of hair in a gentle cascade.
- Butterfly clips: The wings of the butterfly shape to open and close to secure small sections of hair.
- Claw hair clips: These have a hinge system and secure grip, used to twist up large amounts of hair.
- Comb clips: This type of clip pulls hair back and can be elegant, jeweled accessories.
- Minimalist clips: These are designed to be tucked in buns and ponytails.
- Setting clips: These clips hold hair in place while it dries or cools after styling.
- Snap clips: Made of either metal or plastic, these secure hair when clamped shut.