Hair clips earn their keep with tension and weight, rather than decoration. A clasp needs to bite without pulling – there’s engineering to it (strength of spring versus angles of teeth close enough together to grip fine hair but spread far enough apart not to catch). Poor ones give themselves away by becoming loose inside of an hour, or leaving an obvious ridge printed onto hair. The decent clips (often tipped with horn, acetate or a heavier worked metal) maintain their shape and their grip all day without requiring adjustment at your desk mirror. Size and proportion are more important than most realise – volume comes from real length and deep curves on a claw clip, otherwise it sits rather than secures.
A smaller barrette or snap clip acts as the final detail on a look rather than doing all the heavy lifting, bringing back a section at the crown of the head or securing a fringe that has decided to split the difference between sides. If you’ve got long or thick hair weight is the first thing you should be looking at – delicate clips on a dense weight of hair will not survive til lunchtime no matter how chic they may appear in a product image. Styling-wise, the clip should look intentional, rather than hijacked by hair. Claw clips twisted into a loose knot at the nape of the neck work just as well with tailoring as they do with slip dresses, giving you a neat shoulder line without the severity of a ballerina-style bun. One decorative barrette pinned off-centre on an otherwise clean, straight look speaks louder than a handful of smaller clips placed at random.
Clips with metal that reflect a bit of light work well held against neat knitwear or a crisp shirt, where it acts as the sole detail you know you intentionally wore. Occasion dictates the weight and finish you go for – matte acrylic or horn work best in day time, and for things you’re ware you’ll be staring at a computer screen all day. Night-time is where you can have a bit more fun, as a metallic or gem-set clip can fulfil the role of earrings when your hair is up off your face. Beaches and airports are where claw clips truly shine, lifting hair off of your neck in humidity without making you look like you didn’t care what you rolled out of bed with. Grip, shape and finish. That’s what matters.
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