Hair Clips Make an Over-the-Top Comeback

This season’s barrettes are a twist on a childhood classic
hair clips
Mesh Detroit barrettes, pricing varies; meshdetroit.com

Just like the scrunchies and headbands of seasons past, this fall’s clips aren’t your average hair accessory. Reminiscent of the child-like barrettes and pins of the ’90s, these clips sparkle. They’re colorful. They have personality. They tell the world “I’m a boss” with their crystal nameplate designs. They’re your childhood hair accessory on steroids, best worn in pairs of four, or six, or as many as you can fit on your head. And despite the PTSD from all the mothers who forced their daughters to pull their hair out of their eyes for once with the barrettes they bought for school picture day — No? Just me? — we, as a collective society that loves Instagram-worthy moments, are eating it up.

While national retailers are offering up luxury takes on hair clips — you can score a crystal logo barrette at Gucci for $750 — local makers are creating more accessible options. Online shop Mesh Detroit launched in late May with its take on the trend. On its Instagram page, bubble-gum pink and marble print chunky barrettes are modeled in part by Lora Kawar, half of the fashion influencer duo LAM Style, while beauty YouTuber Emily Jean’s bleach blonde, blunt bob is pulled back into a half-updo with a plethora of pearl pins.

The trend started regaining popularity in spring 2018 during shows for Versace, London designer Ashley Williams, and Simone Rocha. As time has gone on, and celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Kendall Jenner, and Alexa Chung have all sported the look, it’s become apparent that bigger is better and more is merrier. In fact, if you’re to take inspiration from anybody, let it be Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Dorit Kemsley. No, not for her questionable accent or decision-making skills about adopted dogs, but for her hair-clip game, which was strong during the show’s last reunion. The verdict is in: bedazzled strands are where it’s at.    

We’ve come a long way from a time when hair clips were considered an unfortunate side effect of growing out bangs. Like all good things, perhaps mother does know best.