8 Chic Hairpin Hairstyles For Short, Medium & Long Hair
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12 hours ago
How to make the most of those spare bobby pins
First there were bows, then there were pearls – and now, the next big (and nostalgia-driven) beauty trend is the humble hairpin. Whether discreetly tucking away loose hairs or sitting front and centre, hairpins are what often lend a hairstyle its shape and substance – and with so many ways to wear them, the options are well and truly endless. Here’s how to tap into the trend this season.
Hairpins Are The New Seasonal Staple
The easiest way to elevate any hairstyle? A collection of colourful, quirky hairpins. This is the latest beauty look to be touted at festivals and on the runway – but those of us with a birthdate before the year 2000 will be all too familiar with this trend. A staple of 90s and early 00s pop culture, hairpins were the ultimate low-effort styling choice for many of us back in the day. And their endurance today persists thanks to a new wave of celebrities donning little clips in their hair while both on and off duty.
‘Current fashion is very 90s, Y2K, undone minimalist – and hairpins add a feature point that fits the tone of low effort, high impact,’ notes Cos Sakkas, Global Creative Director of TONI&GUY. ‘It’s very practical and adds to that nostalgic aesthetic.’
London Fashion Week Street Style (c) Deborah Iona, British Fashion Council
But what do we mean by hairpins? There’s the traditional bobby pin – which prioritises function over style – but really, the ‘hairpin’ umbrella can include anything that helps keep your hairstyle in place. Think slides, grips, clips and barrettes. ‘A hairpin is a small cute decorative hair accessory used to hold hair in place,’ adds Cos. ‘Usually made from either metal or plastic, they can be minimal or highly embellished depending on the vibe but more often used to hold buns, twists or loose sections of hair.’
And while the primary goal is to add structure to the hair, these structural supports don’t always need to be hidden. In fact, they often form the focus of a hairstyle. ‘A hairpin is practical and functional as well as fashionable,’ agrees Ricky Forrest, Manager and Stylist at Blue Tit Peckham. ‘Hairpins form the foundation of a hair look, and rather than hiding them, celebrities are now wearing them as an accessory as part of their outfit. From simple hairpins to more bejewelled grips, they are a great way of accessorising any hairstyle.’
Below, we ask salon experts to share their favourite hairpin hairstyles for all hair lengths. Happy styling.
Hairpin Hairstyles For…
Long Hair
Face Frame
A quick, simple way to work in a cute hairpin – and the results are super chic. This look involves using a slide to pin back one side of the hair while it’s down, leaving the face more open.
How To Get The Look: ‘With long hair, use a simple hairpin to hold back the hair on one side of the face,’ says Cos. ‘Pin it just above the ear close to the face. This will not only give you some control but will flatter the face as it highlights your cheekbones.’
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Sculpted Updo
Long hair is perfect for working into updos – like this sleek bun. Here, the bun is accentuated by a pretty hairpin that adds maximalist glamour to the overall look.
How To Get The Look: ‘Blow-dry hair smooth and create a structured low chignon or sculpted updo. Add large decorative pins (like gold shapes or ornate clips) symmetrically or asymmetrically to frame the bun,’ says Ricky. ‘This works beautifully with soft waves left out around the face for contrast.’
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Twisted Updo
Another decorative updo, this look completely sweeps the hair off the face – and guides the eye to the pretty pins dotted in the back of the hair.
How To Get The Look: ‘Twist or braid sections from the sides and pull into a bun or twisted halo at the crown. Secure with several small pearl pins for texture and contrast. This gives a romantic, elevated finish that pairs well with natural or protective styles,’ notes Ricky.
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Medium Length Hair
Playful Slides
For a pop of colour, swap out the bobby pins for a chunky slide. Think bright, bold hues – with prints and rhinestones, if you fancy.
How To Get The Look: ‘Give hair a subtle side parting and tuck the hair behind the ear. Place the hairpin above the ear to hold the hair in place,’ guides Cos. ‘It looks cute and playful, and works on both super straight and soft wavy hair.’
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90s Clips
Matching clips and grips proved popular once upon a decade – and now, they’re back and better than ever. Just take Selena Gomez as your style inspo.
How To Get The Look: For a full 90s look, opt for a middle part with sleek, straight hair. All that’s left to do is place your clips symmetrically along the hair (you can use your eyebrows or brow bone as a guide to keep them even). Keep it simple with a matching pair, or dabble in clashing colours and lines of clips.
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Short Hair
Criss-Cross Pins
Short hair can also get in on the fun – especially by layering bobby pins in artfully chaotic patterns across the scalp.
How To Get The Look: ‘Take several pins and criss-cross them across one side of the hair. Gel the hair back from the face and use the pins on one side to add interest,’ Cos instructs. ‘Keep it understated and simple or bling it up with jewels and coloured stones.’
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Side Sweep & Graphic Pins
The best way to give a bob its bounce? Give it something to play with. In this case, we’re talking clips, grips and slides. The full works.
How To Get The Look: ‘Use styling cream to sweep fringe or front section across the forehead. Secure with a bold, graphic hairpin – metallic or coloured enamel, maybe sculptural,’ Ricky suggests. ‘It’s a fun way to dress up a pixie or short bob.’
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Wet Look Wave
Craving some minimalism? For something chic with a black tie appeal, opt for glossy Hollywood waves held together discreetly with a set of pins.
How To Get The Look: ‘Apply wet look gel, then sculpt a curve or S-wave along the front, and place tiny invisible or clear pins to hold the shape in place. It’s subtle, elegant and super editorial,’ Ricky elaborates.
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