6 Ways to Wear Claw Clips Without Feeling Like a ’90s Throwback

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Ready to bring back this elementary-school staple back into your beauty rotation? Here are some of our favourite takes on how to wear this hair accessory today.

From the Roseanne reboot to Christina Aguilera magazine covers, there’s no denying that we’re in the midst of a full-on ’90s revival right now in fashion and popular culture. Still, the return of the iconic hair claw clip was both swift and unexpected — its use in designer Alexander Wang’s fall 2018 fashion show in New York recently made headlines and inspired dozens of online think pieces.

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Double Down

Pairing claw clips with other ’90s faves like accordion headbands or bobble hair ties can be fun, not cheesy. Here, the model’s makeup and hair are kept minimal and neutral otherwise.

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Open Up

There are lots of different types of hair clips on the market right now, from classic plastic clips to fancy French acetate styles. These open shape clips create a lighter, interesting silhouette whether you’re using them to tie up loose braids or in an updo.

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Take Short Cuts

Having a shorter cut doesn’t mean you can’t play with claw clips. Using a medium-sized clip to keep hair off your face on one side can look unexpected and playful.


Play with Shapes

The use of a more sculptural clip with thick claws in this roll and tuck hairdo holds everything together, but also looks great and adds a focal point.


Keep Things Sleek

On the runway at Alexander Wang, many models sported gelled, sleek buns that were almost entirely covered by oversized, logo claw clips. A few wore a single jumbo-sized clip, but we prefer this version with two extra-large clips slightly overlapping.

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Add Colour

The most popular colours for hair clips are probably black and tortoiseshell brown, but that’s no reason to ignore bolder options. A red jaw clip finishes this pretty half updo with a twist.