Hair accessories for girls: which clip works best?
There are a million different types of girls’ hair accessories on the market and it’s hard to figure out which type will work best for your little girl, not to mention unless you make them yourself, who really knows what the difference is between the different clips: alligator, french barrette, snap clips, huh? Well, depending on what you want to do with them, there are definitely some that will work better than others for what you need, so it’s a good idea to have an idea of what each type of hair accessory is for so you can make the best choice. .
The most used hair accessory for girls is the alligator clip. The reason it is called an alligator clip is because it resembles the mouth of a crocodile. You press one end and it opens. They are typically made of metal and come in a variety of sizes, typically 1-1/4″ to 2″. They are very easy to put on, so they are practically no problem for moms. Many are made with ‘non-slip grips’ so they won’t fall off even fine hair and are harder for your little one to pull out. You can get these clips in a simple and elegant style, made with just ribbon, or ruffled and fancy with bows. They work on all hair types and are great for keeping hair out of your girl’s face, especially if she’s growing her bangs!
Another type of clip is called a snap clip. This basically snaps into place. You will find many baby and girls hair accessories made with the snap. I find these are more difficult to attach because they don’t open as wide as alligator clips, but they are perfect for babies with only peach fuzz or less than 1 inch of hair. You can certainly get them in larger sizes (they usually range from 1″ to 4″) for bigger kids too, but they’ve never been my favorite type of clip for anything other than as an accessory. However, there are many that are super cute with bows and things, but are really meant more to add to a cute hairstyle than to hold hair back.
The next popular type of hair accessory for girls is the barrette, sometimes called a French barrette. These are especially good for older girls with more hair. Barrettes are different than alligator clips because they lock on both ends and actually snap together. This holds a secure section of hair, even up to the amount of a ponytail. They come in a range of sizes too. They are great for thick hair and to hold a more defined section of hair.
Another type of clip is the jaw clip. These come in a wide variety of sizes, from small ‘mini’ jaw clips that can go even in small children’s hair to large clips that moms can use instead of wearing a pony. These are great for taking up entire sections of hair and keeping it out of the way or just for pinning back one or both sides. The little minis are great even for moms to just pull out a narrow section on each side for a modern, casual look.
Beyond clips and barrettes, of course, are headbands and elastics. Surely you already know what they are! One thing you might not know is that headbands are also great for those little babies with barely any hair if you don’t want to go the clip route. You can get fabric or crochet headbands with pretty flowers and that go around the head from front to back instead of the usual way. You might want to try this especially if you’re tired of hearing “what a cute boy he has” over and over again. We’ve come a long way since my mother used to glue a bow on my bald head, not a pretty bow, but one of those you use on gifts!
For older girls, headbands should go on top of the head, of course, ending at the ears if it’s hard plastic, or going all the way around the head if it’s cloth. This is probably the easiest route for the older girl trying to grow her bangs out!
So there you have it. Now you are ready to go shopping for the perfect girls hair accessories! Have fun!