The Best Claw Clip
Our Review Process
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A good updo can come in handy, especially when you need your hair out of the way quickly. But binding your hair too tightly can lead to hair loss, and if you continue to wear your hair in that style, you could damage your hair follicles. Damaged hair follicles can lead to permanent hair loss.
There are some things you can do to satisfy your need to wear your hair up while also protecting your tresses. First, it’s important to change up the hairstyle often, rather than binding it identically day after day, year after year. Second, if you can loosen the grip on your hair, you can wear it tied back while minimizing harm.
If possible, you should also give your hair time to recover between updos. If you have to wear your hair up for work, avoid wearing it up while you aren’t at work to give it a breather.
Claw clips can also safeguard your hair against damage. These clips hold the hair in place without binding it tightly as elastic hairbands tend to do. You’ll want to look for claw clips with teeth that are designed to hold the hair in place without slipping or pulling, which might mean skipping the discount bin and paying a little more for top-quality materials.
Another great thing about claw clips is their design. Most simply feature two sets of claws held together by a spring, but they can come in a variety of colors and styles. Some even have a boxy design that conceals the claws altogether.
Trend-wise, claw clips were extremely popular in the 1990s, and then faded in popularity as the 21st century began. But they’ve made a comeback in recent years, along with scrunchies, thanks to videos featuring styling hacks on popular social media platforms.
Our Picks For The Top Claw Clips
- 1. Revlon Double-Teeth Strong-Hold Claw Clips, 2-Count
- 2. CENTSTAR Assorted Matte Colors Claw Clips, 12-Count
- 3. Canitor Rectangular Non-Slip Acrylic Claw Clips, 4-Count
- 4. TOCESS Matte Rubber Coating Claw Clips, 4-Count
- 5. Scünci No-Slip Grip Octopus Claw Clips, 2-Count
- 6. Whaline Matte Plastic Butterfly Claw Clips, 6-Count
- 7. ANBALA Assorted Shapes Metal Claw Clips, 5-Count
You'll get two large hair clips in this set, each with double the number of teeth for an extra-durable hold. The teeth are designed to slide smoothly into the hair without pulling or damaging it. This set includes one brown and one black claw clip for a neutra...
All-Day WearThe extra-large size and long claws make this clip comfortable for all-day wear.
The 12 claw clips in this set provide durable metal springs and sturdy plastic to ensure they hold up over many uses. Each clip features a different color in matte design to give you plenty of options for matching with your wardrobe. The clips are strong enoug...
Multiple Color OptionsYou'll get 12 clips in this set, and a variety of colors, including bold shades like blue, yellow and pink.
This set includes four claw clips in various neutral colors. You’ll get black, amber, creamy white and transparent to ensure you can wear them with a variety of clothing options. The high-quality acrylic and plastic — combined with durable metal springs â€...
Unique LookThe unique design of these claw clips makes them a great alternative to traditional options.
A soft matte rubber coating not only protects the finish of these clips, it also gives the material durability. The teeth grip your hair tightly without slipping or pulling on your hair. You can choose from a variety of colors, including a couple of sets with ...
Customizable OptionChoose from a wide range of colors to find the exact look that fits your taste.
What to Look For
- One flaw of earlier iterations of claw clips was that they weren’t built to last. Thicker, longer hair can tend to strain the springs and plastic. If they aren’t high-quality, you may find the clip not only breaks during the day but also doesn’t stay in place as you need it to.
- Trends can see claw clips come and go, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited in when you can wear them. They can come in handy even when they aren’t popular as a way of wearing your hair up around the house without damaging it.
- You can buy claw clips in a variety of colors. There are bright, colorful options, but you may have a tough time matching those with your wardrobe. If you plan to wear your claw clip often, choose neutral colors.
- Brown and cream hair clips blend more easily with certain hair colors. You can even find claw clips that are transparent. This will let you put your hair up without calling attention to your hair accessory, which may be ideal if you’re wearing them for work.
- Claw clips come in a wide range of sizes. Large ones are great for pulling all your hair up, but for fine or shorter hair, a medium clip could do the job. Medium claw clips are also great for pulling part of your hair off your face while you’re styling it or taking off your makeup. Small clips were a fashion statement at one time, but they can still come in handy for holding sections of hair in place.
- You’ll often find claw clips sold in sets. If you wear them frequently, you might want to look for a set that includes a variety of colors to help you customize each day’s look to what you’re wearing.
More to Explore
Before the claw clip came the banana clip, which was essentially a long, double-sided comb that held the hair in an attractive ponytail. The banana clip has been credited as early inspiration for claw clips. But combs as styling tools have been found in Persian artifacts dating 5,000 years ago.
Combs surged in popularity in the early 20th century. Decorative hair combs became all the rage in the 1930s and 1940s, as women used them to enhance their updos. Although early combs were made from wood, ivory or elephant tusks, the use of plastic to make consumer goods has made them more accessible to people across all demographics, which is why combs became more popular in the later part of the 1900s.