Your Favorite '90s Hair Accessory Just Made a Stylish Comeback
By Sophia Panych. Photos: Getty Images, Sophia Panych.
I'm not sure why I call it a '90s hair accessory because, personally, I still use bendy clips. Okay, so maybe I don't use them to decorate my hair anymore. Or go for the sparkly or puffy paint-covered versions (which I'm sure every '90s child will remember). These days, I use them for more utilitarian purposes, like keeping the shorter layers at the neck and around my face in place when I'm at the gym, or keeping a bag of chips closed when I run out of clips actually made to keep bags of chips closed (c'mon, you know you do it too). But after seeing the crystal-covered bendy clips and bobby pins resurface on the runway at No. 21's fall 2017 show here in Milan, I'm seriously considering bringing these accessories back into my life.
"[The designers] brought up this idea of the models looking like skater boys and the hair being a bit grunge-y," said hairstylist Anthony Turner. "So I thought about Courtney Love because we wanted the hair to be a bit cute as well, and she was always very good at that. She'd have this messy hair but be wearing a tiara."
So to create the perfect balance between cutesy and grunge, Turner loaded up the hair with product—drenching the hair in L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni Art Pli (a spray that helps give hair hold and volume) and L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni Art Full Volume Mousse (unfortunately, both of these products are only available overseas, but take a look at some of our favorite stylers for some stateside options), and then twisting and scrunching the hair as they blasted it with a blow-dryer to add messy waves. Then, Turner added a bit of L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil (which, thankfully, is available here in the U.S.) to the ends to give them a bit of separation.
Finally, Turner then gave the model either a middle or side part (he chose based on their face shape, you can choose whichever you prefer), and slid either a crystal-studded bendy clip or bobby pin at temple level or just above the left ear. I snapped a picture of the clips while I was backstage:
Trying this out at home is really a simple as that. You don't even have to go through the motions of adding product to your hair. Letting your hair air-dry naturally, or blasting it with a dry texturizing spray or beach spray if it's straight or slightly wavy, or scrunching in a cream or serum if your hair is curly, also works. There's just one thing you might want to do to ensure your bedazzled clip won't fall out, and I wish I had known this back in middle school: "Once the clips are in, I’m going to go back in with a bobby pin [underneath it]," said Turner. "It's just a bit of extra security since the models are pulling sweaters on and off during the show and walking down the runway." Or, you know, if "Celebrity Skin" comes on and you decide to rock out.
This story originally appeared on Allure.
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