This Spring Hair Accessory Trend Will Make Your Whole Outfit

Consider it the new bow.

When I was a kid, I listened to a lot of oldies radio. It was the late ‘90s, and the ‘60s and ‘70s were cool again. One of my favorite songs was “I Love the Flower Girl” by the Cowsills, a sweet, bubbly ode to a girl who wore “flowers in her hair … flowers everywhere.” I couldn’t help but think of that old refrain when I saw the adorable floral-bedecked headbands and pins from Sandy Liang, and basically anytime I see someone wearing a pretty blossom in their hair, Caroline Calloway included.

I know, I know—flowers, for spring? Groundbreaking. But truly, nothing cheers you up like a colorful bouquet or a bloom tucked into your updo, and designers and street style stars have us yearning to frolic in a field of flowers … or at least pretend we’re frolicking, anyway. A flower tucked into your ponytail or braids adds a delightful touch of whimsy to even the most structured, high-fashion ‘fits and feels like a breath of fresh air after a dark, dreary winter season. Are blossoms the new bow? It’s too soon to say if these sweet little blooms will replace the bow as the key accessory of 2024, but the trend does seem to have roots—pun intended.

The Trend

It was only a matter of time until the floral hair accessory made its way back into the trend cycle. We’re not talking about the full-on Tumblr era flower crowns of yore (at least not yet) but rather a strategic floral pin, flower-shaped scrunchie, or incorporated into your hairstyle versus dominating your entire head.

The flower accessory trend was born out of two pre-existing megatrends. Rosettes had their moment in the spotlight in spring 2023, when the satiny flowers were sewn on gowns and jacket lapels, painted onto nails, and even used as inspiration for velvety, petal-soft product formulations. (Carrie Bradshaw, noted floral corsage lover, would approve.) Then, of course, we moved into the big bow-ment of 2023, where everyone was channeling Samantha Parkington with uber-girly ribbons.

The flower hair accessory is basically the best of both worlds, the sweet spot where rosettes meet bows. It was only natural that the flowers would eventually migrate to the hair, and fashion fans have been all about a strategically placed flower detail.

How to Get the Look

The fun of wearing a flower hair accessory is that the sky is really the limit for styling. You can tuck a big, bold red blossom in a low updo for drama and romance, or place smaller clusters above each ear. A pretty rose or flirty daisy with a high ponytail is practically spring personified. You could even wrap roses into your braids, as French influencer Paola Locatelli did for a Louis Vuitton show in late 2023. Flower accessories work with loose hair, updos, half-updos, braids, literally anything. 

Besides popping a flower behind your ear for the day, scrunchies and clips are the simplest way to wear blossoms in your hair. Lele Sadoughi’s floral claw clips could not be easier to use, and they’re just as gorgeous and lifelike as a flower plucked from, say, Martha Stewart’s gardens. To elevate a basic ponytail or bun, wrap a cheeky oversized flower scrunchie around the base.

For a Lily Rose Depp-esque Chanel girl look, try the house’s signature flower: the camellia. Etsy is a hotbed (or is it greenhouse?) for realistic-looking flower pins and scrunchies. Or go straight to the source at Sandy Liang, whose floral scrunchies and corsage-bow hybrids bridge the gap between coquette and cottagecore. If tropical flowers are more your jam, Emi Jay has a lineup of colorful blossoms that basically scream vacation. Just be careful of too many frilly details or all-white looks, which can veer bridal (though this would make for a gorgeous wedding day or event look).

If you want to get literal with it, take a trip to your local bodega for some fresh blooms. Celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh is very pro using real flowers if at all possible versus plastic alternatives; they look better and they’re easier to secure in your hair because there’s no tough plastic stem. “I once used a live white camellia in Karlie Kloss’s hair for the Met Gala and it was stunning,” he says. Josh recommends using criss-crossed bobby pins to keep a bloom in place, “ideally by the ear or the back of the hair.” You can also gently backcomb the section of hair where the flower will be placed to give it a little grip. Sounds like it’s time to stop and smell—or better yet, wear—the roses.

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