Unlike bobby pins, barrettes, and baubles, hair clips are able to secure a higher volume of hair, and come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. From sparkles and pastels, to more subtle styles, hair clips can be worn as a fashion statement, or blend in with the hair and be used strictly to maintain a certain hairstyle.

Perhaps the most famous of hair clips is the banana clip or alligator clip. Popularized in the 80s, banana hair clips are thin plastic clips about the length of the hand, which feature tiny teeth to lock the hair in place at the back. Banana hair clips create a ponytail effect, securing the hair from the nape of the neck to the top, and make the hair appear longer than it actually is.

One type of hair clip that was made popular in the 80s and then made a comeback in the mid-90s is the “clutch” or butterfly clip. These plastic hair clips come in a variety of colors, and have large “teeth” to secure the hair at the back once it is twisted, creating an up-do effect. Hairdressers typically use plainer versions of these hair clips to keep sections of hair out of the way while cutting; however a more stylized version, sometimes with a butterfly or bow decoration, has gone on to become a hair accessory. Tiny butterfly hair clips were also popular in the 90s to pull back small sections of the front of the hair and secure at the crown, creating a corn row look.

One of the most standard types of hair clips that has endured the test of time is the “spring latch” clip, a metal/plastic combination that secures the hair by squeezing two pieces of metal on the clip into a hinged latch. Hair accessory companies such as Goody have sold this style of hair clip for several years. In the 80s, the spring latch clip often featured fabric bows attached, and in the 90s, large rectangular or oval pieces of plastic were often attached to create a fashion statement.

Another hair accessory that is often grouped amongst hair clips is an Asian-style accessory that consists of a piece of fabric or metal with a hole, from which a thin piece of metal, plastic or wood can be stuck through to fasten the hair into a bun. Although this accessory secures the hair, it is not technically a hair clip, as it features two separate mechanisms in order to “latch” together.