One extremely specific hair clip to rule them all.
March 12, 2018 4:05 PM Subscribe
My last hair clip broke. It wasn't even a good one. Please help me find a hair clip I can order online and that holds my thick, long hair!
Basically, I need a box of 50 of these in black.
I have thick, long hair that I hold up with hair clips so that I am not chewing on hair when eating (and other reasons). I cannot overstate how challenging it is for me to find a plain, black or brown hair clip that actually holds my hair, stays in place, and doesn't dig into my scalp.
To make matters more challenging, so many hair clips are covered in cutesy, fake rhinestones or other weird designs that are so not my aesthetic. I just want a respectable hair clip that holds my hair.
Here is a picture of my white whale hair clip. (I saved a broken hair clip in my closet so that when this day came, I would be able to find something similar or at least pine for the broken hair clip while unable to find a new one). The hair clips I seek actually hold my hair up and stay in place even when I'm out running, or bicycling, or just living my life and being mobile. I need that!
Two days ago, my last hair clip broke (and it was a crappy one that I ordered off the interwebs because I was desperate and needed something). This is sad for me. It is surprisingly hard to find a hair clip that both holds my hair and doesn't dig into my scalp. Help me find this hair clip (or a serviceable analogue)!
Before you ask:
A long time ago, sad that the local U.S.-based, Korean-owned hair accessory and beauty supply store was out of the hair clips that actually work for my hair, I went online to try and find it. I came up with Alibaba (but I'm not a retailer and am not trying to spend wholesale prices for hundreds of clips) and saved this link by emailing it to myself back in 2017.
The hair clip is apparently called "Source Artstar large flower hair claw clips 8192" but when I clicked on it today, the link said the item is discontinued or no longer available.
Specifications:
Please hope me and my hair. Thank you in advance for helping a lady out.
Basically, I need a box of 50 of these in black.
I have thick, long hair that I hold up with hair clips so that I am not chewing on hair when eating (and other reasons). I cannot overstate how challenging it is for me to find a plain, black or brown hair clip that actually holds my hair, stays in place, and doesn't dig into my scalp.
To make matters more challenging, so many hair clips are covered in cutesy, fake rhinestones or other weird designs that are so not my aesthetic. I just want a respectable hair clip that holds my hair.
Here is a picture of my white whale hair clip. (I saved a broken hair clip in my closet so that when this day came, I would be able to find something similar or at least pine for the broken hair clip while unable to find a new one). The hair clips I seek actually hold my hair up and stay in place even when I'm out running, or bicycling, or just living my life and being mobile. I need that!
Two days ago, my last hair clip broke (and it was a crappy one that I ordered off the interwebs because I was desperate and needed something). This is sad for me. It is surprisingly hard to find a hair clip that both holds my hair and doesn't dig into my scalp. Help me find this hair clip (or a serviceable analogue)!
Before you ask:
- Yes, I have searched for this hair clip. I've even wasted money on sub-par hair clips from the website that rhymes with Glamaron, taken risks and paid top dollar for sight-unseen France Luxe hair clips (terrible and break easily and expensive AF).
- Yes, I have bought other kinds of hair clips. They don't work.
- Scunci, Goody, and whatever is stocked in drugstores (and Target and Walmart) do not work—not the non-slip ones, not the giant banana ones, not the small hair clips.
- It took me a long time to figure out what clips will hold up—and hold up to holding—my hair.
- Trust me and please don't suggest other ones that worked for you.
- I know what works for my hair.
- Currently I live in a place where there aren't a lot of East Asian hair accessory or in general other hair accessory places (only mention the preceding because that's where I've had the most success in finding hair clips that actually hold my hair), so I will most likely need to order new hair clips from an online vendor.
- I have checked out all Sally Beauty Supply stores near me and the hair clips they sell are not going to work for my hair.
A long time ago, sad that the local U.S.-based, Korean-owned hair accessory and beauty supply store was out of the hair clips that actually work for my hair, I went online to try and find it. I came up with Alibaba (but I'm not a retailer and am not trying to spend wholesale prices for hundreds of clips) and saved this link by emailing it to myself back in 2017.
The hair clip is apparently called "Source Artstar large flower hair claw clips 8192" but when I clicked on it today, the link said the item is discontinued or no longer available.
Specifications:
- color: black; dark brown or tortoise shell in a pinch
- design: plain, no bling, no bedazzled stuff, no flowery add-ons, no neon or other colors other than the above; just a hair clip
- NO BLING! (also no metal)
- size: preferably 3.25" by 1.25", give or take
- design: rounded teeth, not the kind that jut out like these (won't work) or meet together like these
- important: must have a strong, "pushes back" spring that will not poop out and give up like a half-hearted attempt at holding my hair up; must have a durable "hand grip area" (???) that won't crack or break when I'm putting said clip into my hair (e.g. these flimsy things will not work)
Please hope me and my hair. Thank you in advance for helping a lady out.
Honestly I'm having a hard time understanding the specific qualities of the clip you require, but this site supposedly sells high-quality (though yes, high-priced) hair accessories, and has a decent selection of jaws and clips.
posted by mrmurbles at 5:05 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by mrmurbles at 5:05 PM on March 12, 2018
This hairpin does it for me. Because it’s metal it doesn’t break, it doesn’t hurt my scalp and it’s pretty.
posted by rdnnyc at 5:15 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by rdnnyc at 5:15 PM on March 12, 2018
It is surprisingly hard to find decent hair stuff! I can't vouch for any of these personally, but have you looked at Etsy as a possible source?
posted by Dashy at 5:16 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by Dashy at 5:16 PM on March 12, 2018
I think this or this might meet your needs. If not, rhymes-with-Glamaron has a pretty liberal return policy.
posted by Ellen Alleyne at 5:20 PM on March 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Ellen Alleyne at 5:20 PM on March 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Looking at the picture of your white whale clip, it reminds me of “octopus clips” designed for thick hair. Scunci makes a version of them, so maybe you’ve tried them already, but does something like this look at all like it might work?
posted by MadamM at 5:21 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by MadamM at 5:21 PM on March 12, 2018
You can search AliExpress.com for non-wholesale quantities of Alibaba goods.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:29 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by DarlingBri at 5:29 PM on March 12, 2018
Seconding aliexpress.com, use "hair claw" in your search terms.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 6:27 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 6:27 PM on March 12, 2018
Camila Paris clip on ebay
Camila Paris clip for cheaper
octopus clip from the glamourous elf
AliExpress - much cheaper
posted by Squeak Attack at 7:06 PM on March 12, 2018
Camila Paris clip for cheaper
octopus clip from the glamourous elf
AliExpress - much cheaper
posted by Squeak Attack at 7:06 PM on March 12, 2018
Your whale example has anchoring teeth on the inside -- maybe a side-attack version would work.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:09 PM on March 12, 2018
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:09 PM on March 12, 2018
I, too, have had issues finding unbreakable hair clips and even posted on Mefi about this topic recently lol. I haven't found a source of the plastic ones that is reliable, however (and sorry that this doesn't answer your question as posed, but it helped me) when I went home for xmas, my mom has a few of these things laying around.
They actually work really well! Because they are twist-in they don't slip out and because they are metal they don't break. I can get away with just using one on my hair, but I think my mom uses a couple. My hair is really slick and I'm super surprised at how well they work for me. I think she got a cheap pack somewhere not on Amazon.
posted by theRussian at 7:58 AM on March 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
They actually work really well! Because they are twist-in they don't slip out and because they are metal they don't break. I can get away with just using one on my hair, but I think my mom uses a couple. My hair is really slick and I'm super surprised at how well they work for me. I think she got a cheap pack somewhere not on Amazon.
posted by theRussian at 7:58 AM on March 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
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https://www.amazon.com/Mytoptrendz-Black-Extra-Strong-Accessory/dp/B00UTL31R4
or an old eBay listing
posted by flyingfork at 5:03 PM on March 12, 2018