I Can’t Stop Wearing This TikTok-Approved Hair Trend

It’s official: Throwback hairstyles are having a moment, and the claw clip might be the biggest. It’s not the only one—every time you open Instagram or TikTok, you’re probably bombarded with prom-style tendrils, tiny hair clips, and baby braids. (I know I am.) But the humble claw clip is the hair accessory that’s led me to abandon all my sparkly pins, fancy scrunchies, and pearl-encrusted everything.

To me, claw clips have always been utilitarian. My mom has worn a plain tortoiseshell one when she’s cooking for as long as I can remember, and I used to wear one to keep my hair out of my face in elementary school. It wasn’t something I ever expected I’d want to wear again until a pre-COVID trip when I was walking through a dollar store in Tokyo. There it was: the cutest pink clip. I bought it on a whim, thinking I’d use it to hold back my hair during my nighttime routine.

At first my new claw clip didn’t make it out of the house, but then I suddenly began seeing them everywhere I looked. Overnight it seemed every Insta-girl was wearing a candy-colored Emi Jay clip, and more sleek versions were popping up in celebrity pap shots left and right. And then it hit me: Claw clips are officially chic.

Flash forward to now, when claw clips are full-on happening, and I never leave the house without a claw clip in my hair or tucked in my purse (or sometimes clipped on my purse strap). While, yes, it’s amazing at its main job—holding up a lot of hair with minimal effort—what I love most about the clip is its versatility.

My first venture into wearing a claw clip out of the house is a look comedian and host of the Glowing Up podcast Caroline Goldfarb dubbed the Brigitte Broke-dot. Essentially, it’s piling a bunch of hair into a half-up, clipping it, and leaving your front tendrils or bangs out. It’s romantic, easy, and insanely flattering—the half-up with some pieces around the front frames your face in such a pretty way. The look somehow fixes any bad hair day and makes every outfit a little more pulled together.

Me, with my favorite claw clip of the moment

Bella Cacciatore

Effortless French twists secured with a claw clip are trending on TikTok, while the look of choice for celeb models like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber is a slicked-back bun with the clip holding it all together. It’s a very ’90s supermodel look that manages to feel fresh and modern. The sleekness of the bun looks put-together, but a claw clip lends it some “oh, this old thing?” charm and effortlessness. I’ve never been into slick hair, but the ease of a clip makes it feel totally wearable. Plus, this style lets you really show off a cute clip—it feels like you’re wearing jewelry in your hair.

While there are certainly luxe options, my favorite thing about this trend is that most clips clock in at under $25. Believe me when I say you won’t be sorry to resurrect them.

Shop the best claw clips, below.