As I’m being increasingly outnumbered by people unsure if they’re ready to buy their first house or what kind of car they should get next, I’ve been pondering about—‘been obsessing with’ would be more accurate—one very important question for the past few weeks: Should I get a barrette and if so, WHICH ONE? Same age, different priorities.
If you have access to the internet and an Instagram account, you’ve surely witnessed the recent tidal wave of hair clips taking over every cool girl’s mane. Pearls, acetate, metal, sequins, oversized, teeny tiny: there’s a barrette for everyone and every head out there. It’s THE accessory trend of the season. And that’s exactly why it’s giving me a bit of a headache. I don’t want to fall into the trap of getting one and then get tired of it in two months because ‘we’ve just seen to many of them’. In order to avoid that, here are my two rules of thumb: a design that will withstand the test of time (so let’s forget about the ones with Swarovski crystals spelling out “COOL) and a good grip so it doesn’t just slip off my extra fine hair.
Regarding the aesthetic longevity of my barrette, I can’t help but feel reassured when I see pictures from the 90s of Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston, both sporting hair clips with extra coolness. I tell myself that, worst case scenario, I’ll wear my barrette for an excessive number of times in the next year, then carefully store it and take it back out in 2039 (if I’m calculating the trend cycle correctly), like nothing happened.
These days, barrettes are being modernized (message to Drew: just know that I would wear your pink hair clips as is still today 💖), in mostly two ways: 1) One a time 2) In stacks, a technique rightfully nicknamed ‘barrette stacking’, a new fashion term that I strongly intend on using in my next conversation in hopes of impressing whoever will be around at that moment.
My favourite iterations of the barrette, worn on its own.
As for barrette stacking, those pictures make me want to cover my head with hair clips and never look back.
Warning: If you’re the DIY type, the next paragraph is for you. Otherwise, I advise you to jump straight to the one after, where I’ve gathered a bunch of beautiful barrettes from ethical brands, all ready for use.
Obviously, when I explored the idea of buying a barrette, I also considered making one, just so I could have (yet) another reason to flaunt my creative skills.
-Total stranger: “Whoa, your barrette is so beautiful! Where is it from?”
-Me, super proud, but trying to play it semi-cool: “Thanks. I made it.”
-Total stranger: “No way, you’re so good.”
-Me (thinking to myself): “I know, riiight?!”
-Me (what I actually say out loud): “Aaah, you’re too nice, stop that!!”
And then I leave, with a spring in my step and my confidence level waaayyy up there.
My top 5 DIYs*:
*That don’t require a master in Fine Arts, but that are also more visually appealing than macaroni glued on a hair clip.
4. Golden stars
I haven’t test-driven any of those DIYs, but most of them look super easy (like painting a hair clip with sequin nail polish = kindergarten-worthy). Next time I’m having an arts & crafts evening, barrette making is definitely happening.
Short on time? ‘Dextrous’ is the last thing you’d say about yourself? Or you just feel like wearing a barrette a bit more complex than just a seashell glued on a hair pin? Here are my favourite barrettes of the moment: all gorgeous, to match with your equally gorgeous faces.
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