Hair-Friendly Hair Accessories for Long Hair

By Hair Care Expert Sarah Tennant

The first thing many people notice about Ficcare clips is their price. Handmade and handpainted, Ficcares are something of a collector’s item. In terms of hair-gripping ability, however, the clips are worth their weight in gold. A sturdy spring mechanism keeps hair secure even though the beak is not fully closed, allowing the clip to be inserted into a bun or updo to hold varying amounts of hair. Cheaper beak clips tend to have poor holding power and may have exposed springs, which can catch in hair.

The Ficcare range (pronounced fe-KAARE) also includes barrettes and hair pins; however, the term ‘Ficcare’ usually applies to the traditional beak clips.

Flexi-8s

A somewhat cheaper option, Flexi-8s are flexible barrettes designed to accommodate varying amounts of hair. Unlike rigid barrettes, which can only clasp a certain amount of hair, Flexi-8s have a sliding pin closing mechanism. The barrette, which is shaped like a sideways 8, can be bent around a larger or smaller amount of hair and securely closed. As a result the barrettes can be used to secure whole buns as well as smaller sections of hair, such as half-ponytails. Best of all, the sliding pin mechanism will not snag hair like a regular barrette clasp.

Amish Straight Pins

Straight-sided hair pins have been around for millenia; now they are starting to make a comeback. Regular bobby pins tend to be poorly-made with plastic or wax ends which quickly break off, snagging and tearing at hair.