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Nobody wants to pull their hair out, accidentally or in frustration, over something that should be simple. After all, how hard can bobby pins be?
I think it’s one of those things, though, that everyone just assumes they know how to do, or they assume everyone else knows how so they don’t teach it. Judging by all the stray bobby pins I find on the ground here and there wherever I go, there’s a need for further education. After all, no one should be throwing time and money away buying cheap bobby pins they can’t use properly and have to replace over and over. So this is my attempt at a complete bobby pin tutorial so you’ll learn everything you need to know, with no more waste.
Let’s get started so you can wield bobby pins like a champ!
First, let’s tackle a big one: why won’t bobby pins stay in my hair?
For one thing, you may be trying to shove too much hair into them. The more hair, the more pressure, and too much pressure will have them pushing away from it and sliding right out. Bobby pins are tiny because they’re meant for tiny amounts. They’re suited for small sections of hair, like for pinning back stray wispies or securing smaller styles. A general rule of thumb is no more than maybe half an inch thickness of hair for regular sized pins or an inch thickness for jumbo sized pins.
If you push your finger into a bobby pin to separate the legs, you’ll feel for yourself that it’s not meant to spread very far, and it’ll try to slide off your finger to ease the pressure. It acts the same way with hair – prying it open to shove insane amounts of hair inside isn’t doing you any favors. Not to mention, if you do that too often, you’ll permanently widen the legs and make it too loose to use at all, which means you’ll have to toss it. Sayonara!
No slutty pins – keep those legs closed!
The thing is, you don’t have to open a bobby pin first to use it. If you look closely at the foot, you’ll see that one ‘toe’ is tipped up at an angle.
This is enough of an opening for you to simply push the pin in and catch hair along the way. Basically, if you have to pry it open in the first place, that’s usually a good indication you’re trying to use too much hair. It’s a good idea to lever it in, kind of like hair sticks, or if you know how to use large hair pins, it’s a similar concept: slide the pin in with the opening up, then turn it right side up and slide it into place. This helps lock the hair in.
If you have particularly slippery strands, you can use hairspray or sea salt spray (I recommend this sea salt spray) on your hair and/or the pin first before using it to add some extra grip. You also have the option of criss-crossing them in an X, which will have them holding hands for extra security, and it just looks cool if you’re going for messy chic.
But what if bobby pins hurt to use? What’s going on there?
You may be putting them in too tightly. You don’t have to manhandle them for them to do their job – a firm grip is all you need, not a death grip. People commonly say that bobby pins hurt their scalps, which is a symptom of too-tight styles (avoid those no matter what you’re using!), but I would also add that bobby pins aren’t meant to be used right on your scalp. They’re for tucking in and securing small sections, not holding up a high updo. Bear in mind that the scalp is a sensitive area, even if you don’t consider yourself to have sensitive skin, so you need to be kind to your scalp and avoid any tight hairstyles and anything that puts constant strain on it, and be cautious about the washing products you use.
You might also be yanking the pins out when you’re done, which can snag and break hair. Here’s how you safely remove bobby pins: grab it by the top and the foot and push it up and out by the foot.
So which way up are bobby pins supposed to go?
Here’s the thing: traditionally, bobby pins are meant to be used with the wavy side down against your head, and the flat side facing up. The waves are meant to help grip your head. I don’t dispute that, however the decorative bobby pins I use have these cute designs on them and face wavy side up, which means they have to be put in flat side down. I haven’t had any issues with them, though, and they’re very strong, so they stay put just fine. Wavy side down is a good guideline when applicable, but not imperative to success.
Here’s a few bonus bobby tips for you, since I’m feeling generous:
Don’t put bobby pins in wet hair, unless you don’t care about dents or broken strands. Remember, wet hair is fragile hair!
Don’t sleep with bobby pins in if you can possibly help it at all. Your scalp called and said it hates being constantly tugged and pulled at night, and during the day, and ever. Not to mention, it’s not so comfortable to sleep in anyway.
If the rubber ends on the toe of your bobby pins come off, it’s time to toss them. Those soft caps keep the pointy metal from scratching you up. Your mind should be sharp, not your hair pins.
And finally, some thoughts on one of the most irritating things about bobbies: how do I keep from losing all my bobby pins?
Well, if they fit correctly they don’t fall out, so that’s one way you won’t lose them anymore. If you’re the type to take out your bobby pins in the car at the end of the day because they’re killing you and chuck them in the cup holder or something, that probably means they were in way too tight in the first place.
So it ultimately comes down to storage. If you don’t remember to take those loose bobbies out of your car and into the house, they’ll likely get lost in your car somewhere, fall out when someone gets out, get vacuumed up, etc. They’re not doing you any good in there. It’s best to keep bobbies either in your hair or in a special place they can call their own. It could be the container they came in, it could be a mason jar, it could be an organza bag, it could be a cute tin, it could be a zippered fabric pouch, it could even be a ziplock if you want to get fancy. What matters is that they have a home and you know where it is when you want to visit.
But that’s easier said than done, isn’t it? I know I’m the last person people ask about organization…
Now that you know the proper use of bobby pins, the last question is, “What the heck can I use them for? I need hairstyle inspiration!”
Got you covered. Here’s a few ideas:
In case you’re interested in what I’m using, here’s where I get my strong, beautiful bobby pins!
I hope you found this guide helpful! Share it with a gal pal, and check out my hair stick tutorial, my guide to hair serum, and my guide to lazy hair care! For my fellow equestrians, I have a guide to horseback riding hairstyles just for you!
To get all these resources in one place, get the handy E-book below!
