Hairpin Roundup

Do you have trouble keeping your hair wrapped in a bun?  Or have you seen different pins at the store, but been unsure of what they're for?  In this post, I'll point out some different types of hair pins and explain how they're best used.

1.      Regular bobby pins-These are the most common and easy-to-find hair pins.  They come in a variety of colors (natural hair colors and fun decorative ones) and finishes (matte, metallic, etc.) to meet your needs.  These pins are best used to hold down flyaway hairs at the sides, front, and back of your hair.  They're great for holding bangs out of the way if you need to pin them up for performances.  The proper way to use regular bobby pins is to put the ridged side down (closest to your scalp) as you slide them into your hair.  This will prevent them from slipping out.  While many people use regular bobby pins to hold hair in a bun, these are not the best choice.  Using them for buns causes them to get bent out of shape, and they are likely to fall out of a bun during vigorous movement.

2.      Open pins-These pins are often passed over because they're a bit harder to find than regular pins, and people often assume they're only for people with lots of long, thick hair.  In reality, open pins are the best choice for holding hair in a bun for all hair types.  Even if your hair is relatively short and/or thin, they will work.  I have very fine hair, and open pins have worked well for me when my hair is shoulder length or longer.  Because open pins have larger bends in them, they can slide deeper into the bun without shooting back out.  This makes it much more secure than a bun held with regular bobby pins.  Find open pins at dancewear stores and some beauty supply stores.

3.      Tiny bobby pins-Lots of people like to make fun of tiny bobby pins and call them useless or for babies only.  However, miniature bobby pins are extremely useful for all dancers, especially for performances.  Because they're so small, tiny pins can be hidden more easily than bigger ones.  If you have one random piece of hair sticking out, a tiny pin is a good choice for holding it in place since it's less noticeable than a regular pin.  Also, because tiny pins are very tight, then are great choices for holding headpieces (especially those made with lace, mesh, and wire).

4.      Giant bobby pins-Some people think these are good for holding buns or sweeping back the sides of hair, but really, giant bobby pins are the least useful in the world of dance hairstyles.  Because they are heavier and looser than other pins, but still have the tight bend, they are more likely to fall out of a bun than any other type of pin.  They're also very visible, so they're not a good choice for holding flyaways for a performance.  I prefer to save giant pins for holding sections of hair when a style is in progress.