90s Hair Accessories: Claw Clips, Headbands & Scrunchies

Hair accessories came back and then quietly stopped being a trend. Claw clips, padded headbands and velvet scrunchies are now just what people use, and Pinterest searches for headband hairstyles are up around 30% month on month.

Tortoiseshell claw clips, velvet scrunchies, pearl pins and ribbons on cream linen — The 90s revival that stuck, because every piece here is gentler on hair than a thin elastic.

The version that came back is not the version from 1997. The plastic is tortoiseshell instead of neon, the scrunchies are velvet and silk instead of nylon, and the headbands are padded rather than wire. The reason it stuck is practical: almost every one of these holds hair with less tension than a thin elastic does.

Why These Are Better for Your Hair Than an Elastic

Breakage at the ponytail point is the most common avoidable hair damage there is, and it happens because a thin elastic concentrates all the tension on a narrow band of hair, in the same place, every day.

Claw clips distribute hold across the whole clip rather than one point, and they don’t compress the hair shaft.
Silk and velvet scrunchies spread tension over a wider band and create less friction than nylon or rubber.
Padded headbands apply no tension to the lengths at all.
Pearl and snap pins hold small sections without pulling.

If you tie your hair up daily, swapping the elastic is a bigger win than any product you can buy. It pairs well with the overnight methods in our heatless waves guide, since both are about reducing mechanical damage rather than repairing it afterwards.

The Padded Velvet Headband

Burgundy velvet padded headband styled over long waves — Velvet reads far more expensive than the plastic original ever did.

The single most useful piece here, because it does the work of an entire hairstyle. Loose waves underneath, headband on, done.

The one adjustment that matters: push it back an inch or two from your hairline rather than sitting it right at the front. Forward is what makes it read as a school photo. Back an inch reads as styled.

Colours worth owning: burgundy, chocolate, forest green and black velvet. Burgundy is doing the most work this autumn and pairs with the same palette as the season’s nail colours.

Back of a woman's head as she clips her hair into a claw clip, wearing a cream knit sweater — Clip higher on the head for volume, lower at the nape for a softer line.

Claw Clips

Woman twisting her hair up into a claw clip — The twist matters more than the clip: one full rotation before it goes in.

The accessory that genuinely replaced the hair tie. Getting it to hold is about technique, not clip quality:

Gather at the height you want it to sit, not lower — the clip drops an inch once it takes the weight.
Twist once, fully. One complete rotation. Half a twist slips.
Fold the twist up against your head, tail pointing down.
Open the clip and place it over the fold, teeth catching hair at the scalp on both sides, then release.

Sizing: a clip too small for your hair is why it slides out. Fine or short hair takes a medium clip; thick or long hair needs a large one with deep teeth. Tortoiseshell and matte black suit most hair colours; clear acrylic is the most forgiving on blonde.

Velvet and Silk Scrunchies

Flat lay of claw clips, velvet scrunchies and pearl pins on linen — Silk for sleeping, velvet for grip, satin for fine hair.

Not interchangeable:

Silk creates the least friction, which makes it the one to sleep in. It also has the least grip, so it is the worst for a workout.
Velvet grips best. The pile catches hair, so it holds a loose bun without tightening.
Satin sits between the two and suits fine hair, which velvet can drag on.

A silk scrunchie in a loose low bun is the standard way to protect hair overnight if you do not want to wear a bonnet.

Pearl Pins, Snap Clips and Ribbons

Collection of 90s revival hair accessories on a neutral surface — Small pieces do the most when the hairstyle underneath is plain.

Pearl pins work in threes, spaced unevenly along one side. Even spacing looks like a uniform.
Snap clips hold a front section back — two on one side, worn parallel.
Satin ribbons tied at the base of a low ponytail. The coquette version of the trend, and the cheapest entry point.

Half-up twist secured with a tortoiseshell claw clip, remaining hair falling loose — The half-up claw clip is the easiest 90s revival to wear day to day.

Five Styles That Take Under Three Minutes

Woman wearing a padded velvet headband over loose waves — The headband does the work of a whole hairstyle.

Headband over loose waves. Nothing else required. Push it back from the hairline.
Claw clip half-up. Top section only, twisted and clipped. Lengths left down.
Low bun with a velvet scrunchie. Loose enough to pull forward slightly at the crown afterwards.
Two snap clips, one side. Front section swept back and pinned flat.
Ribbon-tied low ponytail. Elastic first, ribbon tied over it to hide it.

Back view of a woman fastening a tortoiseshell claw clip into a twisted updo — Twist the section once, then let the claw clip bite into the root for hold.

Building the Collection Once

Autumn and winter accessories sit in the same palette as everything else this season — burgundy, chocolate, tortoiseshell, gold. Buy in those four and everything works with everything, and it carries year to year rather than dating.

A workable starter set: one large claw clip in tortoiseshell, one medium in matte black, two silk scrunchies for sleeping, two velvet for daytime, one padded headband in burgundy, and a card of pearl pins.

Hands placing a tortoiseshell claw clip at the crown of long dark wavy hair — Long hair needs a wider clip jaw to hold the weight without slipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hair accessories still in style?

Yes, and they have moved past trend status into normal use. Headband searches specifically are among Pinterest’s rising picks right now.

How do I stop my claw clip from slipping?

Usually the clip is too small for your hair, or you only half-twisted before clipping. Size up, and make one complete rotation before the clip goes in.

Are scrunchies actually better for your hair?

They spread tension across a wider band than a thin elastic and create less friction, which reduces breakage at the tie point. Silk creates the least friction of the three fabrics.

Where should a headband sit?

An inch or two back from the hairline. Right at the front is what makes a padded headband look juvenile.

What hair accessories suit fine hair?

Satin scrunchies, smaller claw clips with deep teeth, and snap clips. Velvet can drag on fine hair, and oversized clips slide straight out.

More Hair Guides

For the styles these accessories work best over, see our heatless waves guide and 15 no-heat hairstyles.