4 Updo Hairstyles That Prove Hair Pins Are This Season’s Chicest Accessory

Until very recently, claw clips have remained at the top of hair trends, proving to be Gen Zer’s preferred (and nostalgic) method of choice to wear their hair up. While we aren’t telling you to bid farewell to your claw clips, a new hair clip is rising to star status on social media — the ultra-chic French hair pin. 

A French hair pin can hold your hair up like a claw clip, but with a much more elegant, sleek and refined look. Because of this, hair pins serve as a gorgeous addition to sleek updos, chignons, modern low buns and even wedding hairstyles. 

Ahead, see some of our favorite updo hairstyles to sport with French hair pins, plus, tips and product recommendations for achieving the perfect updo.

What is a Hair Pin?

Hair pins are pointed hair tools that can be used to style short hair and longer, into an updo. Unlike bobby pins where you need a handful to hold up your hair due to their small size, hair pins are much larger so you can get away with using one or two of them to coiff your hair up.

French hair pins are a type of hair pin with a sleek, U-shape and they’re great for giving your updos an instantly chic and laid-back style. Hair pins are a fantastic alternative to hair ties because they don’t tug and pull at the hair. If you notice hair breakage from styling your hair in the same tight and slicked-back styles, trade in your elastic hair ties for a hair pin and you’ll be able to sport an updo without harming your strands.

4 Updo Hairstyles That You Can Wear With Hair Pins 

Hair pins help to give any updo an elegant twist (pun intended). Check out four updo hairstyles that are the perfect pairing for French hair pins. 

1. Messy, Low Bun

Oftentimes, achieving an effortless-looking, messy low bun is anything but effortless. Fortunately, a French hair pin makes the messy bun a bit easier to achieve because the hair pin holds your strands in place without making your style appear tight or overly styled. 

Get the look: Take your hair and wrap it around your fingers, twisting your hair up into a bun. Once you’ve created your bun, take your French hair pin and use zig-zag motions to weave it through your updo until the pin is in place. The goal is to hook random hairs through the pin so it can hold your style. It may take a few rounds of trial and error to find the best method for you. After you apply the French hair pin, your style should feel tight and secure.

2. High Ballerina Bun

A high ballerina bun is a great way to get your hair off your face. Take the style up a notch with a French hair pin rather than the typical elastic hair band. Not only will it look chicer, but it’s way better for your hair.

Get the look: Start by brushing your hair to remove any tangles and apply a hair oil, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Simply Clean Sheer Oil, to tame frizz and flyaways. Gather your hair into a ponytail, using your fingers to comb your strands and pull it towards the crown of your head, to create a high ponytail, securing it with a hair tie. 

Then, take your hair and twist it around the base of your ponytail to create a bun, securing it with a single French hair pin. Once you’ve weaved the hair pin into your bun and it feels secure, feel free to fluff your bun by gently pulling the hair in the bun outwards with your fingers. 

If you prefer a loose, high bun, forgo the ponytail and hair elastic. Using your fingers, twist your hair up into a high bun and secure your style with a hair pin of your choice. 

3. Curly Half-Up Bun

Hair pins are great for wavy or curly hair because the natural texture of your hair will help to hold your style in place. 

Get the look: Start but parting your hair, horizontally, down the middle of your head to create a top section and a bottom section. Take the top section of hair and twist your wavy tresses into a bun, then place the hair pin from the side and finish with it pointing downwards to secure your style in place. 

Add a few spritzes of the L’Oréal Paris Dream Lengths Curls Refresh & Reshape Leave-In Spray through the length of your hair to your curls hydration and defined shape without making them crunchy.

4. Braided Bun

If you have naturally straight hair or fine hair, you may have a hard time getting your hair pin to stay in place because you don’t have natural texture to help hold the style in place. Luckily, creating texture is fairly simple with the help of with hairspray or mousse, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Style BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse to give your hair some hold. 

Get the look: After adding your hair mousse, Gather your hair at the crown, separate it into three even sections and create a loose French braid down the length of your hair, until you reach the ends, securing it with a hair tie. Once you reach the end, flip the hanging edge of your braid up and twist it into a bun.

Take a French hair pin and work it through your bun using a zig-zag motion. The combination of the mousse and the braid will help to give your updo texture, allowing the hair pin to stay put all day long. 

Next: How to Create a Sleek Ponytail in 5 Simple Steps

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Digital Tech: Erik Dalzen, Photo Assistant: Sam Kang, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Mirna Jose, Hair Assistant: Keila Rivera, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Wardrobe Assistant: Jazmine Alzado, Model: Zlata Semenko