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Hair Accessories Explained: Pins, Claw Clips, Scrunchies, and More

From pinning down flyaways to full-on styling, here's what each everyday hair accessory actually does.

Bobby Pin

A thin, flat metal pin used to tuck away flyaways or hold a small section of hair exactly in place. They come in wavy (U-shaped) and straight styles, and are often layered in multiples or chosen in a decorative finish to double as a small styling accent.

Claw Clip

A large spring-hinged clip with interlocking teeth that can gather and hold a big section of hair in one motion, making it a go-to for a fast updo. They come in a range of sizes and materials -- plastic, glossy acrylic, mother-of-pearl -- suitable for anything from a quick everyday twist to a more polished, decorative look.

Scrunchie

A fabric-covered elastic that spreads pressure and friction over a wider surface than a bare rubber band, which is generally considered gentler on hair. They come in endless fabrics and prints, doubling as a fashion accessory, and are popular as a wrist accessory even when they're not in someone's hair.

Headband

A band worn across the top of the head to keep front and side hair out of the face. It's a practical choice for washing your face or doing makeup, but depending on width, material, and decoration, it also works as a standalone styling piece that can shift a whole look from casual to polished.

Hair Rollers

A tool you wrap sections of hair around and leave in place to create volume or curl. Heated rollers exist, but heatless rollers -- which set curls using air-drying or a blow-dryer with no direct heat -- are also widely used as a lower-damage alternative when you want to avoid heat styling.

Hair Turban (Hair Wrap)

A highly absorbent microfiber wrap you twist around wet hair right after a shower. Simply wrapping hair in it pulls out water with much less friction than rubbing a towel over your hair, and it shortens the air-drying time needed before you reach for a blow-dryer.

Protecting hair from repeat-use accessories

Wearing an elastic or claw clip in exactly the same spot every day puts repeated stress on the same section of hair, which can eventually thin or weaken it. Shifting where you tie or clip your hair from day to day, and reaching for a softer material like a scrunchie for long stretches of wear, both help spread that stress out instead of concentrating it in one place. After taking out a hair roller or turban, a light brush-through also helps smooth out any crease or dent left behind.

Matching the accessory to the moment

For anything active -- a workout, cleaning, cooking -- a claw clip or headband that holds firmly without slipping is the practical choice. For an evening out or a meeting where the hair itself is part of the look, a decorative pin or headband can double as the finishing touch. Right after a shower, wrapping hair in a turban first and blow-drying afterward is usually the faster route to a finished style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a scrunchie actually gentler on hair than a regular elastic?

Because the fabric covering spreads out the contact area, a scrunchie is generally described as putting less pressure on any single point of hair than a thin elastic band. That said, tying it too tightly can still stress hair regardless of material, so a looser hold matters more than the accessory itself.

Is it fine to use hair rollers every day?

Heatless rollers are relatively low-impact, but wrapping hair the same way, this tightly, every single day can still add up to fatigue over time. If you're using electric heated rollers, it's worth paying attention to how often and how hot you're using them, the same way you would with any other heat-styling tool.