I’m so boring going on and on about my longer HAIR, but having had short hair do’s all my life (since first grade, when Mom took me for that first shag cut), this is interesting to me. Plus, honestly, who ISN’T obsessed with their hair? Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies!
The uptwist seems to be my signature ‘do these days. I like it, it feels like what I want to say about myself (“I’m twisted?” or “I’m a grown-up lady”) and it’s easy and elegant. I am not a fan of cheap plastic hair accessories but as you know, they’re hard to avoid. I have been keeping my eye out for alternatives. I featured this French-made hair claw last summer. Here it is in action.
Hair sticks are fascinating to me. How can it take only 20 or so seconds to stick the pin in and how the heck does it hold so firmly? I don’t get it. This is why I failed science.
I discovered a wonderful Vietnamese artisan on Etsy, and I purchased this beautiful hair stick from her. She makes her jewelry and accessories from buffalo horn and other organic materials. Let’s look at the detail first:
And now in my hair:
Most of Que’s hair accessories cost between $6-$10, and you support an independent artist and small business. Not local, but certainly small.
I think her stuff is stunning.
I use a hairstick most of the time (or in emergencies, a pencil, crochet hook or chopstick) – it’s easy with my fairly coarse, thick hair and I am sure that I have fewer split ends and breakages than when I wore it in a ponytail almost every day. Hair-elastics are not kind to hair.
Last week, though I was introduced to my favourite hair-do-thingy ever. It was given to me by a friend from her collection of vintage and antique jewellery and hair accessories. It’s a two legged comb, roughly the shape of a woodworker’s staple, about 5 inches long, the ‘legs’ are very smooth and narrow to a point. In side profile it curves slightly to sit against the back of the head. I’ve never seen a modern version of anything like it. She had some similar ones in tortoiseshell, but i think this one is bakelite or something like that.
Used like a hairstick, it is just a little more secure, doesn’t need the hair to be twisted as tightly and is basically invisible in the finished ‘do.’ I’ve worn it every day for 2 weeks now.
Any suggestions about where I might get something similar – for the day when I lose or break this one – would be gratefully received.
The hairsticks in your pictures are really gorgeous, by the way!
Dear Peacebang, thank you so much for the Etsy rec! I am a hairstick devotee as well (these crafters are the makers of my current favorite set: http://www.kjcraftworks.com/Hairsticks/), and I need to tell you that I have also been benefiting for YEARS now from your recommendation of Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk.
Thank you!
Sarah H.
Love ’em. I have a collection of brass, wood and bone and an antique gold hairpin.
Gosh, I had no idea that the world of hairsticks ever existed! Who knew? That is, who knew if she has had short hair all her life? I’m a tiny bit jealous, because with my very short haircut, there’s nothing to play with. I just wash it and shake my head, maybe sorta comb it with my fingers, and that’s IT. You guys get to have all the fun!
Those are gorgeous. I cut my hair off for the summer, but am in throes of deciding whether or not grow it back for the winter. My hair short, and “hat season” are not a good mix.
Thanks for sharing these. Once I grow my hair out, I may have to treat myself!
Anne, your question got me curious so I did a few Google searches. I think of you search for “two prong hair fork” you’ll find what you’re looking for. Some seemed curved, some not, but definitely saw some that look like you described. They sound intriguing – I am now interested in trying one!
Yup. Lovely daughter #1 uses hair sticks all the time. She has lovely, thick hair. Lovely daughter #2 does not have as much success because her hair is very silky and fine. I use a french claw/comb and it works very well, particularly for the middle-of-the-night on-call pages as a chaplain. I brush out a tangle or two, twist and clip. Bed-head no more!! 🙂
But how do you make the hairstick HOLD the hair? Mine always came untwisted and fell down! I have medium texture, pin-straight hair that is currently too short for this style but I think those hairsticks would make awesome shawl pins!
…and you found that french hair claw where…?
I’m growing out & can’t wait until it’s long enough for sticks again!
Has anybody tried these yet?
I also like these, I think they’re maybe like small plastic versions of what anne was talking about?
I have spin-pins but have not tried them. Be careful not to get them twisted into one another. I’ve heard that can go really badly.
I have had good results with giant brass straight hairpins. They are sometimes called Amish hairpins or bodkins. I use hairsticks sometimes and also wooden forks (3-tines). How well a particular stick will work for you depends upon your hair texture vs. the finish on the stick. For example, I cannot use lacquered Japanese chopsticks because they are so smooth they fall out of my hair (very straight). The brass pins can be used when your hair is damp or wet and wooden devices would be damaged by the moisture.
The technique used with sticks, forks, or giant hairpins is like sewing the bun to your head. That was the way it was explained to me when I was finally getting this to work.