How did hair accessories become the quintessential pièce de résistance of 2021? Perhaps it’s the mountainous number of Zoom calls permeating our lives, invariably asking we style ourselves magnificently from the waist up. Virtually every hair accessory has made a comeback, a statement of self-expression that echoes much of the exuberant playfulness we’ve seen the fashion world lean into this season. First came the scrunchie, then followed hair clips, headbands, Grace Kelly-referencing silk scarves and so on and so forth…

Below, find your favourite hair accessory microtrend and look forward to many killer good hair days to come.

Relinquish the side-part, consider a few Gen-Z approved hairpins 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by clayton hawkins (@claytonhawkins)

By all accounts the Tik Tok generation has made it clear – skinny jeans, unsustainable brands and all other aged-out fashion relics must go, and this includes side parts. Instead, centre part your hair and frame the face with a dainty hair accessory. While hair embellishments were once a thoughtless aside, designers such as Simone Rocha have elevated the designer hair pin to a cult status of its own. Now, brands like Chanel and Gucci have all followed suit with their own signature pieces.

Rosantica Polka crystal and faux-pearl hair clip; Hk$816 at matchesfashion.com

Photo: Courtesy of Matches Fashion
8 Other Reasons Butterfly pin set; HK$366 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
Simone Rocha Floral beaded hair pin; HK$999 at iteshop.com
Photo: Courtesy of I.T

Gucci Gold-plated faux pearl hair slide; HK$555 at net-a-porter.com

Photo: Courtesy of Net-a-porter
Jennifer Behr Lily hairpin set of two; HK$1571 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of farfetch
Suzanne Kalan 18 karat rose gold pastel fireworks sapphire hairpin; HK$24,519 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of farfetch

Rosantica Polka crystal and faux-pearl hair clip; Hk$816 at matchesfashion.com

Photo: Courtesy of Matches Fashion
8 Other Reasons Butterfly pin set; HK$366 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
Simone Rocha Floral beaded hair pin; HK$999 at iteshop.com
Photo: Courtesy of I.T

Gucci Gold-plated faux pearl hair slide; HK$555 at net-a-porter.com

Photo: Courtesy of Net-a-porter
Jennifer Behr Lily hairpin set of two; HK$1571 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of farfetch
Suzanne Kalan 18 karat rose gold pastel fireworks sapphire hairpin; HK$24,519 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of farfetch
1 / 6

The mighty claw clip returns with more than meets the eye

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kaia (@kaiagerber)

Popularized in the ’90s, these millennium accessories helped to sweep our crimped locks or streaky blond highlights back in one fell swoop whilst maintaining an illusion of grace and playfulness. Who remembers trying to perfect the artful twisting of hair before safely securing it with a glittery and bombastic-looking oversized clip? Now back in a dozen or more styles, claw clips will have you abandoning those pesky hair elastics that are, frankly, uninspired.

Emi Jay x REVOLVE Big Effing Clip; HK$264.80 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
Muji Hair clip; HK$28 at muji.com.hk
Photo: Courtesy of Muji
Alexandre Zouari Crazy crab; HK$273 at alexandre-zouari-accessories.com
Photo: Courtesy of Alexandre Zouari
Emi Jay Big Daisy Clip; HK$101 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
La Manso San Blas dolphin-shaped recycled plastic hairclip; HK$620 at selfridges.com
Photo: Courtesy of La Manso
Emi Jay x REVOLVE Big Effing Clip; HK$264.80 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
Muji Hair clip; HK$28 at muji.com.hk
Photo: Courtesy of Muji
Alexandre Zouari Crazy crab; HK$273 at alexandre-zouari-accessories.com
Photo: Courtesy of Alexandre Zouari
Emi Jay Big Daisy Clip; HK$101 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
La Manso San Blas dolphin-shaped recycled plastic hairclip; HK$620 at selfridges.com
Photo: Courtesy of La Manso
1 / 5

Barrettes are back! No, not the Parisian hat

You heard it here first, barrettes are no longer reserved for young children or petit ballerinas-in-training. Barrettes, we don’t mean the rounded, knitted-wool hats worn by Parisian folk (see: berets for that). Clip your hair back with a bold, bedazzled rendition from Miu Miu or opt for a more colourful vintage Chanel piece.

Chanel Pre-Owned 1997 CC logo hair barrette; HK$14,187 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch
BaubleBar Molten Hair Clip Set of 2; HK$140 at revolve.com 
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
Alexander McQueen pearl skull hair clip; HK$3,100 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch
Miu Miu crystal-embellished hair clip; HK$1,950 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch
Alexander McQueen pearl skull hair clip; HK$3,100 at farfetch.com
Chanel Pre-Owned 1997 CC logo hair barrette; HK$14,187 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch
BaubleBar Molten Hair Clip Set of 2; HK$140 at revolve.com 
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
Alexander McQueen pearl skull hair clip; HK$3,100 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch
Miu Miu crystal-embellished hair clip; HK$1,950 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch
Alexander McQueen pearl skull hair clip; HK$3,100 at farfetch.com
1 / 5

And when all else fails…the trusty scrunchie will prevail 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by maddie (@maddieziegler)

Don’t take Carrie Bradshaw for her word. The fictional New Yorker style maven may have declared that, “No woman who works at W Magazine and lives on Perry Street would be caught dead at a hip downtown restaurant wearing a scrunchie”, but we are now firmly living in a golden era of these gentler and kinder hair bands. With silk iterations, sustainable fabrics and almost every pattern you could possibly conjure up, scrunchies resurfaced back in 2019, and by the looks of it, show no sign of leaving.

Valet Cindy Scrunchie; HK$87 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
La DoubleJbotanical-print scrunchie; HK$600 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
Prada Re-Nylon triangle-logo scrunchie; HK$2,450 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
Jennifer Behroversized silk scrunchie; HK776 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
BurberryTB Monogram-print silk scrunchie; HK$1,900 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
Valet Cindy Scrunchie; HK$87 at revolve.com
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve
La DoubleJbotanical-print scrunchie; HK$600 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
Prada Re-Nylon triangle-logo scrunchie; HK$2,450 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
Jennifer Behroversized silk scrunchie; HK776 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
BurberryTB Monogram-print silk scrunchie; HK$1,900 at farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch
1 / 5