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When it comes to getting the hair up and out of your face, the sky’s the limit in terms of accessory options.
Below we have rounded up a few of our favorite vintage-style hair clips that will not only keep your hairstyle out of your face but will add the finishing touch needed to complete any type of look.
We have included some great retro-inspired, jewel-encrusted barrettes that will look great adorning any low bun or up do’, some large pearl-style barrettes that are very fashion-forward, and a large variety set of bronze hair clips in many different shapes and sizes.
Our Pick of the Hottest Vintage Hair Clip
TecUnite Retro Hair Clips — Best Overall
These vintage-style hair clips come in a set of three generously sized options. These clips can be worn whether the hair is up or down and are a great finishing piece to any outfit. Choose from a purple flower, butterfly, or green peacock for your perfect style statement.
Pros
- These clips feel sturdy and are well made
- The bold colors look good with any hair color
Cons
- These barrettes are heavy and may slip out of finer hair types
Akoak Hair Clip — Runner Up
Another stunning option for a night out is this vintage black rose flower rhinestone hair clip. The black rhinestones and floral design looks great with all colors and makes it easy to create an everyday, go-to style. Every rhinestone on this clip also shines brightly, looks high quality, and is perfect for everyday wear.
Pros
- This clip will work well with straight or curly hair types
- The alligator-style clip can be put in your hair easily
Cons
- This hair clip should not get wet
E-Accexpert Pearl Hair Clips — Honorable Mention
Made of handmade pearls and metal, this set of 12 hair clips includes different-sized barrettes that will work with most hair types. These clips can be used to accent any hairstyle and work for almost all occasions, casual and formal, including parties, weddings, proms, work, and school. All the clips have a gold base and a beautifully designed array of pearls in both thick and thicker iterations that will look good when worn alone or paired with other like clips.
Pros
- All the beads on the clips are manually connected by durable finishing lines
- Pearl design looks very sophisticated
Cons
- Thicker hair types may need to use smaller sections
Angla Hair Clips — Best Variety
Made from a bronze copper material, this assortment of hair clips comes with a variety of 24 different styles. Included are various shapes and sizes of barrettes including flowers, butterflies, feathers, leaf, and triangle shapes and hairpins, bobby pins, u-shaped, and duckbill clips.
Pros
- Mix and match these barrettes to create a myriad of cool hairstyles
- The material will not rust or corrode
Cons
- These come in only one color option
Rosemarie Crystal Hair Clip — Also Consider
This stunning vintage-style crystal hair clip will ensure a second look for anyone who sees it. This rhinestone clip is set in a silver-tone setting and accented with three rows of cut glass crystals with an easy snap closure. With three inches of barrette to work with, this accessory is not too big, not too small, and will stay in the hair all day and night.
Pros
- This clip comes packaged in a sturdy gift box
- Can be worn with casual or formal outfits
Cons
- There is only one barrette included
Aegenacess Hair Accessories — Editor's Pick
Another great set of beaded pearl hair clips are these stylish ones that come with two barrettes. You get one triangle and one rectangle-shaped clip with affixed metal and beads that fits easily into and will upgrade any hairstyle. These clips are large in size and would make a great statement for any event including a wedding, shower, party or just going out to dinner.
Pros
- These clips will work with both fine and thicker hair types
- Will not slide around
Cons
- Only two come in a pack
Buying Guide: Vintage Hair Clips
Hair clips have been around for decades, and these vintage designs are still relevant today. Learn more about the top vintage hair clips in 2024 in this short buyer’s guide.
What Are Vintage Hair Clips?
Vintage hair clips are hair clips that look like they were made in the twentieth century. The term “vintage” refers to an item that was made in the past or is symbolic of the past in some form, and vintage hair clips are essentially hair clips with older and more traditional designs.
For hair clips in particular, “vintage” refers to ornate and beautiful designs of hair clips. They usually come with beautiful metals and stones and are not unlike forms of jewelry themselves. In fact, they were treated as such. While hair clips today often serve a more functional purpose, the hair clips back then were just as much of a spectacle as a well-made ring or necklace.
Why Do You Need a Vintage Hair Clip?
They're beautiful
Why else would you want a vintage hair clip? The main reason why the vintage design is still so popular today is that people realized how beautiful and timeless the look of these hair clips was. They look very different from the cheap hair clips you can buy at the dollar store, and even if they cost a bit more than plastic clips, they’re far more affordable than they used to be.
What really sells the beauty of vintage hair clips is the ornateness of the whole thing. The combination of patterns found in the clips is like works of art. Many of these clips have a flower-based design, and while the flower design is very common, it’s still a sight to behold nonetheless.
They're cheaper than they used to be
For how coveted hair clips were back in the day, they weren’t always accessible. These ornate clips were made with real jewelry, and many of them still are, costing you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in payment. That’s a lot of money for something to hold your hair in place, and while some people may have the money and willingness to afford it, not everybody has that luxury.
But the game has changed since the invention of replica stones and jewels. We’ve got stones like cubic zirconia that mimic the look and luster of diamond for a fraction of the price and combined with gold-plated metals, you’re looking at a hair clip that costs far less than its appearance. Sure, some people may be able to discern whether or not it’s a genuine article, but the important thing here is that it looks beautiful.
Things to Consider When Buying Vintage Hair Clips
Design
The design of the vintage hair clip can vary from seller to seller. There are a few different types of hair clip designs available with the “vintage” feel, but two are exceedingly common among them - the flower clips and the pearl clips.
Flower vintage clips are clips with an ornate flower design. The leaves are made out of metals, and the petals are often slotted with precious stones, or at least replicas of precious stones. These clips give off a very luxurious air to them, and they look great when paired with formal attire.
On the other hand, you have pearl vintage clips. As the name suggests, they are simply hair clips that are adorned with pearls all over. The pearls can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and they can either be faux pearls, cultured pearls, or natural pearls.
So, what design should you choose? Well, that’s up to you, as looks are subjective. However, when picking a design, be sure to envision what clothes you plan on wearing alongside the hair clip so you get a good idea of what to expect when you do buy the clip.
Authenticity
This is another factor that you’ll want to consider when buying vintage hair clips, or any form of jewelry in general. Authenticity refers to how authentic the materials are in your accessory. For vintage hair clips, the authenticity will often refer to the stones and pearls used in the clip. You see, the clips most commonly available online use faux precious stones and either faux pearls or cultured pearls instead of the real thing, as they are far cheaper to produce and are far more affordable.
This does give you a bit of a dilemma - do you spend a lot of extra money on genuine stones and pearls, or are you fine with using faux materials instead? If you’re attending a very prestigious event with many people from all walks of society, then you may want to buy a good hair clip to keep up appearances. On the other hand, if it’s just for casual use, then there should be no problem with using something that isn’t as “authentic”.
And even if you aren’t using a hair clip that’s “genuine”, it shouldn’t really matter too much in the end. What’s important is that it looks good. After all, that’s the reason why the precious stones and pearls were so coveted in the first place - not because they were rare, but because they looked stunning.
