It happened slowly, then all at once. You walk into a coffee shop in Brooklyn or Silver Lake and suddenly it’s 1996 again. Not in a costume party way, but in a "this is actually how we live now" way. The butterfly clips are back. The chunky acetate claws are back. Even those weirdly painful metal snap clips that used to pull out three strands of hair every time you took them off? Yeah, those too. 90s hair clip hairstyles have moved past being a TikTok trend and settled into a permanent fixture of modern beauty because, honestly, they just work.
They’re easy.
Most hair trends require a PhD in heat styling or a $400 Dyson tool, but 90s clips just require you to have hands and maybe a little bit of coordination. If you can pinch a spring, you can do this. It’s a democratization of style that feels refreshing after a decade of high-maintenance "Instagram hair" that took two hours to curl and another hour to spray into submission.
The Claw Clip Renaissance (And Why It’s Different This Time)
Remember the "Rachel" cut? Jennifer Aniston’s hair defined an entire decade, but it was actually the way she threw it up between takes that stuck with us. The claw clip is the undisputed heavyweight champion of 90s hair clip hairstyles. Back then, it was mostly about utility. You were doing chores or sitting in a lecture hall.
Now? It’s a fashion statement.
High-end brands like Emi Jay or France Luxe have turned the humble plastic claw into an accessory that costs as much as a nice dinner. We aren't just using the scratchy, black plastic ones from the drugstore anymore—though those still do the job in a pinch. We’re looking for acetate, checkerboard patterns, and matte finishes.
The most common mistake people make is trying to be too neat with it. If it’s too perfect, it’s not 90s. You want the "I just threw this up while running out the door to buy a CD" vibe. To get that specific French-twist-lite look, you gather the hair at the nape, twist it upward until it feels tight against your scalp, and then clamp. Let the ends flop over the top. It’s meant to look effortless, even if you spent three minutes in the mirror making sure the "tendrils" around your face were symmetrical.
Those face-framing pieces are non-negotiable. If you pull every single hair back, you’ve missed the point of the era. The 90s were obsessed with two thin strands of hair hanging down like antennas. It’s weird, sure, but it softens the face in a way that a harsh ponytail just doesn't.
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Butterfly Clips: Small, Bright, and Surprisingly Complicated
If the claw clip is the workhorse, the butterfly clip is the chaotic younger sister. We saw them on Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and on basically every pop star that graced the stage of TRL.
People think butterfly clips are just for kids. They’re wrong.
When used correctly, these tiny plastic insects create a crown-like effect that’s actually pretty sophisticated. The "twist and clip" method involves taking small sections of hair along the hairline, twisting them back toward the crown, and securing each with a clip. Repeat this four or five times across the top of your head. It keeps your hair out of your face but adds a texture that feels more intentional than a headband.
Gwen Stefani was the queen of this. She’d mix them with space buns or tiny braids. Today, the trend has shifted toward "monochrome" butterfly clips—using all white or all black—rather than the neon rainbow of the past. It’s a way to participate in the nostalgia without feeling like you’re heading to a third-grade birthday party.
The Return of the Snap Clip
The "snap" sound is visceral. You can hear it just by looking at a photo of one. These metal barrettes were everywhere in the late 90s, usually worn in pairs.
There is a specific geometry to 90s hair clip hairstyles involving snap clips. You don't just put one in. You put two in, exactly parallel to each other, right above the ear. Or you use them to pin back a deep side part.
Drew Barrymore was a huge proponent of the oversized snap clip, often using them to pin back daisy-accented hair. In 2026, we’re seeing a lot of "stacking." This means taking three, four, or even five clips and lining them up in a row. It’s bold. It’s graphic. It’s also incredibly practical for people with layers that are constantly falling into their eyes.
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The trick is the finish. Matte metal or pearl-encrusted clips take the 90s silhouette and drag it into the present. It’s a nod to the past without being a carbon copy.
Why Nostalgia Is a Hell of a Drug
Why are we so obsessed with 90s hair clip hairstyles specifically? Why not the 60s beehive or the 80s perm?
It’s about the "Off-Duty Model" aesthetic. In the 90s, supermodels like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were photographed by paparazzi looking like they hadn't tried at all. The hair clip was the ultimate symbol of that. It suggested you had better things to do than sit in a salon chair.
We live in an era of constant surveillance—social media, Zoom calls, Ring cameras. There is a deep, psychological craving for the "undone" look of the 90s. It feels authentic. It feels like a rebellion against the filtered, airbrushed perfection of the 2010s.
Plus, there’s the environmental factor. A good claw clip lasts years. It’s not a disposable item like a flimsy elastic that snaps after three uses and ends up in a landfill. There’s a sustainability angle to the "slow hair" movement that favors durable accessories over high-tech gadgets and chemical-heavy sprays.
Getting the Look Without Looking Like a Time Traveler
If you want to wear 90s hair clip hairstyles in a modern context, you have to balance the proportions.
If you're going for a giant claw clip, keep the rest of your outfit somewhat structured. A blazer and jeans with a claw clip looks like a conscious style choice. A tracksuit with a claw clip looks like you’re going to the grocery store in 1998 because you ran out of milk. Both are fine, but one is "fashion."
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The Half-Up, Half-Down Pivot
This is the safest entry point. Take the top half of your hair, pull it back, and secure it with a medium-sized clip. Don't pull it tight. Let it sit loosely. This works for every hair texture, from pin-straight to 4C curls. In fact, clips are often better for curly hair than elastics because they don't crush the curl pattern or cause the same level of breakage.
The Low Bun Hack
Instead of a ponytail, twist your hair into a low bun at the nape of your neck and secure it with two large snap clips on either side. It’s a very "90s Prada" look—minimalist, chic, and slightly industrial.
Tips for Long-Term Hair Health with Clips
Believe it or not, your choice of clip matters for your scalp.
Cheap plastic clips often have sharp "seams" from the mold they were made in. These seams can snag your hair and cause split ends. If you’re serious about 90s hair clip hairstyles, look for hand-polished accessories. They’re smooth to the touch and won't rip your hair out when you remove them.
Also, watch the tension. Just because a claw clip can hold a lot of hair doesn't mean you should pull it as tight as possible. Traction alopecia is real, even with clips. Give your scalp a break. If you’ve been wearing a tight clip all day, let your hair down in the evening and give yourself a quick scalp massage to get the blood flowing again.
Final Steps for Your 90s Hair Evolution
If you’re ready to dive back into the world of 90s hair clip hairstyles, don't just buy the first pack of clips you see.
- Audit your current hair texture. If your hair is fine, look for "small-tooth" clips or those with a rubberized coating inside so they don't slide out.
- Pick a metal. Silver was the 90s standard, but gold or rose gold feels more contemporary.
- Master the "The Flip." Practice the upward twist for the claw clip. It should take you less than ten seconds once you have the muscle memory.
- Invest in a "French" style claw. These are often flatter and sit closer to the head, making them more comfortable for driving or sitting in chairs with high backs.
The 90s weren't just a decade; they were a mood. By bringing back these clips, we’re reclaiming a bit of that low-effort, high-impact energy. Start with one or two styles and see how they feel. You might find that you never want to go back to a boring hair tie again.