I remember growing up, my mum would always throw her hair into an updo with such nonchalance, securing her blonde strands with a tortoise shell claw clip. She was the ultimate effortless ‘90s mother. And who knew a love for hair accessories could be inherited like eye colour. I now have about a dozen claw clips floating around my desk and several more lining my work tote at all times.
And one perk of my job is putting all my loved ones onto my favourite beauty must-haves, including swapping out my mum’s years-old drugstore clips with chic ones that have upgraded sturdiness, cute designs, and don’t require re-styling the hair every few minutes. From that classic tortoiseshell pattern to teeth that double as luxury hair jewellery, there’s a handful of chic claw clips that keep your strands out of your face while still making you look put together. And Cosmo editors tested dozens of different brands and rounded up their favourite claw clips based on sturdiness, colour options, size, and price.
Ahead, the very best claw clips for effortless styling, no matter your hair thickness.
Why we love it: What’s so great about the RPZL claw clips is that they come in an endless array of chic patterns and colours, hold the hair in your desired style without slipping out, and work on any level of hair thickness for everyday wear.
One Cosmo editor says, “This trendy clip holds all of my thick waves with just a simple twist and clasp, and it also comes in so many chic colours and patterns. I pretty much have one to match every single outfit I own, and it’s pretty decently priced in the world of pricey hair clips.”
Why we love it: These viral clips are the ones gracing all your favourite celebrities’ hair, from Kendall Jenner’s half-up half-down looks to Hailey Bieber’s piecey slick backs. Emi Jay was the first to popularise all the gorgeous patterns from summer-ready motifs to customizable clips fit for the ultimate gift. And if you’ve got a bob or hair on the thinner side, it also comes in a smaller size dubbed the Sweetheart Clip.
One Cosmo editor says, “My hair is long and thick, so I normally have a tough time finding a clip that will actually secure everything in place. But as its name—Big Effing Clip—suggests, this celeb-loved is amazing at clasping alllll my hair back while also looking incredibly cute. Every beauty editor has one of these stashed in their bag at all times.”
Why we love it: If you’ve opted out of the whole claw clip craze because you have thick hair that doesn’t always cooperate or needs more heavy lifting, then your hair has officially met its match with Machete’s claw clips. They’re nothing close to the slippery drugstore options. They clamp down on even the thickest of hair to hold it in place for anything from a half-up, half-down style to a slicked-back updo.
One Cosmo editor says, “This is the strongest hair clip I’ve ever used in my life. Nothing holds my long hair in place better than these hair accessories from Machete. And while they have an industrial-level sturdiness to them, they also come in an array of cute patterns, colours, and textures.”
Why we love it: Working out with a tight ponytail can lead to damaged hair, and it also creates an annoying crease after a sweat session. But wearing your hair down while overheating in a workout class might be even worse. Luckily, Alo’s claw clips are fit for any type of exercise, holding even the sweatiest of hair in place while you run, hot girl walk, downward dog, or whatever your movement of choice may be.
One Cosmo editor says, “I am not a sociopath; I have to lift my hair up off my neck in a workout. But I kinda need it to be down when I’m lying on my back doing an ab series or bridges. Enter: A hair clip that I can quickly snap onto my sports bra to pull down my hair in those moments. And these are some of the best I’ve used in those moments. I have a handful of these clips in varying sizes and styles, but they actually all live in my gym bag (which also happens to be Alo—I’m a loyalist).”
Why we love it: There are hair accessories, and then there are hair accessories. Tort falls firmly into the latter camp. With its glossy finishes and elegant silhouettes, these are the kind of clips that look just as at home tucked into a bridal updo as they do securing a Monday-morning bun. All it takes is one scroll through their website to find yourself mentally planning a wedding hairstyle around them.
One Cosmo editor says, “I firmly believe every handbag should contain three things: lip balm, headphones, and a Tort claw clip. My tortoiseshell Tort clip has rescued countless bad hair days, but if I were to choose a snazzy design to really amp up a look, it would be this Jewelled Lime Cheetah design.”
Why we love it: If your inner child and grown-up wardrobe were to collaborate on a hair accessory, this would be the result. Whether you opt for a strawberry, cat, sardine or another delightfully unserious design, these novelty clips inject a bit of joy into your morning routine. Let’s be real: fashion can take itself awfully seriously sometimes; your claw clip doesn’t have to.
One Cosmo editor says, “I bought one of these clips as a joke, and now I own four. They add a bit of fun to every look and are always my most complimented accessory!”
Why we love it: If you had a problem with your eye, you’d take a trip to the optician. Your teeth? A dentist. Skin? dermatologist. This goes the same way for hair – got a cutting or styling dilemma? A specialist hairstylist is your go-to. So, when it comes to claw clips, a hairstylist-founded brand is where it’s at. Our favourite? Loxx Hair Inc., created by expert stylist Chad Maxwell, whose celebrity clientele includes the likes of Lily Allen, Amelia Gray and Gemma Chan, to name a few.
One Cosmo editor says, “Loxx Hair Inc dub themselves as a brand of thoughtfully designed hair accessories that last, and to that we can attest. And that’s because (no exaggeration) they’re the only claw clip that keeps my thick hair up – nothing else works!”
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan who covers all things haircare—from the latest shampoo launches to styling tips. As an avid claw clip-user, she’s tested dozens of different brands and styles, and rounded up the very best for Cosmo readers.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
