I remember growing up my mom 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 color. 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 favorite beauty must-haves, including swapping out my mom’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 jewelry, 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 favorite claw clips based on sturdiness, color options, size, and price.
Ahead, the very best claw clips for effortless styling, no matter your hair thickness.
Why we love it: RPZL’s claw clips were just named Cosmo’s favorite of the year in our annual Holy Grail Beauty Awards. What’s so great about them? They come in an endless array of chic patterns and colors, 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 colors 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.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Why we love it: Another Cosmo Holy Grail Award winner, these viral clips are the ones gracing all your favorite celebrities’ hair, from Kendall Jenner’s half-up half-down looks to Hailey Bieber’s piecey slick backs. Emi Jay was the first to popularize 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.”—JH
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 into 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, colors, and textures.”—JH
Why we love it: Lelet’s gorgeous hair clips are a luxury accessory in themselves. The shiny claws come in a bunch of different designs with gold or silver bases, emblazoned with gemstones or pearls to match your favorite jewelry. The accessories aren’t just statement-making accoutrements; they’re also amazing at holding the hair in place for hours on end, no matter your hair thickness or desired style.
One Cosmo editor says: “You know when people say if they suddenly got rich they’d buy a yacht or get a personal chef. My rich-person pleasure would be having a drawer full of these gorgeous clips from Lelet. They’re more like sculptural pieces of art than claw clips, which explains the price. But if you’re willing to treat it more like hair jewelry than a simple hair tie, then it’s well worth the splurge.”—JH
Why we love it: If you’re looking for a no-frills way to get your hair out of your face, The Hair Edit’s couture clip comes in a simple black and white colorway, is just a fraction of the price of the fancy brands, but still has some pretty serious holding powers.
One Cosmo editor says: “I own all the fancy hair clips on this list, but I genuinely reach for this the most (so much so, it’s sitting on my nightstand right now). The style is so simplistic that it matches every single outfit, and it actually makes my whole look chicer, even if I’m just pulling up greasy hair.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
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 laying 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).”—BG
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.
