What are Hair Accessories and How Can They Improve My Look?

Hair accessories, or "hair toys", come in all shapes and sizes. Simply defined, a hair toy is any item you put in your hair to help with styling or give that "special touch" to your 'do.

These items are as widely varied as the things you can do with them, so let's start with your hair length and discuss some of the most popular items for each. Yes, there is so much more out there than just hair ties!

Short Hair Accessories

Short hair has become increasingly popular in both men and women; it's possibly the least versatile length but still has so many styling options. Bobby pins, small clips and headbands all work great for helping the hair keep its shape, adding a little bit of color and maybe a twist or two, and great for people who are growing their hair out and have reached an "awkward phase" where the hair always wants to be in the way. Try clips for short corn rows or French twists or throw in some pin curls with a few unobtrusive bobby pins for a style that stays put and looks great. Bandannas and head scarves are back in style and make colorful solutions to hair that just wants to stick up all over the place.

Medium Hair Accessories

Medium hair (shoulder length to mid-back) opens up all sorts of new possibilities for hair accessories. You can try a decorated hair tie to add a personal touch to a basic ponytail, hair combs for effortless half-ups, hair sticks and hair forks for easy buns, barrettes in endless varieties, and hair-friendly slide barrettes for half-ups or holding your entire head of hair. Hair claws are easy-to-use items that will pin your hair up off your neck and stay secure through a vigorous work day.

Long Hair Accessories

Long hair takes a lot of work, so many people opt for lower-maintenance looks; however, if you're one of the dedicated "long hairs" there is no end to styles you can achieve. Many hair toys available in department stores won't work for very long or thick hair except for half-ups, but there are a ton of items you can buy or make to keep your hair protected and looking gorgeous.

Adding a little bit of color and maybe a twist or two is great for people growing out their hair

In addition to all the suggestions for medium-length hair, there are a number of accessories that are expressly for or work especially well on long hair. Brand-name Ficcarres are high-quality clips that can hold an entire bun for all lengths and thicknesses of hair in a wide array of gorgeous colors.

Bun wraps such as the increasingly-popular Hairagami clip or a simple piece of sturdy wire with a soft fabric cover are wonderful for very fast, secure and effortless buns. Ladies, go for a Renaissance look with a classic braided crown accented with ribbons, clips, or pretty bobby pins. Gentlemen, try a lace-up leather or faux leather ponytail cuff that is extremely gentle on the hair and will stay in through anything.

Your hair is one of the top features people notice about you; with the right hair accessories you can make your styles just as unique as you are. Whether you are male or female and have chin-length or knee-length hair there is an astounding selection of hair toys available for your styling experiments.