Claw Clips: Dressy Ways to Wear Them

To make a claw clip look dressy, twist your hair up neatly, leave a few face-framing pieces, and pick a clip with a matte, pearl, metal or velvet finish rather than shiny plastic. For weddings and holiday parties, a pearl clip or a bow clip reads more polished and still holds your hair off your neck.

The claw clip is the fastest updo there is. With the right clip and two extra minutes, it looks finished enough for a party dress.

The dressy claw clip twist

The difference between a gym-bag clip and a party clip is mostly the twist under it. This version takes about two minutes:

1. Brush your hair smooth, and add a little texture spray or dry shampoo if it's freshly washed and slippery.
2. Gather it at the back of your head, at the crown or a little lower, as if you're making a ponytail.
3. Twist the length upward in one direction until it lies flat against your head.
4. Fold the ends down over the twist, or tuck them in if your hair is long.
5. Open the clip and close it over the twist with the teeth facing in toward your head, so it grips the twist and your scalp hair together.
6. Pull out a few strands at the front and by your ears to soften the shape.

For a sleeker look, keep the front smooth and leave out only two thin pieces. For a softer look, loosen the twist with your fingers after clipping.

Finishes that look dressed up

The clip itself does a lot of the work. These finishes look right with a party dress:

• Matte. A matte clip in black, cream or a muted shade looks quiet and grown-up. Matte sets are handy because you get several clips at once.
• Tortoiseshell. A warm, classic pattern that goes with gold jewelry and almost any dress color.
• Metal. Gold or silver-tone clips look like jewelry, which makes them the dressiest of the plain options.
• Velvet. Soft and rich, made for fall and winter parties.

Skip neon or glittery plastic for evenings. It reads casual and draws attention away from your earrings.

Size matters for dressy looks too. A large clip for thick or long hair holds the whole twist securely, and a secure clip looks neater by the end of the night.

Bow hair clips

A bow hair clip is the dressiest way to wear your hair half up or in a low twist. Bows usually clip at the nape, at the back of the head, over a low bun or a low ponytail.

Satin bows suit evening dresses, especially satin and silk. They catch the light and look festive without looking childish if the bow is a grown-up size and a simple shape. Velvet bows are the classic holiday hair accessory: a velvet bow over a low twist with a velvet or knit dress is about as easy as holiday dressing gets. For dress ideas, see holiday party dresses.

Choose a bow on a sturdy barrette or a claw base. A bow on a thin alligator clip tends to droop by the end of a long evening.

Pearl hair clips

Pearl hair clips look polished and a little romantic, which makes them a natural fit for weddings, showers and dinners. You'll see two main kinds: pearl claw clips, with faux pearls set along the top of a claw, and pearl barrettes, which lie flat against the hair.

A pearl claw clip holds a full twist, so it's the better choice for an all-day event. A pearl barrette works for a half-up style or to hold back one side. Keep the rest of your jewelry simple when you wear pearls in your hair: small studs or drops and no big necklace. A pearl clip can go with a pearl bag, but add pearl earrings too and the look gets busy. Two pearl pieces is plenty.

Dresses that suit a claw clip updo

Hair up shows off the neckline, so a claw clip updo looks best with dresses that have something going on above the bust.

• Strapless, off-the-shoulder and halter necklines. Hair up keeps the line of your shoulders clear, which is the point of these dresses.
• High necks and mock necks. Hair down can look bulky against a high collar. A low twist sits neatly above it.
• Open backs. A clip at the crown keeps your hair off the back detail.
• Puffed or statement sleeves. Volume at the shoulders and volume in your hair compete. Twist it up and the sleeves get the attention.

A sleek twist with a metal clip suits a slip dress or a fitted black dress for dinner; our date night dresses guide has more ideas for that kind of evening. A softer, looser twist with a bow suits a floral midi or a knit dress.

Hair accessories for a wedding guest

Hair accessories for a wedding guest follow the same unwritten rule as the dress: nothing that competes with the bride. In common practice, that means:

• Skip anything that looks like a veil, a tiara or a bridal headpiece.
• Keep pearl pieces modest if the bride is likely to wear pearls. A small pearl clip is fine; a big pearl crown is not.
• Match the clip to the formality. A metal or pearl clip suits an evening wedding; a tortoiseshell clip suits a daytime garden party.

A neat twist with a dressy clip is appropriate at most weddings, from a backyard party to a cocktail reception. For the rest of the look, see wedding guest jewelry.

Choosing the clip size for your hair

The right size makes the difference between a clip that holds and one that slides out by dessert.

• Fine or short hair: a small or mini clip for a half-up style or a small twist. If you're working with a shorter cut, our ideas for short haircuts show where clips can go.
• Medium hair: a medium clip, which covers most twists.
• Thick or long hair: a large clip with long teeth that reach around the whole twist.

Long teeth hold better than short ones, and a firm spring holds better than a loose one. Check the size in inches or centimeters on the listing rather than going by the word "large", because sizes vary a lot from brand to brand.

Finish with earrings

An updo shows your ears, so earrings finish the look. Small pearl studs or simple drops balance a pearl or metal clip without competing with it; big statement earrings look best with a plain matte clip. For styles that go with an updo, see pearl earrings.