Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Use Hair Pins for Ouch Free Hairstyles
Original Article Published: 7/11/24
Article Updated: 8/29/24
The algorithms of my social media feeds get me. I am always on the hunt for something interesting or some new inventions that will make my life easier or better. Most recently, my Pinterest feed showed me some hairpins that intrigued me.
Unfortunately, they were on the pricey side, 3 for $50. I quickly turned to Amazon to see if I could find a dupe and I did. Read on to learn about my find of Good Hair Days Magic Grip Hairpins and how to use them. I also talk about a larger hairpin that I use to create a half up hairstyle inspired by Brigitte Bardot.
Good Hair Days Magic-Grip Hairpins
While I awaited the delivery of my latest Amazon find, I did some research on hair pins. I have lots of things to keep my hair out of my face including claw clips, metal hair bows, and basic bobby pins and they work, but I love things that don’t pull my hair or are “ouch-free”. I even wrote about my ouch-free hairstyles here. I don’t like shoes that hurt my feet either. Pain for beauty or fashion isn’t always worth it to me.
One of my finished hairpin styles
In my research, I learned that the Magic-Grip hairpins, or other u-shaped hair pins are the precursor to the bobby pin. They have been created out of many materials and were worn to hold wigs into place, for decoration, or in Chinese culture were worn as a “right of passage” in a ceremony known as ji li. Learn about the fascinating history of hairpins in this article.
How to Use Good Hair Days Magic Grip Hairpins
Shopping Links: Grab Good Hair Days Magic-Grip Hairpins at the following retailers:
Buy similar hairpins on TEMU: Use my link here and search “hairpins” on their app or website! Use code afe55197 for 30% off at checkout (for new users only)!
I tested using the Magic Grip Hair Pins to create a messy bun and they worked great. See the look below come together + a messy bun tutorial via my Brigitte Bardot inspired article here.
See a video tutorial of my messy bun in my YouTube video above or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden.
I used the hair pins to create an easy messy bun
We love this other Amazon find, the Conair handy t-shirt towel wrap for drying our hair faster! Ge our 1-minute tutorial below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Bobby pins do well to hold my hair into many shapes, but sometimes they aren’t the prettiest. The Magic Grip Hairpins are a bit bulkier than a traditional bobby pin, but they come in clear, black and tortoise shell, helping them to blend in with many hair colors, but honestly, they are kind of neat looking, so I wasn’t worried about hiding them.
See me use a large butterfly hairpin in my video above to elevate my messy bun style or see it in my YouTube video on my channel @carolynjbraden.
These hairpins stay all day
They are similar to the u-shaped French hair pin, and you maybe could even call it a French hair pin, but it has a bit more shape to it. See some traditional French hair pins and hairstyle tutorials in this article by Martha Stewart.
The hairpins come in other colors to blend with many hair colors
When my Amazon package arrived, it got my set of 10 for $6.99 and instantly put them to work. In the social media videos of the pricier brand, they did a great job with the video tutorials in their ads.
They simply showed a person twisting their hair into a variety of styles (mostly half-up) and sliding the hairpin in to secure the hair into the style. I thought there was no way the slick plastic pin was going to stay in my hair, especially when it was freshly washed but it did!
These hairpins do work like magic!
I like to get my hair out of my face sometimes, so I started with a simple style of straightening my hair using my Conair INFINITIPRO flat iron (see my process for this in this article), and then twisting up a small section of hair by my forehead.
Twisting a section of hair
I then slid the hairpin into the hair twist, with the pointed ends facing towards my forehead. It gripped and stayed instantly. It was MAGIC, just like the package said!
See me create a hairstyle using these hairpins in my 1 minute video below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
The first time I tried the hairpins, I twisted my hair in the same way and secured it with the hairpins, then pulled my hair into a low ponytail. It held all day.
Sliding in a hairpin
For the style for this article, I decided to keep my hair down, so I twisted another section beside the first hairpinned section, and added another hairpin. It stayed too and after wearing them all day, they not only stayed put, but my head never hurt.
Twisting a second section of hair
I’ll definitely be trying these magic hairpins for other styles. On the back of the box of Magic-Grip hairpins, they tell you how to create a classic French Bun with them, which seems pretty easy.
Sliding in a second hairpin
If you are looking for new ways to hold your hair into a style that actually works, check out Good Hair Days Magic-Grip hairpins or similar brands. The pricier brand’s hairpins look almost the same, but they did come in other colors and are larger. I created a half up hairstyle inspired by Brigitte Bardot using the larger hair pin below.
The finished hairpin look
If you are wanting a larger hairpin to create a half up hairstyle, you can get the pricier brand’s hair pin or Temu has a similar one. I ordered a baby blue version for around $3 and LOVE IT. See more of my Bardot inspired hair and makeup looks here.
Half up hairstyle with a large hair pin
The larger hair pin is nice when you want to create a half up hairstyle because it’s all you need. It slides right into your hair, keeping the style all day. See me create a half up hairstyle using one large hair pin below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Half up Bardot inspired hairstyle
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Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.