Hair toys take Manhattan

[wendyg]

For a variety of incoherent reasons, I wandered into Bendel's (56th/57th and 5th) today and discovered that among its market stall-style groups it has quite a few hair toys, particularly on the ground floor, where I found 1) a grouping including amazingly comfortable headbands with and without glittery flowers, fancy-colored claw clips, glittery barrettes, and various ponytail things) at prices more or less in line with the craft stuff we buy here (eg, a black headband with a black beade flower, $58; a beaded black headband that looks somewhat like Ficcare's Roman style, $2; 2) another grouping with dozens of headbands with all sorts of bows, feathers, etc, plus other stuff. I bought one of the less expensive headbands from the first group, and the clerk said they've gotten very good feedback on them; the earpieces on this one are very thin metal, and do not argue with my glasses *at all*. I am impressed.

I walked past Pat Areias last night, but nothing hair-related is visible from the street, just loads of belt buckles (with belts attached) and that sort of stuff.

Any favorites worth checking out, anyone who lives here?

wg

[Neoma]

wendyg, you may want to try Bigalow's Pharmacy -- 414 6 Ave, (212) 533-2732. They have a plethora of upscale products, including Ficcares and other hair accessories.

[wendyg]

Would never have occurred to me. Thanks.

wg

[mira-chan]

There is also Z Chemists on 57th, between 5th and 6th Ave that have Ficcare and many other hair things.

[wendyg]

So funny - you wouldn't really think of drug stores as a source for higher-end hair items. But then, it's all Duane Reade around here. There's a blog entry I must write about how the big chains are slowing down the pace of Manhattan.

wg

[bjt]

I hate to say it, but I've been to all those places mentioned and am not a fan. a few do have ficcares, but tend to stick with the black, brown and pearl ones. And other that, its a sea of plastic stuff.
I have yet to find good metal or wood sticks and toys. *sigh* but that's just my opinion, I've had a lot of people tell me in the past how they love these places.

[mira-chan]

Originally Posted by bjt

I hate to say it, but I've been to all those places mentioned and am not a fan. a few do have ficcares, but tend to stick with the black, brown and pearl ones. And other that, its a sea of plastic stuff.
I have yet to find good metal or wood sticks and toys. *sigh* but that's just my opinion, I've had a lot of people tell me in the past how they love these places.

Clydes on Madison and 76th or so has the interesting color Ficcare and types. Tri-color and stuff not on the website. C.O. Bigelow has boxwood kanzashi.

[wendyg]

Well, I went yesterday to Bigelow's (note spelling) and Z Chemists. The former has quite an array of plastic claw clips of various shapes and sizes, plus some nice headbands (including one I saw at Bendels for $28 at $16). Also some plastic hair sticks. Z Chemists has more headbands than I knew existed (lots of velvet ones), as well as a bowl of L'Eriksson stuff - velvet-covered barrettes, silk-covered claw clips of excellent quality). Both had some Ficcares. Bigelow's had just the basic Maximas colors. Z had a few Ficcarissimos (S and M) and a few colors like golden pearl, magenta, eggplant, etc.

I don't think I will get to Clydes this trip. I leave today by bus from Port Authority, and I'm already on the West side.

wg