I snapped a hairstick!

**Arrow** · July 21st, 2011, 11:57 AM

I bought a pair of £3 hair sticks from Claire's Accessories yesterday. I was attempting a Lazy Wrap Bun this morning, and when I wiggled the hairstick through my hair it snapped in two! Was I too rough with it or something?

Anyway, I got an exchange from Claire's, but I've got a vague memory of this happening before... Is there a technique to using hairsticks correctly or am I just better off with something more surdy than the wooden ones Claire's sell? I don't want to buy some really pretty expensive ones if they're just going to snap on me :0(

Arrow
>----->

**darklyndsea** · July 21st, 2011, 12:03 PM

While I'm still practicing, I have some cheap metal hairsticks, because I've snapped hairsticks too. With metal, it bends rather than breaking, so you can bend it back.

**Arrow** · July 21st, 2011, 01:31 PM

Darklyndsea - Thanks for the advice. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has destroyed a hairstick!

Does anyone know where I can get metal hairsticks in the UK? Are they at all damaging to the hair?

**PrincessBob** · July 21st, 2011, 01:40 PM

I've snapped sticks. Sorry, I don't know any magic, just keep practicing, don't twist your hair too tightly, and try not to over-torque your stick.

**Roseate** · July 21st, 2011, 01:49 PM

Don't worry, the expensive ones won't snap!

My hair is a stick-eater, but you could put my Graydog through a meat grinder and I swear that thing would come out OK.

Actually, some expensive sticks are still snappable. Those topped with fancy beads and such, sometimes you are paying more for the design than the strength. Even then the designers are often able to repair them for you for little or no cost: they stand behind their work, Claire's could care less!

**Arrow** · July 21st, 2011, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by PrincessBob

try not to over-torque your stick.

What does "over-torque" me?

Originally Posted by Arrow

What does "over-torque" me?

ETA: *sigh* I meant "mean". What does over-torque mean?

**darklyndsea** · July 21st, 2011, 03:06 PM

I don't think my metal sticks have damaged my hair, but my hair's pretty much indestructible; YMMV.

Over-torquing is when you put more pressure on the end of it when you're flipping it than the stick can take...er, I think. Basically, try to remember what it felt like just before you snapped it, and if it feels that way again, stop before you break it!

**PrincessBob** · July 21st, 2011, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by darklyndsea

Over-torquing is when you put more pressure on the end of it when you're flipping it than the stick can take...er, I think. Basically, try to remember what it felt like just before you snapped it, and if it feels that way again, stop before you break it!

^^^Pretty much that.

**Vani1902** · July 21st, 2011, 08:22 PM

The cheap hair sticks naturally suck lol I once bought two pairs from Sally's. I wore them ONCE and they are bent. I don't even have much hair!!!
Aside from wood, acrylic hair sticks are pretty sturdy also.
In regards to metal, I have heard of people using knitting needles as hair sticks. It seems to be popular. That might be a good option. Maybe you can go to your local hobby shop and check out the knitting needles. They are cheap and readily available.

**Sinnamon** · July 22nd, 2011, 02:40 PM

I guess it't just the quality of the wood.. It happend to me too once, with a Claires stick. It hurt though, the stick broke off in the middle of the bun, and the ends caught hair..