Sticks, forks, hair toys in general..

[Julescarm]

I've been posting more now that I noticed I can save login info. This year I noticed I can finally wear the metal hair stick I got last year and actually get good results. My hair is very fine, but at 28 inches I can do more with it. Now poor husband has a million on his wish app to choose to buy me. Putting up hair, I'm now curious. What's the difference between a hair stick and hair fork? The other choices? I heard about a ficcare? What's that? What type of hair do you have and what works best for your length? Any favorites you'd recommend?

[mwallingford]

Alrighty, let's see what we can do! *cracks knuckles*

The difference between a hair fork and a hair stick (I believe) is mainly in the number of tines it has. Forks have at least two tines, but could have 3, 4, 5, or even 6 or above, but more commonly up to four prongs. A hair stick is just a single "prong", and they can be sold as single sticks or as a pair. I'm not sure if you have slippery hair like I do, but forks tend to hold MUCH better for me, followed by pairs of hair sticks (because one will wiggle its way right out of my hair)

It can be pretty darn confusing when looking at hair toys for the first time because there are so many options! I'm sure this isn't a comprehensive list, but there are metal Flexi Eights (https://shop.lillarose.biz/MemberToolsDotNet/ShoppingCartv3/MainCart.aspx?CatalogueID=211&RequestedGroup1Code=FX&RequestedGroup2Code=ALL) on lillarose.biz, spin pins, sticks, forks, and as you mentioned, ficcares!

A ficcare (https://www.ficcare.com) is like a metal beak clip, but with MUCH better hold, and far superior quality. However, they're not exactly cheap. I got my first and only ficcare off of the swap board for a much more reasonable price and it is still in fantastic shape. They can be a bit fickle for me, but they once they're in a good spot in your bun they hold like nobodies business! I attached a link to them, but if it would help you see one in action, I'm wearing mine in my avatar picture

As for what works best for me I have several favorites, though depending on your hair texture and type that could vary quite a bit. I have slippery 1a Houdini hair with average thickness at around tailbone length. And to be honest, two claw clips (one on each side of my bun) works just as well as more expensive toys, but they're a lot less pretty! I LOVE Furnivalsworshop (Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/FurnivalsWorkshop?ref=search_shop_redirect)) helix forks, my wooden four prong fork, my Flexi eights, and my ficcare

Welcome to the LHC by the way, and have fun shopping! I tend to have champagne taste on a beer budget, so I apologize that I don't have experience with as many of the really neat hair toys! I've heard amazing things about Quattro (another Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/quattro?ref=shop_sugg)) and I'd love to try something of theirs someday, but for now their items are a bit out of my price range...

[cjk]

https://i.imgur.com/mMNjsCi_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

Those were wonderful definitions. Doubt I could improve on them if I tried. So instead, I'll just include a picture I took today.

These are a wooden hair fork with two tines, and a hairstick made from horn. You'll notice that the fork is just two sticks running roughly parallel to each other, connected at the top.

And no, the lengths aren't that important, these just happen to be different lengths.

There are many other designs as well, some much more fanciful than others. But these are representative of the most common ones you'll encounter.

[Milady_DeWinter]

I think both just answered wonderfully :) If you want more info, to peep popular hair toy shops etc, you can visit the threads on the Conventional products and hair accessories forum here :o Welcome to the LHC!

[Julescarm]

Thank you for your replies! So much detail in one post! My hair sticks I have hold, which surprise me as nothing usually hold for long. I'll check out The link as long as my phone will allow. Thank you all for welcoming me to this forum, which is a wealth of info!