Sharp hairpins???

[joyfulmom4]

I have some hairpins I liked very much when I bought them a few months ago, but which have recently worn through the little plastic-coated tips so they are now sharp and dangerous to my hair and scalp. Is there something that can be done to fix this? Can they be dipped or painted in something to re-cover the sharp tips?

[joyfulmom4]

Bumping.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[Akiko]

I paint sharp edges of my hairtoys with nail polish. If nail polish is thin, I coat multiple times. Make sure each coat is completely dry before the next application. If I mess up, remove with nail polish remover and start over again. It works great fine for me. I hope this helps a little.:)

[joyfulmom4]

I paint sharp edges of my hairtoys with nail polish. If nail polish is thin, I coat multiple times. Make sure each coat is completely dry before the next application. If I mess up, remove with nail polish remover and start over again. It works great fine for me. I hope this helps a little.:)

Thanks. Nail polish was one of the things I was considering. I will try it. Glad to know it works.

Good hairpins are hard to find. Most of the ones I see are too small or too thin and bendy. I ordered some on Ebay that were supposed to be nice and sturdy. They are. But the ends are sharp and blunt like they were cut w/ a wire cutters. No way is that going near my hair! shudder: I also have some that started out good, w/ tips covered, but they've worn through.

Waiting for my Amish pins to arrive from Plainly Dressed. Someone please tell me they are not going to be sharp?

[Akiko]

I forgot to mention that I have used my dremel tool as well as sandpaper to round off those sharp and blunt ends of hair sticks. Either one works great, too. If the sharp end is rather thick and sharp as you describe, I might try sandpaper. You can do a job fast and quick with a Dremel. If you don't have one, sandpaper will do the job. You need a little more elbow grease.

Start with a lower grit like 100. Then go up to 150 or 180. I usually finish with 250 grit. It is should make the surface pretty smooth. You can buy an assortment pack of different grits at Home Depot, Lowe's or any hardware store. Wal-mart may carry. You can finish with nail polish, too.

[rymorg2]

Amish pins aren't sharp. At least mine weren't that I remember. I can't use them now due to nickel allergies. So I sold them on the swap board.

As for bobby pins, when I used them, I would just throw them away if they lost the plastic pieces, since they were so cheap anyway.

NOW, I use good day hair pins. They're all plastic. They're larger than bobby pins but hold well. And I don't itch or break out in bumps from the nickel.

[joyfulmom4]

I forgot to mention that I have used my dremel tool as well as sandpaper to round off those sharp and blunt ends of hair sticks. Either one works great, too. If the sharp end is rather thick and sharp as you describe, I might try sandpaper. You can do a job fast and quick with a Dremel. If you don't have one, sandpaper will do the job. You need a little more elbow grease.

Start with a lower grit like 100. Then go up to 150 or 180. I usually finish with 250 grit. It is should make the surface pretty smooth. You can buy an assortment pack of different grits at Home Depot, Lowe's or any hardware store. Wal-mart may carry. You can finish with nail polish, too.

Thanks. I may have to try this. Sometime when I'm bored and sitting around waiting perhaps?

I don't know if it's worth it or not. Like rymorg said, pins are cheap. I could throw them. But these particular pins are the best ones I've found in stores and only available at the beauty supply shop here, so they're not quite as cheap or easily replaceable. I was so pleased with them when I found them, but now that the tips are worn, I'm not happy.

If the Amish pins are all they've been talked up to be, I may not bother. But then again, it may be worth a try.

[susiemw]

there is a latex (I think it's latex, maybe just something like that) at the hardware store that you could dip the ends in and have the ends coated. I'll have to see if I can find the name of the product for you... and what colors it comes in. obviously, hot pink wouldn't be helpful!

Susan

[tameriska]

there is a latex (I think it's latex, maybe just something like that) at the hardware store that you could dip the ends in and have the ends coated. I'll have to see if I can find the name of the product for you... and what colors it comes in. obviously, hot pink wouldn't be helpful!

Susan

Maybe something like this? (http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarestore.com/49-265-rubberized-plastic-coating.aspx)

[HotRag]

Hi.
I have had a lot of pins with sharp ends.
I used i file to smoothen the sharp blunt ends.
That works really fine.
When bobby pins are easy bent (when one not want that), I use to bend them as old bobby pins (real old, 30's or so). They are then more curved, the "upper" pin section I straighten at the end near the bend. (Hard to explain in my bad English.)

I use the file when I make hair toys from old string gallows too :D
Really smooth ends if I do it carefully.

[joyfulmom4]

Maybe something like this? (http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarestore.com/49-265-rubberized-plastic-coating.aspx)

Thanks! I went to the store and got some of this today. I had to go grocery shopping anyway, so stopped at the hardware store on the way. I will report back how it turns out.

[joyfulmom4]

Good news! I tried the Plasti-Dip and it worked great. It was about $8 at my local hardware store. It took just a few minutes to dip the tips of a couple dozen pins. The jar is large enough to dip a lifetime supply of hairpins. They have dried and appear to be just like new. The tips are round and hard and black and seem secure. I'm pleased with the results. The only downside is that the stuff SMELLS something awful. You must use it outdoors or with excellent ventilation b/c the fumes are very noxious.

[Akiko]

Great news! I should try, too. So how does the tip look like? Is it like the round tip of a bobby pin?

[joyfulmom4]

Great news! I should try, too. So how does the tip look like? Is it like the round tip of a bobby pin?

Yes, it looks exactly like the round dipped tip of a bobby pin. And so far it seems to be adhering very well. I was a little worried it might peel right off, but in fact it seems as though it might even be more secure than the bobby pin tips.

It was very easy and quick to do, so I would do it again (will do it again) in the future. If it were time-consuming or fiddly or it didn't give good results, I would just toss the pins and get new. But this was so fast and simple that I don't mind doing it. And the cost of the can was under $10 USD and there's enough to last forever unless it dries up or otherwise gets old on me.

[Akiko]

That's great, joyfulmum. I am going to check out my local hardware store!

[joyfulmom4]

That's great, joyfulmum. I am going to check out my local hardware store!

Just remember to use it outside or with really good ventilation. The fumes are very strong and I would not want to breathe them or expose my family to them. Outside with a light breeze was no problem, but I first opened the can indoors and immediate slapped the lid on and took it outdoors.

[Akiko]

Great advice. I don't want to get a headache. I will make sure I use it outside... It is nice to know there is a product for thick coating. My nail polish works. But it does not build up fast. Thanks again.