Question for 1As regarding up-dos

**lunalocks** · October 10th, 2022, 05:04 PM

Apparently my beautiful daughter was in tears before a fancy wedding this past weekend due to her inability to keep her hair up in a up-do. Her husband called me today to tell me. He wants to know what kind of a clip he can get for her that would be suitable for a fancy event. He said "She should feel as beautiful as she is." What a guy. He was imagining some sort of claw-clip made of metal as her plastic claw clip was what she ended up using. Something simple to use but elegant.

Her hair is stick straight, fine and super slippery. I have tried to french braid it in the past (it falls out) use spin pins (they fall out) and sticks or forks (they fall out.) We have tried curling it to give it some texture (the curls fall out.) She typically wears her hair down all the time. It's about waist length now, but is typically anywhere from mid back to hip.

For her high school graduation she went with friends to a beauty school and had curls and a half-up They must have used a can of hairspray as it stayed put and it looked lovely. These days she is being careful about Covid as well as having no time to sit and have her hair fussed over, so for now going to a salon is out.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance.

**foreveryours** · October 10th, 2022, 05:12 PM

My hair's no way no how slippery but I have noticed that some claw clips are not purely hard material (plastic or metal) but have a silicone "lining" which is very grabby toward hair.

**lunalocks** · October 10th, 2022, 05:34 PM

Good to know! Thank you!

**lapushka** · October 10th, 2022, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by foreveryours

My hair's no way no how slippery but I have noticed that some claw clips are not purely hard material (plastic or metal) but have a silicone "lining" which is very grabby toward hair.

Gotta be careful with that lining though because I have ones that are about 5-10 years old and it decays; either it loosens from the base or it crumbles apart. I had this happen in my hair.

**foreveryours** · October 10th, 2022, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by lapushka

Gotta be careful with that lining though because I have ones that are about 5-10 years old and it decays; either it loosens from the base or it crumbles apart. I had this happen in my hair.

Yeah, I only use big claw clips in the shower (where noone can see) and then they're in for like only 10 minutes. The "lining" does seem to vary in "stickiness". I have an old REVLON (the other broke) which seems quite a bit grabbier than my other GOODYs.

**rosenester** · October 10th, 2022, 07:18 PM

Random thoughts here:
Would a ficcare (or similar style clip) work - I have not tried those yet, but also have really slippery fine hair. What about a braided updo or dutch braid? I just got a flexi-8 clip and can’t vouch for how long it holds quite yet, but plan on experimenting for fancier looks. I used claw clips for many years because it’s affordable, secure, convenient, but not the best for dressing up!

**tuanyiji** · October 10th, 2022, 09:35 PM

What’s the circumference of her hair and is it layered?
Sometimes it’s almost impossible to make an updo without an elastic pony first if the hair is too dense and too layered. My niece is 1a/C/5 inch pony circumference BSL-WL, and that’s after her mother thinned it for easier management in the summer, otherwise, it’d be too hot and too heavy. I can French braid or Dutch braid her hair easily, but it’s impossible to bun it up, the shortest layers just stick out, and the base is huge but there isn’t enough end to finish. I end up having to use an elastic band to secure the loop. I also use a hair net for a sleeker bun look so there won’t be nasty bits sneaking out. I estimate she’d at least be TBL when her layers grow out to be able to bun without a tie, and she’d better use a sturdy fork, not a slim stick.

Sam Villa has some updo tutorials for medium lengths hair for fancy events, but it involves crimping the hair to give it texture first and tons of hairsprays, not ideal if they want healthy hair in the long run.
But you can always try the pull-over braid with tons of elastic ties, you don't need hair products for that, and a romantic puffy braid or even elegant half-up is quite suitable for a fancy event.

**lapushka** · October 11th, 2022, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by foreveryours

Yeah, I only use big claw clips in the shower (where noone can see) and then they're in for like only 10 minutes. The "lining" does seem to vary in "stickiness". I have an old REVLON (the other broke) which seems quite a bit grabbier than my other GOODYs.

My brand is a EU one, called "Zenner", it's well-known around these parts, both in The Netherlands as in Belgium, at least.

**lunalocks** · October 11th, 2022, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by tuanyiji

What’s the circumference of her hair and is it layered?
Sometimes it’s almost impossible to make an updo without an elastic pony first if the hair is too dense and too layered. My niece is 1a/C/5 inch pony circumference BSL-WL, and that’s after her mother thinned it for easier management in the summer, otherwise, it’d be too hot and too heavy. I can French braid or Dutch braid her hair easily, but it’s impossible to bun it up, the shortest layers just stick out, and the base is huge but there isn’t enough end to finish. I end up having to use an elastic band to secure the loop. I also use a hair net for a sleeker bun look so there won’t be nasty bits sneaking out. I estimate she’d at least be TBL when her layers grow out to be able to bun without a tie, and she’d better use a sturdy fork, not a slim stick.

Sam Villa has some updo tutorials for medium lengths hair for fancy events, but it involves crimping the hair to give it texture first and tons of hairsprays, not ideal if they want healthy hair in the long run.
But you can always try the pull-over braid with tons of elastic ties, you don't need hair products for that, and a romantic puffy braid or even elegant half-up is quite suitable for a fancy event.

Her hair is not layered, and is not thick. She has crimped her hair once, but needed (my) help. Her braids will not puff. She HAS braided when damp and let it dry and that has given some texture, so that's an idea. I think any up do that requires extensive braiding she would not be able to do herself.

**lunalocks** · October 11th, 2022, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by lapushka

My brand is a EU one, called "Zenner", it's well-known around these parts, both in The Netherlands as in Belgium, at least.

Thank you. I looked for a Zenner and found the shark clips. How strange they look! But it;s an option. Do you use one or more than one at a time? Do you feel like this could pass as an elegant hair accessory?

I found these also - https://www.amazon.com/clear-claw-cl...lear+claw+clip - the rectangular ones look pretty cool to me.