Hair Toy Trends?

**Shorty89** · May 26th, 2020, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Robot Ninja

Didn't he close his shop? I think ONN is the new source for cheap acrylics since he doesn't have a waiting list anymore, and he has a bigger color selection and better customer service anyway.

LadyIduns were a Huge Deal a few years ago, but people don't seem to be so obsessive over them anymore.

He recently reopened with his own website.

I don't see moons talked about as much these days.

**AmaryllisRed** · May 26th, 2020, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by auburntressed

Speaking of old trends... does anyone have a good substitute for Ketylos, now that he is shut down? I would really like to get more something that is at least mostly comparable to ketylo. And what does ONN stand for? I could use some acrylics.

ONN is Outnumbered Novelties. I have a couple of pairs and I really love them.

I have seen Ketylos and Lady Iduns on the swap board.
Moons... that surprises me since it seems like there's a bit of a learning curve to using them. I've seen them pop up in discussion over the time I've been here but not a lot. Wasn't there a maker of moons who went out of business, too?

**sumidha** · May 26th, 2020, 09:02 PM

I think there's definitely an availability thing that affects trends, when something is more difficult to get it generates more buzz around it, like Mamacats, Ficcares when they were almost out of business and the moons, before several people started making them.

**Kat** · May 26th, 2020, 09:13 PM

I remember when spin pins first came out...they were "hair scroos" back then. We did a group order here. (I bought two, realized that wasn't enough, but they were A. expensive at that time and B. there was never another group order, so I never got more. I can't even remember now how or when I finally got rid of them... I'm not sure I ever even used them once.) I have to admit, they were heavier-duty/nicer than the ones you can get from Goody and such now.

Are Ficcares still popular?

**sapphire-o** · May 27th, 2020, 07:52 AM

Are we talking about old hairtoys or current hairtoys? I'm an old timer and I can sit and talk about hairtoy history for hours.

Basically the trend is going from limited choices to more variety and many vendors, from simple to complex, and cheaper to expensive toys over the past 14 years or so.

Toys people don't seem excited about any more:

Hair scroos (spin pins)
Amish hairpins, Good Hair Days pins, Bunheads hair pins
Vintage hair combs
Beaded hairsticks (Mei Fa, Longlocks, Maiden's Treasure ...etc.)
Plain wooden sticks and forks from many makers (i.e. Baerreis, Morgan's Mane)
France Luxe (and other high-end) combs and claws
Leather and other hair slides except Flexi (I once bought a leather slide Quattro and it nearly broke my heart, but looking at the prices of his other stuff it's not too bad.)
Many metal hairtoys like bun cage by Bronze jeweller, titanium sticks by Argus, Ravenslair stuff. It's a shame because they're really works of art. Only Quattro seems to have persisted.
Twisty hairtoys seems less popular now, like Ketylos or mamacat. I think they were meant to show off Dymondwood.

Ficcares stood the test of time it seems. I still have the first one I bought here on swap board 14 years ago and it's still good. Acrylic hair sticks and forks are not as hot as before but still beautiful and good value. "Common" hair accessories are never out of course. I'm sure everyone here have some hair ties, scrunchies, barrettes and headbands. But mostly I noticed hairtoys nowadays are pricy, exquisite and some are unimaginably beautiful. They entice people's desires and you can't just buy one.

I try to resist the new vendors because I have so many hairtoys already. If I start buying from a vendor I might have to build a collection.

I remember studying various exotic wood when they were popular. Then there were Dymondwood of various colors. Then came acrylics in every color imaginable. And of course Ficcares keep coming out with new colors and designs.

I would say hairtoys are fun and can be exciting, but they're addicting and can be dangerous for your bank account. Make sure you set a budget and do not go over it. Sure they have some values on the swap board but it's not a sure thing. Build up your emergency fund first. Sorry to be naggy. I really meant to say have fun collecting (but don't go over budget).

**AmaryllisRed** · May 27th, 2020, 08:10 AM

Wow, this is all so interesting! (At least I think so-- hope it's not just me!)

sumidha, that definitely makes sense. Just like anything else, that limited availability really drives people's desire!

Kat-- when I went to Sally's looking for spin pins, they called them hair screws (or scroos, I guess). I do like mine but I'd be interested to see what the older ones were like.

sapphire-o-- Lots of those things you've listed seem to be the ones that either sit on the swaps FOREVER or someone comes and snatches them up super fast! It's so Interesting how that happens.

I had a couple of slides when I was younger, just from Claire's probably, nothing fancy. I could never get them to work right. But one was metal and the part you stuck a stick through was completely rigid. The only way I could get it to stay in my hair was over an elastic. The other one was "leather"

and more flexible but still pretty picky about how much hair I put in it.

**Hellebore** · May 27th, 2020, 08:19 AM

I just looked up what a bun cage is and now I totally want one. These are so cool!

Maybe this thread will bring some trends back!

**Shorty89** · May 27th, 2020, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by sapphire-o

Are we talking about old hairtoys or current hairtoys? I'm an old timer and I can sit and talk about hairtoy history for hours.

Basically the trend is going from limited choices to more variety and many vendors, from simple to complex, and cheaper to expensive toys over the past 14 years or so.

Toys people don't seem excited about any more:

Hair scroos (spin pins)
Amish hairpins, Good Hair Days pins, Bunheads hair pins
Vintage hair combs
Beaded hairsticks (Mei Fa, Longlocks, Maiden's Treasure ...etc.)
Plain wooden sticks and forks from many makers (i.e. Baerreis, Morgan's Mane)
France Luxe (and other high-end) combs and claws
Leather and other hair slides except Flexi (I once bought a leather slide Quattro and it nearly broke my heart, but looking at the prices of his other stuff it's not too bad.)
Many metal hairtoys like bun cage by Bronze jeweller, titanium sticks by Argus, Ravenslair stuff. It's a shame because they're really works of art. Only Quattro seems to have persisted.
Twisty hairtoys seems less popular now, like Ketylos or mamacat. I think they were meant to show off Dymondwood.

Ficcares stood the test of time it seems. I still have the first one I bought here on swap board 14 years ago and it's still good. Acrylic hair sticks and forks are not as hot as before but still beautiful and good value. "Common" hair accessories are never out of course. I'm sure everyone here have some hair ties, scrunchies, barrettes and headbands. But mostly I noticed hairtoys nowadays are pricy, exquisite and some are unimaginably beautiful. They entice people's desires and you can't just buy one.

I try to resist the new vendors because I have so many hairtoys already. If I start buying from a vendor I might have to build a collection.

I remember studying various exotic wood when they were popular. Then there were Dymondwood of various colors. Then came acrylics in every color imaginable. And of course Ficcares keep coming out with new colors and designs.

I would say hairtoys are fun and can be exciting, but they're addicting and can be dangerous for your bank account. Make sure you set a budget and do not go over it. Sure they have some values on the swap board but it's not a sure thing. Build up your emergency fund first. Sorry to be naggy. I really meant to say have fun collecting (but don't go over budget).

I don't know why twisty hairsticks went out of style. I loved my Ketylos early on in my LHC history. I wish I still had them.

**Robot Ninja** · May 27th, 2020, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Shorty89

I don't know why twisty hairsticks went out of style. I loved my Ketylos early on in my LHC history. I wish I still had them.

Is anyone even making Ketylo-style sticks anymore?

**redfrau** · May 27th, 2020, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by sapphire-o

France Luxe (and other high-end) combs and claws

A few years ago, I bought a big France Luxe claw on a whim using a gift card I'd received for Ulta. At the time, I was thinking it was too expensive and I should've bought more products instead. But that thing has lasted and is so much more comfortable and 'smooth' than the cheap claws I would get at the drugstore. The cheap claws are too scratchy on the ends and make my head itch, but that expensive one I can wear all day long.

If it's something you'll use a lot, it pays to splurge on the good things when you can.