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).
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