Origins

The claw clip, a 1990s-2000s staple, experienced a massive Gen Z revival starting in 2019. What was once considered “mom hair” or “dated” became the effortless hair accessory of choice for messy buns, half-up styles, and quick updos.

The trend represented:

• Y2K nostalgia (early 2000s fashion resurgence)
• Effortless beauty (vs elaborate hairstyles)
• Functional fashion (holds hair while looking chic)

Viral Moments

2019-2020: Initial resurgence

• Fashion influencers styled claw clips on Instagram
• Vintage claw clips from thrift stores became trendy
• Brands started re-releasing 1990s claw clip designs

2020-2021: Pandemic surge

• Work-from-home hair solution (quick, easy, comfortable)
• TikTok tutorials: “Claw clip hairstyles” accumulated 500M+ views
• Gen Z discovered claw clips for first time (too young for 1990s/2000s original trend)

Popular Styles

Classic claw clip bun:

• Gather hair at crown or nape
• Twist and secure with claw clip
• Messy, effortless aesthetic

Half-up claw clip:

• Top section clipped back
• Bottom hair down
• Casual, flattering

Side claw clip:

• Hair swept to side, clipped
• Asymmetrical, romantic

Double claw clips:

• Two smaller clips (pigtails, space buns)
• Y2K, playful vibe

Claw Clip Types

Mini claws:

• Small, delicate (1-2 inches)
• Half-up styles, thin hair
• Subtle, everyday

Medium claws:

• Most versatile (3-4 inches)
• Buns, half-up, medium-thick hair
• Classic size

Jumbo claws:

• Large (4-5+ inches)
• Thick hair, full buns
• Statement accessory

Designs:

• Tortoiseshell (classic, neutral)
• Solid colors (black, white, pastels)
• Translucent, acrylic (Y2K nostalgia)
• Bow embellishments, pearls (coquette trend)

Brands

Affordable:

• Scünci (drugstore classic, $3-$10)
• Kitsch ($8-$15, cute designs)
• Amazon dupes ($5-$15 multi-packs)

Luxury/Indie:

• Machete (acetate clips, $20-$38, Instagram favorite)
• VALET Studio ($18-$28, London brand)
• Tasha ($12-$20, Nordstrom)
• L. Erickson ($20-$50, high-quality)

Celebrity Adoption

• Kendall Jenner: Claw clip bun street style (2020+)
• Hailey Bieber: Messy claw clip updos
• Emma Chamberlain: YouTube videos featuring claw clips (normalizing for Gen Z)
• Gigi Hadid: Model off-duty claw clip styling

Cultural Context

Claw clips resonated because:

• Y2K nostalgia (2019-2023): Butterfly clips, zigzag parts, early 2000s revival
• Effortless beauty: Clean girl, “no-makeup makeup” era
• Pandemic practicality: Easy, comfortable, no heat styling needed
• Gen Z discovery: Too young for original trend, experiencing as “new”

Hair Type Considerations

Works well for:

• Medium to thick hair (holds weight)
• Longer hair (shoulder-length+)
• Wavy to straight hair (smooth clip grip)

Challenges for:

• Very fine hair (may slip out)
• Super curly/textured hair (may not grip evenly)
• Short hair (not enough length to clip)

Economic Impact

Sales data (2020-2022):

• Claw clip sales increased 400%+ (NPD Group)
• Scünci (drugstore brand) claw clip revenue up 300%+
• Machete claw clips sold out repeatedly
• “Claw clip” Google searches spiked 500%+

Styling Tips

For hold:

• Twist hair before clipping (creates tension)
• Choose right size (too small = slips, too big = gaps)
• Angle clip downward (gravity helps hold)

For aesthetics:

• Let face-framing pieces fall (soften look)
• Intentionally messy (effortless vibe)
• Match clip to outfit color

Related Trends

• Scrunchies (2018-2020): Predecessor hair accessory revival
• Butterfly clips (2020): Y2K hair accessory (more playful, less functional)
• Heatless curls (2020): No-heat styling (claw clips hold curl rods)
• Slicked-back bun (2021): Clean girl alternative (opposite aesthetic)

Sources

• TikTok #ClawClip (2B+ views, 2020-2023)
• NPD Group: Hair accessory sales data (2020-2022)
• Vogue - “The Claw Clip Is Back” (September 2020)
• Google Trends: “Claw clip” search data (2019-2023)