11 90’s Hair Accessories That Are Back in Style

If you haven’t noticed, the 2000s are undoubtedly experiencing a major comeback at the moment as per the 20-year rule. However, we love seeing how the decade preceding it is still continuing its comeback, albeit in slightly more subtle yet creative ways. Unsurprisingly, many hair accessories that were popular in the 90s continued to be so into the following decade.

No matter what your fashion sensibility is, we can all agree that hair accessories, whether it be a headband, butterfly clip, bucket hat, or an array of clips in your tresses, can do a lot for your outfit. Here are a couple of hair accessories we wore back when we were kids that are making waves again and that you should shop to match your everyday looks and get noticed. 

Stretch Comb Headbands

Back in the 90s, it was hard not to see everyone from celebrities on the red carpet to your classmates walking the halls who wore stretch-comb headbands. Like a regular hair comb accessory that you slide into a section of your hair to pull it back, what made these hair accessories different is their circular shape that wraps around your entire head. 

And these fashion hair accessories are back in a big way. Best of all, they seem to be made with more elastic, lighter-weight plastic, so they’re less likely to pull your hair, fall out midday, or scratch your forehead while putting them on – all wins in our book.

Claw Clips

Claw clips were a cool alternative to plain ponytails, so it’s no wonder why these hair accessories are back to hold your curls in place. Today’s claw clip offerings come in a bunch of colours and prints, as well as more compact, lightweight silhouettes.

For anyone with fine hair, the pared-down clips ensure your style stays put and doesn’t fall out or sag within minutes of clipping it up.

Hair Scarves

Whether you opt for a silky square of fabric or a classic bandana, you simply can’t go wrong with the newly rediscovered trend of hair scarves – especially when headed to the beach. In addition to these hair accessories being an easy way to experiment with your look, it’s also a simple yet effective way to accent ponytails and buns.

Plus, when not in use in your hair, you can tie them around the strap of your purse for fashion bonus points.

Statement Headbands

Whether you’re trying to conceal oily roots on your head or hoping to spruce up an otherwise low-key ensemble, top off your look with a bold and chic headband. While the 90s was home to a selection of headbands ranging in width and textile, nowadays, it’s all about the padded, knotted, and embellished bands.

Shop for these hair accessories if you’re looking for something simple yet effective.

Snap Clips

Traditional bobby pins that match your hair colour are the utilitarian way to pin your hair back, but snap clips do the job with more of a flourish. What once was only available in plain metal options are now back and jazzier than ever with a wide colour palette and bedazzled silhouettes.

Lucky for us, they’re most readily accessible at drugstores, so it’s easy to pop in and snag a set for yourself, and snap clips are such a fun way to accessorise casual outfits and cocktail attire alike.

Mini Claw Clips

If you love claw clips but prefer half-up hairstyles or more subtle accessories, you’ll want to make room for a few mini claw clips in your repertoire. These shrunken-down clamps are designed specifically for pulling back small sections of hair, like your bangs or front layers.

Given their adorably tiny silhouette, these clips are often sold in a pack, so you won’t have to worry about finding two clips that pair well together.

Oversized Bows

One easy way to stand out with something simple is with oversized bow hair accessories. These were all the rage in preppy style, but now you can wear these with anything you like. Whether you want to add something to your girly dress or spruce up your t-shirt and jeans, opt out of the bucket hat; wearing this hair accessory will definitely do the trick.

Scrunchies

Tired of boring, skinny hair ties that are all about utility and nothing else? It’s time to turn your attention to the resurgence of scrunchies. In addition to the practical use of these hair accessories keeping your hair up and out of your face, the shape of scrunchies also meant you didn’t get any creases in your hair even after wearing them all day. Voluminous, colourful scrunchies are guaranteed to make any outfit pop.

Butterfly Clips

The more adventurous sister to the mini claw clip, butterfly clips are another 90s hair trend that is all the rage. Anyone who came of age at the end of the 20th century will surely recall Lizzie McGuire’s favourite hair accessories.

The sitcom icon rocked these tiny butterfly clips in so many ways, from pulling back half a dozen small sections of hair to create a headband of butterflies, to accenting messy space buns and braids.

Butterfly clips come in a variety of colours and sizes, so no matter how you use them, you’ll be glad to have the nostalgic 90s hair accessories in your beauty arsenal.

Clip-in Hair Extensions

Experimenting with your look was such an important part of growing up in the 90s, but the trend of colouring your hair a rainbow wasn’t something that teens and young adults wanted to do, especially when dyeing would seriously damage the hair.

Instead, they used fun – and most importantly – non-damaging, coloured clip-in extensions. Clip-in hair extensions are the perfect solution for experimenting with colour without having to dye your own hair.

Colourful Elastics

Even when wearing your most casual clothing, it’s always nice to add some more interesting details to pack a bit more of a punch. If clips or a headband aren’t your thing, colourful elastics are such a fun yet easy way to spice up your tresses and outfit just a little bit.

They can make a simple braid just a little more chic, and if you feel like letting your tresses down, you have a cute little wrist accessory.

Final Note

We love seeing childhood staples like our hair accessories make a comeback into our adulthood, with new ways to imagine styling them with our modern styles. No matter what your fashion is, any of these hair accessories will work – from the humble hair comb to the practical claw clip, all of these items are such fun and useful pieces to wear.