The Ultimate Guide to the Best Hair Clips to Pair with Your Blowout

There is nothing quite like the feeling of walking out of a salon with a fresh, bouncy blowout. The volume is sky-high, the ends are perfectly curled, and the shine is undeniable. However, the challenge often lies in maintaining that pristine look once you leave the stylist's chair. Whether you are attempting a DIY blowout at home or trying to preserve a professional service for a few extra days, the tools you use are just as important as the products you apply. Among these tools, hair clips are the unsung heroes of hair styling.

Finding the best hair clips to pair with your blowout is about more than just aesthetics; it is about functionality, hair health, and longevity. The wrong clip can leave unsightly dents, flatten your hard-earned volume, or even cause breakage to fragile, heat-styled strands. Conversely, the right clips can act as setting tools to lock in curls, sectioning aids to make drying manageable, or statement accessories that complement your smooth texture without ruining the style.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the specific types of clips that every blowout enthusiast should own. We will delve into the science of setting hair, the difference between sectioning and styling clips, and the fashionable options that protect your look while adding a touch of glamour. Whether you have fine hair that struggles to hold a curl or thick tresses that require heavy-duty containment, understanding which clips to use is the secret to a long-lasting, salon-quality finish.

The Science of the Set: Why Clips Matter

To understand why specific clips are necessary, one must first understand the mechanics of a blowout. Hair is malleable when it is hot and sets in its shape when it cools. This is the fundamental principle behind thermal styling. When you blow-dry your hair with a round brush, you are using heat to break down the hydrogen bonds in the hair shaft, reshaping them into a smooth, voluminous curve. However, if the hair is allowed to fall heavy and flat while it is still warm, gravity will counteract your efforts, and the volume will collapse.

This is where the best hair clips to pair with your blowout come into play. By using clips to hold the hair in a lifted or curled position while it cools, you are essentially "locking in" the style. This process, often referred to as "setting," ensures that the hydrogen bonds reform in the desired shape—lifted at the root and curled at the ends. Professional stylists often pin hair up immediately after a section is dried to ensure maximum bounce.

Furthermore, the texture of the clip matters significantly. Metal clips conduct heat and can help the hair cool down faster if used correctly, while plastic clips are lightweight and less likely to snag. The tension of the spring is also crucial; too tight, and you get a crimp mark (the enemy of a smooth blowout); too loose, and the section falls out. Therefore, selecting the right clip is not merely a suggestion—it is a technical requirement for achieving that gravity-defying, 90s supermodel aesthetic.

1. The Workhorses: Alligator and Crocodile Clips

Before you can achieve the final look, you must master the drying process, and that requires impeccable sectioning. The most essential tools for the actual active styling phase are alligator and crocodile clips. While they may look similar, they serve slightly different purposes depending on your hair density.

Alligator Clips: These are typically slim, tapered clips with a single hinge and fine teeth along the bottom edge. They are the best hair clips to pair with your blowout if you have fine to medium hair. Their slim profile allows for precise sectioning, holding small panels of hair out of the way without slipping. Because they are lightweight, they do not pull on the roots, which is vital for maintaining volume in fine hair. When drying, you want to isolate the section you are working on completely; alligator clips ensure the wet hair doesn't touch the dry, styled sections, preventing frizz.

Crocodile Clips: For those with thick, coarse, or long hair, standard clips simply won't hold the weight. Crocodile clips feature a unique double-hinged design that allows the jaws to expand parallel to each other, creating a massive grip capacity. This "jaw-like" mechanism can hold large, heavy bundles of wet hair securely on top of the head. Using these ensures that you can focus on drying the bottom layers thoroughly without heavy, damp sections falling onto your brush. A good blowout requires tension and heat distribution, and you cannot achieve that if you are fighting with loose hair.

2. The Volume Keepers: Double-Prong Pin Curl Clips

If you have ever wondered how stylists get that incredible, lasting curl at the ends of a blowout, the secret is almost always pin curl clips. These are small, lightweight metal clips, usually made of aluminum or stainless steel. They are the absolute best hair clips to pair with your blowout for the "cooling" phase mentioned earlier.

After you have dried a section of hair with a round brush, while it is still hot, you should roll the section back up towards your scalp (mimicking the shape of a roller) and secure it with a double-prong clip. The double prong is superior to a single prong because it provides a more secure hold without leaving a deep indentation. Because these clips are metal, they don't insulate heat; instead, they allow the hair to cool down rapidly and evenly to room temperature.

To avoid creases—which are the most common complaint with metal clips—professionals recommend inserting the clip horizontally through the center of the curl, rather than clamping it across the hair shaft. Alternatively, you can place a small piece of tissue paper between the clip and the hair, a technique often used backstage at fashion shows. Leaving these clips in for just 15 to 20 minutes while you do your makeup can extend the life of your blowout by an entire day.

3. The Crease-Preventers: Flat Leaf "No-Bend" Clips

Once your blowout is finished, you face a new challenge: how to keep your hair off your face while applying skincare or makeup without ruining the front face-framing layers. Traditional clips or tucking hair behind the ears will almost certainly leave a "dent" or a "bend" in the smooth shaft of the hair, requiring you to re-apply heat to fix it.

The solution is the flat leaf clip, widely known as the "no-bend" or "creaseless" clip. These have become a staple in the kits of celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists worldwide. Usually made of acetate and flat stainless steel, these clips have no teeth. Instead, they rely on a flat surface area to hold the hair back gently. They are arguably the best hair clips to pair with your blowout during your morning routine.

Because they exert minimal pressure and have no serrated edges, they preserve the smooth cuticle of the blowout. You can use them to pin back your bangs or face-framing layers while you wash your face or apply foundation. When you remove them, the hair falls back into place perfectly, retaining the swoop and volume created by the blow dryer. They are inexpensive, effective, and absolutely non-negotiable for preserving a pristine hairline.

4. The Stylish Protector: Cellulose Acetate Claw Clips

The claw clip has made a massive resurgence, but not all claw clips are created equal. Cheap plastic clips with sharp seams can snag the hair cuticle, causing frizz and breakage. However, high-quality cellulose acetate claw clips are among the best hair clips to pair with your blowout when you need to put your hair up.

Cellulose acetate is a plant-based plastic that is polished and tumbled, resulting in an incredibly smooth finish that glides over the hair rather than grabbing it. If you need to shower without getting your hair wet, or if you simply want a half-up style that showcases your blowout, a large claw clip is ideal. The key is to twist the hair loosely. A tight twist will straighten out your blowout's waves.

To preserve the blowout shape with a claw clip, gather your hair into a low ponytail (without a tie), twist it upwards gently once or twice (the "French Twist" motion), and secure it with the clip. This method maintains the vertical volume and doesn't crush the curls at the bottom. When you release the clip, the hair cascades down with its body intact, rather than having the dreaded "ponytail dent" caused by elastic bands.

5. The Decorative Finish: Oversized Snap Clips and Barrettes

Sometimes, you want to accessorize your blowout without altering its structure. In this case, oversized snap clips and barrettes are excellent choices. Unlike small bobby pins which can disappear into a voluminous blowout and drag tight sections down, oversized clips make a statement while sitting essentially "on top" of the style.

When looking for the best hair clips to pair with your blowout for decorative purposes, look for clips with a curved backing. A curved clip follows the natural shape of the head and the volume of the hair, whereas a flat clip might press too hard against the skull, flattening the root lift you worked so hard to achieve. Pearl-encrusted slides or geometric metal shapes can add a touch of elegance to a smooth blowout.

Placement is key here. To maintain volume, avoid placing these clips too close to the parting line where the lift is highest. Instead, place them just above the ear or at the temple. This pulls the hair back slightly to open up the face while leaving the crown volume undisturbed. Always ensure the clasp mechanism is smooth and doesn't catch on individual strands when removing the accessory.

6. Material Matters: What to Avoid

While we have discussed what to use, it is equally important to discuss what to avoid. Cheap metal clips with rusted hinges or sharp edges are disastrous for a blowout. They can snag the hair, causing frizz that ruins the smooth texture. Similarly, rubberized clips, while great for grip, can create too much friction on the hair shaft, disrupting the cuticle alignment that gives a blowout its shine.

Velcro rollers are often paired with clips, and while they are fantastic for volume, securing them with the wrong clip can cause tangles. If you use rollers, secure them with the double-prong metal clips mentioned earlier, specifically at the base of the roller (closest to the scalp), ensuring the clip doesn't press into the hair wound around the roller.

Avoid clips with exposed springs. Hair can easily get caught in the coil of a spring, leading to painful snagging and inevitable breakage when you try to untangle it. Always opt for clips where the spring mechanism is concealed or high-quality professional clips where the tension is calibrated to hold without trapping strands.

Tips for Using Clips Without Ruining Your Style

Using the best hair clips to pair with your blowout requires a bit of technique to ensure you are helping, not hurting, your style. Here are some professional tips to get the most out of your accessories:

• The Tissue Trick: If you must use a clip that has a strong grip, fold a small piece of tissue or a playing card and place it between the clip and your hair. This acts as a buffer and prevents the dreaded crimp mark.

• Cool Down First: Never put a tight decorative clip or a plastic claw clip in hair that is still hot or damp unless it is a specific setting clip. Doing so will permanently set a dent into the hair that can only be removed by re-washing or re-wetting.

• Twist Away: When using sectioning clips, twist the section of hair before clipping it up. This keeps the section organized and prevents the clip teeth from getting tangles in the loose hair.

• Vertical Insertion: When using pin curl clips to set volume, insert the clip vertically at the root rather than horizontally. This lifts the root away from the scalp, maximizing volume while the hair cools.

• Regular Cleaning: Hairspray and product buildup can make clips sticky, which causes them to drag on the hair. Clean your clips regularly with warm soapy water and dry them thoroughly to prevent rust.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I sleep with clips in my hair to preserve my blowout? A: It is generally not recommended to sleep with hard metal or plastic clips as they can be uncomfortable and may cause breakage if you toss and turn. Instead, use soft scrunchies for a "pineapple" ponytail or use foam rollers. If you must use clips, opt for very small, flat pin curl clips covered by a silk bonnet.

Q: How do I fix a dent caused by a hair clip? A: If a clip leaves a mark, spray the area lightly with water or a heat protectant spray. Use a round brush and a hair dryer on medium heat to smooth out the dent, then blast it with cool air to set it again.

Q: Are metal or plastic clips better for blowouts? A: Both have their place. Metal clips are superior for setting curls because they don't retain heat, allowing the hair to cool faster. Plastic clips are better for sectioning wet hair and for decorative purposes as they are generally gentler on the cuticle.

Q: What clips are best for heavy, thick hair? A: Crocodile clips with a double-hinge design are the best choice for thick hair. They expand to accommodate large amounts of hair without popping open or slipping.

Q: Do creaseless clips really work? A: Yes, absolutely. Because they lack teeth and use a flat surface to distribute pressure, they hold the hair without forcing it into a crimped shape. They are essential for anyone who does their makeup after styling their hair.

Q: How many clips do I need for a DIY blowout? A: For a proper home blowout, you should have at least 4-6 large alligator or crocodile clips for sectioning, and if you want to set the hair for volume, you will need 10-12 double-prong pin curl clips.

Conclusion

Achieving the perfect blowout is an art form, but maintaining it is a science that relies heavily on the right tools. From the initial sectioning with crocodile clips to the volume-setting power of pin curl clips, and finally, the style-preserving magic of creaseless clips, every tool serves a vital purpose. Investing in the best hair clips to pair with your blowout is an investment in the health of your hair and the longevity of your style.

By choosing high-quality materials like cellulose acetate and stainless steel, and employing professional techniques like the "cool down" set, you can ensure that your hair looks salon-fresh for days. Don't let gravity or poor tools deflate your look—clip with confidence and enjoy the bounce.