25 Easy Claw Clip Hairstyles To Upgrade Your Casual Looks

First popularized in the 90s (per Vox), claw clips made a massive comeback a few years ago, along with several other 90s fashion trends that are finally coming back in style, and they have been seen on celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Bella Hadid (via Bustle). 

Claw clips are defined as a clip with two rows of "teeth" that clinch together to hold your hair in place. One of the benefits of claw clips is that they are, in general, more gentle on your hair than hair ties, as they place less strain on your scalp, are less of a hassle to twist, and can be used without the risk of pulling your hair out by accident when you want to take your style down. That is, if you know how to work with them.

For those who are inexperienced with claw clips, using one might seem a bit tricky. Claw clips can be large or small, they are suitable for all hair types and lengths, they come in all different shapes and colors, and they are super versatile when it comes to styling your hair. There are tons of cute hairstyles you can create with a claw clip, and there are plenty of stylistas to draw inspiration from to upgrade your casual looks. 

Claw clips each definitely have their own personalities, so to speak, and are, as such, an excellent way to express your style sensibilities while also acting as a utility. This round, groovy claw clip in mustard yellow gives us mod vibes. 

Holding in place a simple, twisted low bun, Instagram user @hair.of.anna uses a clip that lies flat to accentuate the shape of the bun. This claw clip with heart-shaped cutouts from En Route has a similar vibe. 

One of the simplest ways to use a claw clip is to take the front strands of your hair and gently clip them back behind your head. This style will not only keep your locks out of your face (perfect if you're growing out a layered cut), but it will also make your mane look more voluminous in the back. 

Instagram user @taaylor_xox has gathered her hair in a small fold and clipped it in place with a peach-colored clip for an effortless look. 

Those with short crops like a bob haircut can still use small claw clips in their hair! TikTok user @hairbymattebery demonstrates how she does it. 

First, she ties her hair back with an elastic. Then, after creating an opening just above the tie, she tucks the tied hair through it from the bottom, thus hiding the tie underneath the hair. After, she clasps the hair in place with a claw clip, creating a little bun, and pulls out a few strands to add volume to the hair that peeks out from the clip. 

To give the appearance of fuller hair, this claw clip style that TikTok user @alyssarayelee demonstrates in her video will do the trick. 

First, separate the hair into two sections; a top half, and a bottom half. Tie the top half of the hair into a loop bun, and do the same with the bottom half. Pull out some of the hair to make the buns appear larger. Then, clip the bottom bun in place with a claw clip so it appears as though the top bun is spilling over the top. And voila! Instantly voluminous hair, all thanks to a claw clip. 

Next, TikTok user @osoprecious demonstrates how to incorporate a claw clip into natural type 4 hair (if you're not sure what type you are, here are all the different curl types explained). 

First, she sections her hair into two parts, carving out the bulk of her hair in the center, leaving some pieces to frame her head and face. She then ties the bulk of her hair in a bun. Next, she smooths down the front pieces of her hair behind her ears and ties them together with the loose section of her hair into another bun. After she adds the finishing touches to her edges and applies heat to her front strands, she then releases the top bun and ties it into a ponytail so the hair spills over. Then, using a claw clip, she twists the bottom bun up and clips it in place so it looks as though her ponytail is spilling out of the clip. 

A ponytail is a classic hairstyle that can be tricky to upgrade on its own. As such, this casual look is ripe for an upgrade! 

This is where Instagram user @itshollylc comes in with her claw clip ponytail. First tying the hair into a ponytail, she then separates the ponytail into two sections, a top and bottom portion. She pulls the top section up across the top of her head, then clips it above the elastic with a claw clip. Afterward, she pulls the top section back over the claw clip and tucks it into place. Now the elastic is hidden, and the ponytail appears extra voluminous. 

While certain claw clip hair styles simply will not work for those with super short hair, using mini claw clips to add dimension to hair could be an ingenious way to add some interest to your casual looks. We love how Instagram user @xknifeplay uses a bunch of mini butterfly clips to style her hair — it looks as if they had landed right on her! 

Using the clips to gather certain pieces of hair can add both texture and depth to your short hairstyle, not to mention, it looks super cute. These adorable and inexpensive butterfly mini clips on Etsy are a great option.  

The French twist claw clip hairstyle might be on of the most popular, however, it requires a bit of finesse. TikTok user @miss_natasha_jade demonstrates how to properly achieve the look. 

First, gather the hair in a ponytail, then, at the top of the ponytail, twist the hair around two fingers so your ends face down. Then, clip the twist together. Should you want to touch up any loose strands, feel free to go in with some bobby pins as well. 

Sometimes, working with a claw clip comes down to what works best for you and your hair, and TikTok user @alysialoo has an inventive hair hack that could help your claw clip look become its own. 

First, she twists her hair into a ponytail and begins to pull the hair through on the third loop. However, instead of pulling the hair straight up, she twists it, and as she does so, keeps the hair together tightly. Holding the twist in place, she then pulls her ends up and clasps it all together with a claw clip. She tucks in any stray hair, and the result is a well-kept claw bun. 

Another cool way to wear a hair clip is with an unexpected, geometric shape. In this case, Instagram user @lauren_wambolt uses a matte brown, open-frame claw clip to achieve this sophisticated, modern updo. After twisting and folding the hair, then tucking it into the clip, a square clip holds the look in place. 

Its clean lines and neutral shade add a polished element to an otherwise purposefully messy style, which makes it a wonderful addition to any casual outfit. To replicate the look, these square, matte claw clips from Etsy offer 10 different shade options. 

Perhaps you have medium-length hair and cannot seem to find the balance between short and long styles. TikTok user @kelly_beauti has come up with the perfect in-between hairstyle using a claw clip that looks as though you are folding your hair into a bow! 

First, tie your hair into a ponytail, and separate it into top and bottom sections. Next, fold the top and bottom sections in half so your ends meet in the middle. Then, clip the hair together with a claw clip. The result is a gorgeous style that looks like a bowtie from the side. 

Using a similar principle as the wraparound bun, TikTok user @mattloveshair creates this cute half-up, half-down bun look. 

After tying a top section of hair into a ponytail, wrap the hair completely around one side of the clip — not the ponytail itself — and clamp the clip down over the elastic. Next, take the wrapped hair and fold it over to the other side of the claw clip, and readjust the clip so it contains all of the hair.