22 Hair Accessories Girls Wore in the ’90s
In the 1990s, a hairstyle was only half the work, and the rest was hardware. Plastic clips, fabric bands, and sparkly pins turned an ordinary ponytail into an outfit.
Many of these accessories have already come back, though usually in versions that nobody’s mother had to buy in bulk.
These twenty-two items cover the essentials, the oddities, and the things that hurt a little to remove.
Scrunchies
Scrunchies were colorful, often oversized elastic hair ties that dressed up ponytails and buns. Many girls owned enough of them to match every top in their wardrobes, including velvet versions in bright colors.
They were so common that a plain elastic felt almost incomplete.
Butterfly Clips
Butterfly clips were the bobby pins of 1990s hair accessories, and they were a staple of every Caboodle case. Girls used them to pull back sections from the crown, to finish the ends of braids or flat twists, and to keep bangs out of their faces.
Wearing dozens at once was normal.
Claw Clips
The claw clip was designed by Christian Potut, a French businessman. By the mid-1990s his company sold hundreds of thousands of clips each month and had more than fifty employees.
The design may have been inspired by the banana clip, and large claw clips became a landmark of 1990s hair.
Banana Clips
Banana clips date to the 1980s but became even more popular in the 1990s. The curved clip gave a ponytail a cool, mohawk-like shape.
It turned a plain ponytail into a statement.
Zig-Zag Headbands
Zig-zag headbands gripped the hair with a plastic band that bent in a distinctive pattern. Some versions were jewelled and flashy, which made them stand out.
They were a common accessory for girls who wanted both comfort and style.
Metal Snap Clips
If a girl was not wearing butterfly clips, snap clips were likely her substitute. These small metal clips pressed shut and held a section of hair in place.
They were flat, simple, and easy to wear in multiples.
Plastic Barrettes
Plastic hair accessories surged in popularity during the 1990s, and barrettes were part of that wave. They came in bright colors and shapes that matched the era’s playful style.
A barrette on each side of a part was a classic school-day look.
Spiral Stretch Headbands
Spiral stretch headbands coiled around the head and held hair back without pulling. They were stretchy and easy to put on, and they came in a variety of colors.
The coil shape distinguished them from the plain fabric versions.
Comb Headbands
Comb headbands had a row of teeth that slid into the hair at the sides. They were often loathed by the girls who wore them because they tugged and pinched.
Despite the discomfort, they were everywhere.
Rhinestone Bandanas
Rhinestone bandanas rescued bad hair days, and they came in nearly every color. They were decked out in sparkly stones, and celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez embraced the trend.
A bandana also doubled as a headband when the hair needed a break.
Padded Headbands
Padded headbands added a cushioned look to the top of the head. Fashion writers describe the padded style as the most authentic version of a 1990s headband.
Headbands also gave an outfit a finishing touch.
Towelled Hair Bands
Towelled hair bands were made from soft terry-like fabric and show up on lists of the decade’s signature accessories. They were a practical contrast to the era’s flashier clips.
A set in several colors was easy to collect.
Skinny Fabric Headbands
Skinny fabric headbands were thin strips that slid across the top of the head. They gave a simple look and appeared alongside the era’s puffy, padded, and sequined styles.
Pairs in a range of colors were easy to stash in a backpack.
Hair Scarves
Hair scarves were an integral part of the 1990s hair-accessory uniform. Girls tied them around ponytails or wore them as headbands.
A scarf could turn a plain hairstyle into a finished outfit.
Hair Beads
Hair beads threaded onto braids clicked together when girls moved their heads. Fashion writers say it does not get more 1990s than beads in the hair.
The look was playful and often took hours to complete.
Tortoiseshell Headbands
Tortoiseshell headbands were one of many popular hair accessories of the decade, and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s was arguably the most recognizable. Her iconic headband came from a New York boutique she loved.
The pattern brought a touch of elegance to casual outfits.
Embroidery Thread Wraps
Girls wrapped rainbow-colored embroidery thread around small sections of their hair. The tedious work could take hours, but the result was a colorful stripe that lasted for days.
It was a craft project and a hair accessory in one.
Snap-Bracelet Hair Bands
These bands worked like a snap bracelet but for hair, with endless possibilities for how to wear them. A girl could curl one into a ponytail holder or turn it into a decoration.
The novelty was in the shape-changing flick.
Daisy Clips
Rhinestone-encrusted daisy clips lined the aisles of stores in the 1990s. The flower shape was cheerful and slightly over the top, which suited the era perfectly.
Later fashion writers have listed them among the retro accessories that come around again.
Headband-and-Bandana Combos
The 1990s loved a headband and bandana worn together. The bandana is easier to wear when it is combined with a stretchy band, which helped hold it firmly in place.
The combination was practical and fashionable at once.
Decorative Hair Combs
Small decorative combs sit on lists of the decade’s signature accessories. They offered a more subtle alternative to the plastic clips that filled the aisles.
A well-placed comb could add shine or color without taking over the look.
Patterned and Tie-Dye Headbands
Tie-dye, patterned, and printed headbands were everywhere in the 1990s, and companies made them in nearly any style imaginable. They matched casual outfits and school clothes, and plenty of girls owned more than one.
Small Things That Held Everything Up
Hair accessories in the 1990s were inexpensive, bright, and disposable, which made them an easy way to experiment with style. Girls bought clips and bands in bulk at the mall.
The accessories also made an outfit feel finished without requiring a complicated hairstyle.
The trend has returned in recent years, with claw clips, scrunchies, and butterfly clips back in fashion. The modern versions are usually sturdier and more refined than the originals.
But the appeal of a tiny accessory that changes everything has not faded.
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