The ’80s accessory making a comeback to double the volume of fine hair
You may have found it at the back of a drawer, or spotted its curved silhouette in your mother’s makeup bag. The claw clip, an iconic staple of 80s hairstyles, is set to reclaim its place in our bathrooms in 2026, and not just for nostalgic reasons.
A practical solution for fine hair
Behind its retro look, this accessory addresses a very real problem. Fine hair often lacks visual density, and classic hairstyles tend to make that even more obvious. A traditional elastic, by gathering all the hair into a single point of compression, can flatten strands and expose their lack of thickness.
The claw clip works differently. It distributes the hair along its entire length rather than pulling it tight at one point. As a result, the ponytail it creates looks immediately fuller, more fluid and visually thicker. For fine hair, the effect can make a ponytail appear up to twice as voluminous.
The style also keeps its movement. Unlike a very tight ponytail, which can look flat and sleek, the claw clip lets the hair move freely, which only adds to the illusion of density.
How to use a claw clip every day
The technique is simple and requires no styling products, backcombing or extensions. Just gather your hair as you would for a regular ponytail, then position the clip vertically beneath the hair before snapping it shut. The strands spread out across the full length of the accessory.
- Gather your hair as you would for a classic ponytail
- Position the claw clip vertically, in line with the back of your head
- Place the clip beneath the hair, from the nape of the neck up to the crown
- Snap the clip shut so the hair is distributed evenly along its full length
The elongated, curved shape of the accessory, the very thing that gives it its name, is central to how it works. It is what allows the strands to spread out evenly, where an elastic would bunch them all together at a single point.
The return of 80s hairstyles to the current trend cycle
The claw clip is not making a comeback alone. It is part of a broader revival of retro hair accessories. Wide headbands, scrunchies and statement barrettes have already reclaimed their place in looks inspired by 80s hairstyles. The claw clip is riding that same wave, driven by both nostalgia and genuine practicality.
And that is precisely its strength. This accessory is not staging a comeback on the back of fashion alone. It meets a real need: transforming a simple ponytail into a style that looks visually longer and thicker, without adding extra steps or products. The shape does all the work by itself.
Why this accessory appeals beyond the retro aesthetic
80s hairstyles have long been associated with a certain excess, sculpted volume and an abundance of styling tricks. The claw clip offers the opposite. Its effectiveness rests on a simple mechanical principle, with no product overload and no complex technique.
That is probably what explains its lasting comeback. It speaks to those who want a quick, no-fuss style just as much as to those looking to reconnect with the aesthetic of retro 80s hairstyles. In a matter of seconds, it transforms fine hair into a ponytail that looks dense, fluid and full.
Long dismissed as an outdated accessory, the claw clip proves that an object can travel through the decades without losing its relevance. Its secret lies in its design, built to distribute rather than compress, and that is precisely what makes it just as useful today as it was in the era of 80s hairstyles.
