While plenty of us reach for a claw clip or silk scrunchie to keep our hair out of our face, they’re not exactly the most elegant of additions.
It’s perhaps why there’s a new contender to anchor your do making the rounds right now: the French Pin.
The French Pin is a sleek, U-shaped pin, usually in highly polished gold or silver metal, used for styling hair, similar to a chignon pin. They are designed to securely hold hair in place while twisted into a roll or bun. They are sometimes also referred to as a hair fork.
Despite being a hot choice for fashion and beauty fans right now, the French pin actually has a long history.
L-R: Kitsch French Hair Pin; Buttermilk Hair Pin; Letlet French Pin
According to London-based expert Rachael Gibson, also known as The Hair Historian, they were originally made of bone or wood and had a single prong, before evolving into the two-prong version.
“They are believed to date back to prehistoric times and have been used pretty consistently in societies across the globe ever since,” Gibson says.
Frustratingly, the versions in abundance on social media adorn elegant updos that look effortless. In reality, there’s a bit more of knack to using them.
For starters, they’re best for securing long, thick hair, rather than very fine or slippery locks.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Michelle | Romanticizing life through hair (@tokyoblondepasta)
How to use a French Pin
Choose the Right Pin for your hair
Make sure your hair is shoulder length or longer. Shorter hair won’t have enough volume to keep the pin in place.
Select a French pin suitable for your hair length and thickness. For thick or long hair, opt for a larger pin. Metal pins offer the best hold, while plastic ones are slightly more lightweight but may not grip as tightly.
Prep hair with texture
Apply a texturising spray like Living Proof Full Dry Volume + Texture Spray or Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, or dry shampoo like Batiste Dry Shampoo throughout locks if your hair is slippery. This adds grip and helps the pin stay in place.
For curly or wavy hair, the natural texture helps the pin hold better.
Master the basic techniques
For a simple bun, gather your hair into a low or high ponytail (without an elastic, unless preferred) before twisting the hair into a bun shape by wrapping hair around itself. Insert the French pin at the edge of the bun with prongs facing away from your scalp. Flip the pin toward your scalp and push it through the center to secure.
For a French twist, gather your hair into a low ponytail. Twist the hair upwards, tucking the ends into the twist. Insert the pin horizontally to secure the twist by “scooping” some of the twist and sliding it into place.
Experiment with angles but for maximum hold, insert the pin at a diagonal angle.