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With a few simple hair accessories you can transform your hairstyle and create a whole new look. Hair clips may seem pretty simple and basic, but even a small clip can make a huge difference in your hairstyle and instantly take it from plain to chic. Whether you use a glitzy rhinestone barrette clip or a silk flower version, hair clips are one of the simplest yet most versatile hair accessories you can use. Have fun!
Hair Pouf
A hair pouf style instantly adds volume and lift to your hair. Pull up a small section of hair on top of your head at the front. Hold the hair together with your fingers, creating a small pouf. Push the hair forward slightly, toward the front of your head, and secure it in place with a couple of bobby pins. Add a cute hair clip over the bobbies. A bow or heart-shaped hair clip is adorable and adds a nice touch to your punky pouf style.
Side Pullback
To show off a side pullback style in all its glory, make a part off to one side. Pull out a section of hair on the opposite side, a couple inches wide. Twist the hair around a few times and hold it up against the side of your head. Use a couple of bobby pins to hold the hair in place and put your favorite hair clip in over the top of the bobbies to accessorize.
Pigtail Ponytails
For an uber-cute hairstyle, make a center part from your front hairline to the nape of your neck, pulling each section of hair over one shoulder. Secure each with a hair elastic, forming two low ponytails. Slip a hair clip over the hair elastic on each side at the front to achieve a youthful, playful style.
High Ponytail
You can transform a basic ponytail into a special style with nothing more than a hair clip. Part your hair -- a center or side part works here -- and pull your hair into a ponytail. Position the ponytail higher up, at the crown of your head. Secure it in place with an elastic and add a flower or jeweled hair clip near the base of your ponytail for a lovely finished look.
Chignon
Use one or more decorative hair clips to really play up a formal style like a chignon. Chignon -- which is pretty much just a fancy word for "bun" -- is a romantic, loose style that's really easy to achieve. Part your hair far to one side, style your hair into a low side ponytail on the opposite side and wrap the ponytail hair up and around the base of the ponytail to create a bun shape. Tuck the ends in underneath the elastic and add a clip or two around the outside of the chignon to draw attention to this flirty, pretty style.
Twisted Up
Part your hair as desired and pull it all together at the back of your head. Twist the hair around to one side a couple of times and push it up against the center back of your head. Use a large butterfly clip vertically in your hair to grip the twisted section onto the hair at the back of your head to keep it in place. Pull out at the ends of your hair so they hang out over the top of the clip, creating a loose, messy effect.
Tips
There are many other cute ways to style with a hair clip. Try fastening one onto the side of a scarf or the neck of your turtleneck sweaterdress to turn a plain piece into something different and interesting. A larger jeweled or flower clip can fit on over one handle of your handbag or even onto a strap of a tank top or button-up shirt.
