10 Vintage Hair Accessories We’ll Always Be Obsessed With

The most enduring vintage hair accessories tend to have a few things in common: effortless function, smart design and a kind of built-in elegance that doesn’t age. French pins, rollers, headbands—they’ve stuck around through the years for good reason.

Here are ten favorites we keep coming back to. Consider this a small tour through the hair accessory history books, with plenty of easy, modern ideas to borrow for your routine today.

1. French pins

The minimalist’s dream tool. French pins have been around forever—metal, bone, acetate, whatever people could carve or bend into something strong enough to hold a bun. Browse the archives at The Met and you’ll find early versions that look surprisingly similar to the ones we use now, which tells you everything you need to know about their staying power. 

When you want to dress up an updo without doing much, a French pin is the perfect stand-in for a claw clip or hair tie. They hold without tugging, secure without creasing and instantly turn a simple twist into something sculptural. Modern versions come in every shape and finish, so you can go as subtle or as striking as you want.

Styling tip: Start with a loose twist or bun, then thread the pin through in an “L” shape so it catches both the twist and the hair close to the scalp.

2. Barrettes

Somewhere between grade-school nostalgia and grown-up sophistication live barrettes—the good ones, anyway. They’ve cycled through so many eras, but the classics hold up: carved acetate, brushed metal, clean shapes and materials made to last. Vintage versions were built so well that they’re still turning up at estate sales in perfect working order, ready for another few decades of service. 

Part of their charm is how much personality they add with almost no effort. A barrette can be sweet, sharp, minimal, bold—whatever you need that day. And they’re genuinely useful: keeping your strands out of your face, adding structure and giving even your laziest hair day a little intention. 

Styling tip: Use a barrette to anchor a half-up, half-down style (an elevated alternative to a simple hair tie), or place one above the ear to tidy up lived-in texture.

3. Hair rollers

Long before blowout bars (or even blow-dryers) were a thing, hair rollers (see also: curlers, pin curls, perm rods) did the heavy lifting. Old Hollywood stylists relied on them for plush, glamorous waves; earlier versions in the late 19th century were used to set gentle shape without heat.

And if you rewind even further, the roots go way back: ancient Egyptians wrapped hair around metal rods warmed by fire or the sun to set curls. The tools have evolved, but the concept and method have stayed essentially the same!

And today? Rollers are having a revival. Velvet, satin and other heatless sets are everywhere—especially the kind you can sleep in. They take a little time upfront, but the payoff is big: volume, smoothness and that “my hair just dries like this” illusion. Wear them overnight and you basically wake up with waves already taken care of.

Styling tip: For big lift, work a product like our Volumizing Foam through damp strands, blow-dry with a round brush, then wrap hair in rollers to set the shape (thinner rollers = tighter curls; thicker rollers = loose, bouncy waves).

4. Flapper headbands

Flapper headbands instantly call up the 1920s. Worn low across the forehead and often embellished with beading, sequins or feathers, they marked a sharp break from the stiff, structured Victorian styles that came before. The bob was in, women were dancing, moving, working—hair became part of that new sense of freedom.

We may not reach for them every day, but we love what they represent in hair history—and how their DNA shows up in modern pieces. Think sleek, crystal-studded bands, minimalist metal styles that sit close to the hairline, and the delicate, beaded headpieces that still appear on bridal runways.

Styling tip: A flapper-inspired band makes an unexpectedly cool wedding hairpiece, especially for a retro theme.

5. Soft wide headbands

Another favorite from the headband family. Soft, wide headbands had a real moment in the ’60s, especially styled with big volume and flipped ends. Think Jane Birkin or Catherine Deneuve (but also every “cool girl running errands” photo you’ve saved on Pinterest in the last year).

They smooth the hairline, frame the face and instantly upgrade second-day hair. Soft, sporty, polished—wide bands somehow manage to do all three at once, depending on how you style them.

Styling tip: Brush out your hair, add a bit of Dry Shampoo for texture, then backcomb the crown for a touch of ’60s height before slipping the headband on.

6. Hair scarves 

Few accessories paint a picture as fast as a hair scarf—especially the classic ’60s version: hair wrapped in silk, oversized sunglasses, absolutely unbothered by the wind.

But beyond that iconic look, scarves have shown up all throughout history: woven through braids, protecting roller sets, layered into Black and Afro-Caribbean wrapping traditions, adding color and movement to simple styles. They sit right in that sweet spot of style meets function, protecting hair from friction, humidity and sun while looking great doing it.

Styling tip: Use a scarf to secure a braid, dress up a messy bun or smooth the hairline on second-day hair. Wrap your hair in a silky scarf overnight to prevent frizz—then in the morning, just retie it as a headband and walk out the door.

7. Hair combs 

If a history museum has a fashion wing, it probably has a hair comb in it. Early 1900s celluloid combs with dramatic curves. Glamorous Art Deco versions from the ’20s that looked like tiny sculptures. Slim metal combs from the ’50s and ’60s used to secure victory rolls or French twists. Even the oversized tortoiseshell pieces that defined the ’70s and ’80s.

What makes combs so enduring is their dual purpose: part ornament, part anchor. They add a small point of interest while quietly holding everything in place. 

Styling tip: Slide one into a bun or a half-up moment for a cool decorative detail. 

8. Hair sticks 

Hair sticks have been around for millennia—showing up in ancient China, Japan, Greece and Egypt—and they’re one of the earliest examples of form meeting function. One simple tool that holds an updo, protects hair from tension and breakage, and looks elegant? That’s good design.

The early bone and carved-wood versions you see in archaeological exhibits aren’t far off from the sleek metal or acetate sticks people wear now. A true “if it works, it works” accessory.

Styling tip: Twist hair into a knot and thread the stick(s) diagonally through the base for a secure hold.

9. Ribbons (and bows)

Ribbons have been woven into hair for hundreds of years. Literally. In the 18th and 19th centuries, they tied off braids and decorated structured updos; by the early 20th century, they’d picked up a reputation for softness and youthfulness. The mid-century years brought us velvet bows tucked into polished curls, while the ’70s and ’80s leaned into longer, looser ribbons that moved with the hair.

What we love now is how much range they still have. A ribbon can read romantic, polished, unfussy or even a little bit undone. Velvet adds softness, longer ribbons add swish and the skinny ones give that clean, chic line. 

Styling tip: Tie one at the base of a ponytail or thread a slim ribbon through a loose braid for an easy, pretty finishing touch.

10. Banana clips

Banana clips had a real run in the ’80s and ’90s—those long, curved clips that snapped around a ponytail and somehow made it look twice as full. They were everywhere back then, and have been quietly popping back up (yes, even on TikTok), which honestly tracks.

The curved shape of the clip spreads hair out instead of cinching it tight, creating that airy, lifted ponytail that feels like a heatless blowout shortcut. So smart. 

Styling tip: Clip one in at the base of a ponytail for instant height and volume. Great on clean hair, even better on day two.