Fashion

Your Fave '90s Hair Trend Is Back & It's More Extra Than Ever

by Megan C. Hills
James Hamilton/Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock

I'm always here for a '90s revival and the latest hair accessory trend sweeping the nation is easily one of my favourites. Although as a child I pretty much hated hair clips (mostly because they were my mum's last ditch attempt to tame my mane), I'm now all for them as they've now had a pretty slick upgrade. From the runways of SS19 fashion week through to the fashion forward on Instagram, the accessory is officially back, so here's where to buy '90s hair clips and barrettes so you can get your nostalgia on immediately.

If you were religiously following along with fashion week, you might remember seeing them pop up at Ashley Williams' SS19 show and they packed a real punch. Spelling out words in diamante, models stomped the catwalk displaying hair slides that screamed out words like FREE, FEAR, WEIRDO, and even a couple of ironic ones like VIRGIN and DAMAGED WOMAN.

This isn't the first time that the punk rock designer has pulled some tongue-in-cheek hair slides out of the bag as the brand also brought them out for their AW17 show. However, it's the first time I've seen high street dupes popping up on the market and I'm totally in love.

Shutterstock

There's also been a surge of less wordy barrette-style hair clips popping up all over social media too, with totally classic pearl slides and more minimal designs available just in time for the winter. There's a number of ways to wear them, whether you're opting to slide just one in or double duty it on one side.

Julie Sarinana from the Instagram account @sincerelyjules made a pretty good case for the trend, choosing to wear a pair of Scunci barrettes recently. And she looked absolutely amazing.

Personally, I'm pretty obsessed with the utterly classic way that model Behati Prinsloo Levine has chosen to wear hers below. Her hairdresser Teddi Cranford actually managed to snag some vintage Versace hair slides from 1994, which make this the ultimate throwback look. Wearing one on each side, the look really helped frame Prinsloo Levine's face. (Your girl is all about the symmetry.)

Convinced yet? Here's a few hair slides you're bound to fall in love with below. BRB, digging up the mountain of hair slides my mum kept from my early years.

Embellished Hair Clip
Monki
This Monki clip is probably the closest you'll get to the attitude of the Ashley Williams' hair slides. TBH this is exactly what I need when I'm hungover and just need to signal to the world I'm not ready for it.
Liars & Lovers Set of 4 Symbol Diamante Hair Slides
ASOS
These Liars & Lovers clips are a dash sweeter than the more badass designs. I'm a big fan of the female symbol clip as well, and the lighter diamonds would look so sick on dark hair.
Liars & Lovers Set of 2 Red Beaded Hair Slides
ASOS
These gorgeous crimson slides really pop on blonde hair and I adore the way they've been styled on the model here.
Pack of Two Tortoiseshell Hair Clips
Anthropologie
Tortoiseshell is a major trend this winter season and these unusual takes on the pattern are pretty adorable.
Triangle Hairpin Two Pack
& other stories
For a more minimal modern look, these brass triangle hairpins from & Other Stories are your best bet.
Pearl Cluster Barrette Clip
Accessorize
One of the biggest dangers with this hair trend is that they have a tendency to make you look younger than you actually are, but these pearl slides are pure grown-up sophistication. The faux pearls give the slides a posher touch and they're total Parisian chic. I'll take twelve of these, s'il vous plait.