Mini, Half Moon or Big: Choosing a Claw Clip by Size

Claw clips are the one accessory where size is not a style choice, it is a physics problem. A clip too small for your hair slides out by lunch, and one too big looks like a crab on a fine ponytail. I sorted three shapes by actual dimensions so you can match the clip to your hair first and pick a shade second.

The Mini Cloud measures 1.49 by 2.75 inches and is a matte cloud shape designed with finer hair types in mind. In Grey Smoke, Lilac Smoke and Pink Smoke it is soft enough to read as a barrette, which is how I wear it, pinning back the front pieces rather than holding up a whole twist. If your hair is thin or you are working with a short length, this is the one that will not weigh anything down.

The Half Moon is 2.36 by 4.25 inches and made to hold a full head of hair, with the same matte finish in the same three Smoke shades. It is the clip I would give to anyone who wants a quiet twist that stays. The pale colors disappear into blonde and light brown hair and become a soft accent on dark hair, so the shade question is really about contrast, not matching.

The Big Effing Clip is the brand's most loved claw, 4 inches wide and big enough to hold a full head of hair. This is where the personality lives. Morning Angel is a creamy shade with tiny crystals, Tortoise Hibiscus has a flower at the top of a tortoise frame, and Noir Polka Dot is graphic and black. Gingerbread Gingham, Lychee Baby and Citrus Polka Dot are the lighter, more playful picks. I wear Tortoise Hibiscus with a camel coat and Noir Polka Dot with anything black.

Match the size to the amount of hair, then let the finish do the talking. Matte and pale for a soft look, tortoise and print when the clip is the accessory.