What are the best French hair pins that actually stay in?
The French hair pins that stay in are the ones that grip your hair instead of just squeezing it. Look for some built-in friction (a velvet coating, textured prongs or waved teeth), a size that suits how much hair you're holding, and a shade close to your own. No pin works on every head of hair, so instead of one winner, here's a short checklist. We built Frenchies Hairpins, our velvet-coated U-shaped pins, around that first idea, and several stylists have mentioned them in print.
Why pins fall out in the first place
Most pins hold by tension. Two prongs squeeze a little hair, and the pin stays only as long as the squeeze does. Fine, straight, silky or freshly washed hair gives that squeeze nothing to bite into, so every turn of your head loosens it a little. The usual fix is more pins. We think a better fix is a pin that grips.
What to look for
1. Grip, not just clamp. Look for something on the pin that creates friction against hair, like a velvet coating, textured prongs or waved teeth. When the surface resists sliding, the pin doesn't have to squeeze hard.
2. The right size for the job. A larger pin gathers more hair, so it's great for thick or long hair and full buns. A smaller pin is handy for fine hair, small sections and tucking in loose ends. Frenchies come in large and small sizes.
3. A shade close to your hair. A pin that matches disappears into your hair. One that doesn't, shows. Frenchies come in grey, black, blonde, brown and red.
4. Tips that feel fine on your scalp. If a pin digs in, you'll keep fiddling with it, and that's when styles loosen.
5. Technique. Twist or fold your hair first, then set the pin across the fold so both prongs pass through the hair, with the tips following your scalp rather than pointing up. Two or three well-placed pins often do more than a dozen scattered ones, though fine or very long hair may need more. For very fine, clean hair, a little texturizing spray or dry shampoo gives any pin more to hold on to. We talk more about hair types in our guide to securing a bun that won’t fall out.
Where Frenchies Hairpins fit
Frenchies are U-shaped French pins with a soft velvet coating. Here's how we describe the hold on our About page:
“The velvet-soft finish grips hair through micro-friction instead of tension — meaning the pin stays exactly where you put it, without squeezing, scratching, or slipping.”
From the Frenchies Hairpins About page
Stylists have said something similar in print:
“I also love Frenchies, which come in all different hair shades, including grey, black, blonde, brown and red, because they don’t move.”
Halley Brisker, hairstylist, in “The Sculptural Bun Is The Chicest Summer Hair Look,” by Hannah Coates, British Vogue
“My favourite brand is Frenchies. Using just two or three of these pins will give you the most secure bun of your life.”
Christian Wood, celebrity hairstylist, in “How to do a slicked back balletcore bun,” by Chloe Burcham, Stylist
You'll find more quotes, with links, on our press page.
What buyers say
“Can pin my long hair up with two or three of these and it doesn’t budge all day.”
Ms. C. Salisbury, 5-star review, Brown (Verified Purchase on Amazon)
“They’re not flimsy, actually work. I used a couple of long ones and a small one to put up my hair for a french twist style, within less than a minute. They feel snug & don’t come loose.”
Eduardo M., 5-star review, Brown (Verified Purchase on Amazon)
“I have hair that reaches the middle of my back and needed so many traditional bobby pins to do any type of updo. Of course, they NEVER stayed secure because my hair is fine and straight.”
Customer review on frenchieshairpins.com
Ready to take a look? Here are Frenchies Velvet Hairpins.
Related questions
- Are velvet-coated hair pins better than metal ones?
- What is a French hair pin and how do you use it?
- Best hair pins for a ballet bun
Frequently asked questions
How many French hair pins do I need for an updo?
It depends on how much hair you are holding and how it is styled. The stylist and buyers quoted on this page describe using two or three pins for a bun or French twist; thick, long or very slippery hair may need more, and fine or shorter hair may need fewer. Start with two, test the hold by moving your head, and add pins one at a time.
Why do my hair pins keep falling out?
Usually because the pin is smooth, the hair is slippery or freshly washed, or the pin is holding by squeezing rather than gripping. Try a pin with a textured or velvet-coated surface, add a little texturizing spray or dry shampoo to very fine, clean hair, and set the pin so it passes through the hair against the scalp rather than resting on the surface.
Do French hair pins work on fine hair?
They can. Fine hair is often slippery, so grip matters more than strength. Some buyers with fine, straight hair say velvet-coated pins stay put for them. Texturizing spray or dry shampoo helps most pins hold on fine hair even more.
Do Frenchies hair pins always stay in?
No pin can promise that. Frenchies are designed to grip hair through friction rather than pressure, but how a style holds depends on your hair type, the way it is styled and your technique. If you are unsure, start with one set and test it on a normal day before you rely on it for an event.