Are velvet-coated hair pins better than metal ones?
If your hair tends to slip (fine, straight, silky or heavy hair, say), velvet-coated pins often hold better than plain metal pins, because the coating adds friction where bare metal has none. If your hair already grips, or you just need a quick tuck for flyaways, ordinary metal pins and bobby pins might work well. “Better” depends on your hair and what you need the pin to do.
How the two hold differently
A plain metal pin holds by tension: it squeezes hair between two prongs. A velvet-coated pin adds friction, because the soft surface resists sliding against your hair. Here's how we describe it. We're the inventors of the velvet-flocked hairpin, a patented invention:
“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
When plain metal is a good choice
- Short jobs. Tucking a flyaway, pinning back a front section, or a style you'll wear for an hour.
- Hair that already has grip. Textured, curly or day-old hair often gives bare metal enough to hold.
- Budget. Plain metal pins cost less.
When a coated pin earns its place
- Slippery hair. Fine, straight or silky hair is where bare metal slides the most.
- Buns and French twists that need to stay put while you move.
- Wanting fewer pins. Stylists and buyers say they use two or three coated pins where they'd otherwise use a handful of metal ones.
- Comfort. One buyer describes the pins as “a bit flexible (vs. stiff traditional metal pins)”, and another wrote that her daughter has thin hair and “traditional pins are painful.”
What stylists and buyers say
“One of my biggest tips is using velvet hair pins to secure your bun… 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
“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
“These work so much better than normal pins at keeping your hair in place.”
Lexis B, 5-star review, Black (Verified Purchase on Amazon)
“Love that the gray hairpins blend in perfectly with silver hair. Just two or three hairpins will hold my hair in an updo or partial updo, and they’re easy to use and stay put all day because of the flocking.”
pm new mex, 5-star review, Grey (Verified Purchase on Amazon)
“I like the fact that the pins have a coat on them that is the color of my hair and not shiny like most pins.”
Customer review on frenchieshairpins.com
“These are perfect for my daughter who has thin hair and traditional pins are painful.”
Customer review on dancewearcorner.com
Trade-offs worth knowing
- Price. Coated pins cost more per pin. Whether that's worth it depends on how often your plain pins fall out.
- Shade matching. Coated pins are matte rather than shiny, and Frenchies come in grey, black, blonde, brown and red. A close match is hard to spot.
- They can work together. Use coated pins to hold the shape and plain bobby pins for flyaways.
Ready to take a look? Here are Frenchies Velvet Hairpins.
Related questions
- French hair pins that actually stay in
- What is a French hair pin and how do you use it?
- Hair pins that don’t hurt your scalp
Frequently asked questions
Are velvet hair pins good for fine, slippery hair?
Often, yes. Fine, slippery hair is where plain metal pins slide most, and a velvet coating adds friction. Several buyers with fine, straight hair report that coated pins stay put for them.
Do velvet-coated pins show in your hair?
Coated pins are matte rather than shiny, and Frenchies come in grey, black, blonde, brown and red, so a close shade match can be hard to spot.
Are velvet hair pins more expensive than metal pins?
Usually, yes. Frenchies cost more per pin than basic metal pins, and some buyers say so in their reviews while still keeping them. Whether the difference is worth it depends on how often your plain pins slip out.
Can I use velvet pins and bobby pins together?
Yes. A common approach is to use larger pins to hold the shape of a bun or twist and bobby pins to tidy flyaways and the hairline. Use whichever pin suits each job.