Candy Hair Clips for Girls: The Sweet Print Taking Over This Season

Why candy prints are back in the hair drawer

Candy prints do a lot of work for very little money. Swirls, stripes and soft pastel blocks read as cheerful from across a room, and they suit almost every outfit a child owns. They are not a costume. They are the everyday colour that makes a plain ponytail look finished.

There is also a practical reason the trend has lasted. A child can see her clip in the mirror and pick it out in a crowd, which matters on a busy festive morning when everyone is getting ready at once. Bright designs are easy to find, easy to name and easy to swap when the mood changes.

Candy Swirl, Candy Stripe, Bubble Mint or Rainbow: which for what

Our opinion is that a striped or swirled print belongs with a party outfit, because it has the most movement. The Candy Swirl and Candy Stripe designs both work well with a bright frock or a festive top, and they catch the light when a child is dancing.

For everyday, look at the softer tones. Bubble Mint is calm enough to wear to school and still cheerful at the end of the day. If your child wants the full spectrum, the Rainbow design gives her every colour in one pair, which suits a child who changes her mind about her favourite shade every week.

If you are only buying one pack, let the child choose the print. A clip she picks herself is the one she will wear, and that matters more than any trend list.

How many clips to buy and in which pack

The snap clips come in packs of 2, 4 or 6, from Rs 199. A pack of two is enough for a trial, one bold print and one soft one. A pack of four gives a child a rotation for a school week. A pack of six is the one to pick for a family with two daughters, or for a child who wears clips every single day and tends to lose one at the gate. Check the product page for stock, since the popular prints sell at different speeds.

Wearing candy clips so they look intentional

Two clips at the side look more deliberate than a row of six along the parting. Set them at the same height on each side of the head, above the ear, and keep the rest of the hair smooth. Bright prints look best against a simple hairstyle, such as a neat side parting, a low ponytail or a plain braid. Put a busy print into a bun and it competes with the bun, so keep the hairstyle calm and let the clip do the talking.

For a party, a pair of matching clips in a striped design is enough. For school, one bright clip at one side is plenty. The aim is a look that a child can put in herself in under a minute.

Two bright clips at one side look more deliberate than a row of six.

Keeping the clips from disappearing

Most clips do not get lost in the house. They get lost at the school gate, in the back seat of the car or under the bed after a party. The practical fix is to keep a spare pair in the school bag front pocket and one in the party bag. A child who knows where the spare is will reach for it, and the clip stays in circulation instead of ending up in the lost-property box.

When a snap starts to loosen, replace the clip rather than bending it back. A weak snap is the one that falls out in the playground, and a fresh pair costs less than a morning of searching.

Like the playful prints? The retro look is back too: read about polka dot hair clips for girls for the winter term.