14 Claw Clip Hairstyles, Matched to Your Hair Length and Clip Size
Claw clip hairstyles take a minute to do, but most of them only hold when the clip suits the hair. A small clip on thick hair pops open by lunch, and a big clip on fine hair slides down the back of the head. So this guide starts with the clip: a size chart by hair thickness and length, the basic twist every style builds on, then fourteen styles grouped by length, from long hair to bobs and curls.
Each style lists the clip that works for it. If your clip keeps slipping or pressing on your head, the fix table near the end covers the usual causes.
Choose the Clip First
Clip size depends on how much hair the clip has to hold once it is twisted, so hair thickness matters as much as length.
| Your hair | Clip to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short hair or a bob | Mini clips (about 1–2 inches) | Hold small sections without sliding out of short ends |
| Fine or thin, any length | Small or medium clip with close-set teeth | Close teeth grip fewer strands; a big clip drags fine hair down |
| Medium thickness, shoulder length or longer | Medium clip (about 3–4 inches) | Closes fully over a single twist |
| Thick or long and heavy | Large or jumbo clip with strong spring tension | Wide jaws hold the whole twist without popping open |
| Very thick, curly or coily | Jumbo open-style or double-row teeth clip | Room for volume without crushing curls |
Shape matters too. A flat-backed rectangle clip sits close to the head, which helps when you lean back against a chair or car seat. Rounded and open clips leave more room for volume. Smooth plastic or acetate is kinder to hair than metal with sharp edges.
The Basic Claw Clip Twist
Most claw clip hairstyles are a variation of this one. Learn it first and the rest are small changes.
- Gather your hair at the back of the head as if for a low ponytail, without an elastic.
- Twist the length in one direction, one or two turns. More twists make a bulky roll the clip can’t close over.
- Lift the twist up the back of the head so it lies flat against it.
- Open the clip and push the teeth in from the side or from below, so they catch the twist and the hair close to the scalp.
- Let the ends fall over the top of the clip, or tuck them under it for a neater finish.
Clipping only the twist, and not the hair underneath it, is the most common reason a clip slides. The teeth need to reach the base.
Claw Clip Hairstyles for Long Hair
1. Classic Vertical Twist
The neatest everyday claw clip style. Twist the whole length upward into a vertical roll along the center of the back of the head, like a quick French twist, then set the clip sideways across the roll. Tuck the ends inside the roll for a polished look, or let them fan out above the clip. Our easy hairstyles for women over 60 include a two-minute version for anyone whose arms tire quickly.
Clip size: Medium to large, depending on thickness. A rectangle clip lies flatter along the roll.
2. Low Twisted Bun
Twist the hair at the nape, wind it into a small coil against the head, and set the clip over the coil from below. It sits low enough to lean back against a chair without the clip digging in, which makes it a good choice for work and long drives.
Clip size: Medium. A large clip at the nape tends to stick out.
3. High Messy Twist
Gather the hair at the crown instead of the nape, twist once, fold the twist forward, and clip it with the ends sprouting out on top. It keeps hair off the neck on warm days and while cooking or cleaning. Pull a few pieces loose around the face if it looks too tight.
Clip size: Large. A high twist carries more weight above the clip.
4. Double Clip Twist for Thick Hair
When one clip can’t hold everything, split the job. Make the basic twist, set one large clip near the bottom of the roll, then a second, smaller clip higher up where the ends fold over. The lower clip takes the weight and the upper one keeps the top from loosening.
Clip size: One jumbo clip below, one medium clip above.
5. Wrapped Low Ponytail
Tie a low ponytail with an elastic, then lift the tail up over the elastic and clip it against the head, so the ends drop back down over the clip. The elastic carries the weight, so this is the most secure option for heavy hair or a long day. For other ways to tie and wrap a low ponytail, see our ponytail hairstyles.
Clip size: Medium. It only holds the fold, not the whole length.
6. Side-Swept Low Twist
Brush all the hair to one side, twist it once just behind the ear, and clip it there with the ends falling over the shoulder. It suits a deep side part and works with dressier outfits when you want something softer than a bun.
Clip size: Small to medium. Large clips look heavy at the side of the head.
Claw Clip Hairstyles for Medium and Shoulder-Length Hair
7. Claw Clip Half-Up
Take the top section from the temples back, twist it once at the crown, and clip it, leaving the rest down. Wavy or textured hair holds this best, since the clip has something to grip. Our guide to half up half down hairstyles shows how to size the top section for your hair.
Clip size: Small to medium. The clip holds only the top section.
8. Fanned-Top Twist
Shoulder-length hair is often too short to tuck, so use that. Gather the hair at the nape, twist upward and clip it high enough that the ends spread out over the top of the clip in a fan. It looks intentional rather than unfinished, and layers make the fan fuller.
Clip size: Medium, with teeth long enough to reach the hair at the nape.
9. Twisted Half-Up With Face-Framing Pieces
- Leave out two thin pieces at the front, one on each side.
- Twist a section back from each temple toward the crown.
- Cross the two twists at the back and clip them together.
The front pieces soften the look and hide shorter layers that won’t reach the clip.
Clip size: Small. It holds two thin twists.
Claw Clip Hairstyles for Short Hair and Bobs
10. Mini Clip Crown Half-Up
Take a small section from the top of the head, give it a single twist and fix it at the crown with a mini clip. On a bob, keep the section narrow so the ends reach the clip without pulling. It works well when you are growing out a bob and the top falls in your eyes; our guide to growing out a bob covers other ways through that stage.
Clip size: Mini, about 1 to 2 inches.
11. Side Sweep With a Mini Clip
Brush one side of the hair back behind the ear and hold it flat with a mini clip just above the ear. It works on pixies, bobs and growing-out bangs, and takes seconds.
Clip size: Mini. Set it flat to the head so the teeth catch hair near the scalp.
12. Two Mini Clips Twisted Back
Twist a small front section on each side back toward the crown and fix each one with its own mini clip, a little behind the ears. On a chin-length bob, this keeps hair off the face without needing the length for a full half-up. For more short styles, see our updos for short hair.
Clip size: Two mini clips.
Claw Clip Hairstyles for Curly and Coily Hair
13. Pineapple Claw Clip
Gather curls loosely at the top of the head, as you would for a pineapple, and hold them with a jumbo open-style clip instead of an elastic. The clip keeps the hair up without a tight band crushing the curls, so the pattern stays defined. It is a quick daytime option on day two or three. Our guide to curly hairstyles by curl type explains how to protect curls overnight.
Clip size: Jumbo, open-style or double-row teeth.
14. Low Curly Gather
Push the curls back with your fingers, without brushing, and gather them loosely at the nape. Don’t twist; twisting stretches curls and causes frizz. Set a large clip from below so the curls spill out above it.
Clip size: Large or jumbo with wide-set teeth, which glide through curls instead of snagging.
Why Your Claw Clip Slips or Hurts
| Problem | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slides down the head | Clean, smooth hair, or the teeth only caught the twist | Add texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots; push the teeth in close to the scalp |
| Pops open | Clip too small, or too many twists | Size up, and twist only once or twice |
| Presses when you lean back | Clip sits where your head touches the seat | Wear it higher, or use a flat-backed rectangle clip |
| Tender scalp or headache | Hair twisted too tightly, or a clip with very strong tension | Twist more loosely, use a slightly bigger clip, and take it out for a break |
| Snags and breaks hair | Rough edges or metal teeth | Choose smooth plastic or acetate, and replace chipped clips |
| Short layers fall out | Layers too short to reach the clip | Leave them out as face-framing pieces or hold them with a mini clip |
If you clip your hair often, change the position from day to day so the same strands aren’t held in the same place. Our hair breakage guide explains how tension and friction add up over time.
Claw Clip FAQ
What size claw clip do I need for thick hair?
Use a large or jumbo clip with a strong spring, about 4 inches or more for long, thick hair. If one clip still opens, use the double clip twist: a big clip low on the roll and a smaller one above it.
Can you use a claw clip on short hair?
Yes, with mini clips. Instead of clipping all the hair, clip small sections: the top for a half-up, or the sides swept back. Most claw clip hairstyles for short hair use one or two mini clips.
How do I stop my claw clip from slipping?
Give the hair some grip with texture spray or dry shampoo, twist it once or twice, and push the teeth in close to the scalp so they hold the hair underneath the twist. If it still slips, the clip is probably too small.
Are claw clips bad for your hair?
They are among the gentler ways to put hair up, because they hold without a tight elastic. Problems come from rough clips, clipping very tightly in the same spot every day, or clipping wet hair, which stretches and breaks more easily.
Can I sleep in a claw clip?
It’s best not to. Lying on a clip presses it into the scalp and can bend or snap the teeth. For sleep, a loose braid or a soft scrunchie is more comfortable.
Matching the Clip to the Style
For most people, claw clip hairstyles come down to two choices: the right clip size for your hair, and a twist the clip can close over. Long hair can take anything from a vertical twist to a double clip, shoulder-length hair suits a fanned top or half-up, and short hair works best with mini clips on small sections. Curls do best in a big open clip without twisting. If you’d rather have a style that holds with pins, see our bun hairstyles.
