Quick answer: The easiest way to organize hair accessories is to sort them by type, then store each type where you can see it: claw clips clipped onto a hanging organizer, small clips and pins in a divided tray, headbands on a stand or hook, and scrunchies in a shallow box. Keep everyday pieces near the mirror.
Key takeaways
- Visibility matters: you wear what you can see, and you stop buying duplicates.
- Claw clips store best clipped onto something, not loose in a drawer where they knock together.
- Small pieces like bobby pins and U-pins need a closed container so they do not scatter.
- Headbands keep their shape on a stand, a hook or a cylinder.
- A quick monthly declutter keeps the system working.
Step 1: Sort what you have
Before buying any storage, empty every drawer, bag and bathroom cup onto a table and sort by type. You will see how much of each category you own and which storage each one needs. Most people find more duplicates than they expected, especially small clips and bobby pins.
| Category | Typical items | Storage needs |
|---|---|---|
| Claw clips | Mini to large claw clips | Space for bulk, protection from drops |
| Flat clips and barrettes | Duckbills, side clips, spring clips, barrettes | Shallow trays, divided sections |
| Pins | Bobby pins, U-pins, decorative pins | Small closed containers |
| Headbands | Slim, wide, padded, knotted | Upright storage to keep the shape |
| Ties and scrunchies | Silk scrunchies, elastics | Soft boxes or hooks |
| Bows and statement pieces | Velvet bows, pearl clips | Space so they do not crush |
Step 2: Declutter
Set aside anything broken, anything you have not worn in a year and duplicates you do not need. A claw clip with a weak spring, a cracked tooth or a loose hinge should be retired; it will not grip well. Our guide on cleaning and caring for claw clips explains when a clip is past saving.
- Keep: pieces you wore in the last few months and love.
- Clean: pieces that are dull or sticky, before you store them.
- Retire: broken clips, stretched elastics, bent pins.
Step 3: Choose storage by type
Each kind of accessory stores best in a different way. Claw clips need to be clipped onto something, small pins need closed containers, and headbands need upright space. Mixing them in one box is what creates tangles and broken clips.
Claw clips: hang them
A hanging organizer lets you clip each claw clip by its own teeth onto a fabric panel, so every clip is visible and none rattle against each other. Our hanging felt claw clip organizer has two layers and measures 78 x 35 cm, and it can hang on a wall, a door or a closet rod. Clips are not included.
No organizer? Clip claw clips along the edge of a sturdy basket, onto a ribbon stretched between two hooks, or onto the rim of a shallow box.
Flat clips and barrettes: use a divided tray
Duckbills, side clips and barrettes lie flat, so a shallow divided tray or a jewelry tray works well. Group them by color or by occasion. You can also clip them along a fabric strip hung inside a cabinet door.
Pins: closed containers
Bobby pins and U-pins scatter easily, so keep them in small lidded tins or jars. A magnetic dish holds metal bobby pins neatly near the mirror. Keep decorative pins separately in a lined box so pearls and stones are not scratched.
Headbands: store upright
Headbands keep their shape best when stored upright, on a headband stand, a paper towel holder, a large jar or a hook. Avoid stacking padded and pleated bands under heavy items, which flattens them.
Scrunchies and ties: soft storage
Scrunchies can go on a hook, a bottle neck or a wrist-shaped holder, or into a small fabric-lined box. Silk scrunchies should be kept away from rough surfaces that could snag them.
Bows and statement pieces: give them space
Fabric and velvet bows lose their shape when crushed, so give them a box with room, or hang them clipped onto ribbon. Store pearl and rhinestone pieces where they will not rub against metal clips.
Step 4: Place things where you use them
Keep your everyday pieces within arm's reach of where you do your hair, usually the bathroom mirror or a vanity. Occasional and event pieces can live in a drawer or closet. A small dish by the door or in your bag for one claw clip and a few pins saves rummaging.
| Zone | What to keep there |
|---|---|
| Mirror or vanity | Two or three daily claw clips, side clips, bobby pins, a slim headband |
| Closet or drawer | Hanging organizer, event pieces, seasonal bows |
| Bag or car | One medium claw clip, a hair tie, a few pins |
| Gym bag | Large claw clip, stretch headband, elastics |
Step 5: Keep it tidy
A storage system only works if you maintain it. Spend two minutes at the end of each week putting pieces back, and do a quick declutter once a month. Clean clips before putting them away if they have been worn with heavy styling products.
Storage ideas for small spaces
In a small bathroom or shared apartment, use vertical space and the backs of doors. A hanging organizer on the inside of a closet door holds a whole claw clip collection without using any shelf space. Adhesive hooks inside a cabinet door can hold headbands and scrunchies, and a single shallow tray in a drawer is enough for flat clips and pins.
- Hang a clip organizer inside a door.
- Use adhesive hooks for headbands and scrunchies.
- Keep one tray for flat clips and one tin for pins.
- Limit the counter to the two or three pieces you use daily.
Organize by color, size or occasion
Once everything has a home, choose an order that matches how you get dressed. Sorting claw clips by size helps if you pick by hairstyle; sorting by color helps if you match accessories to outfits; sorting by occasion keeps event pieces separate from everyday ones. On a hanging organizer, a simple top-to-bottom gradient from light to dark makes it easy to find the right clip at a glance.
Traveling with hair accessories
For travel, pack claw clips in a small zip pouch or clip them onto the inside of a toiletry bag so they do not get crushed. Put pins in a small tin. Bring one large and one medium claw clip, a few pins and one headband; that covers most hairstyles on a trip.
Storage ideas that double as decor
A wall-mounted organizer full of tortoise, neutral and metal claw clips looks like a display. A glass jar of silk scrunchies or a ceramic dish of pearl pins on a vanity looks considered rather than cluttered. Organizing your collection this way makes it easier to see what goes together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to store claw clips?
Clipped onto a hanging organizer or a fabric strip, so each clip is visible and protected from knocking against others.
How do I stop bobby pins from disappearing?
Keep them in a small lidded tin or on a magnetic dish, and put used pins straight back.
How should I store headbands?
Upright, on a stand, hook or cylinder, so they keep their shape.
Can I store claw clips in a drawer?
Yes, but give them a divided tray and do not pile them, which can crack plastic and acetate clips.
Do hair accessories make good gifts?
Yes, especially paired with storage. See our hair accessory gift guide.
Shop storage
Find the hanging organizer in our gift sets and storage collection, browse claw clips to fill it, and see all clip types in Types of Hair Clips. Orders ship within the US for a flat $6.99, or free on orders of $79 or more.
