Start with one small side section
This tutorial uses a small side section laid against nearby hair. It is a simple way to practise placement without asking one pin to support a full bun. Use a mirror and keep the section supported with one hand while positioning the pin with the other.
Choose a pin with smooth tips and arms that return close together. Do not use your teeth to open it. Set aside pins with exposed sharp tips, corrosion, rough coatings or a body that stays distorted.
Place, check and release
- Arrange the section first. Lay the side piece where you want it to sit. Separate strands that belong elsewhere so they do not get caught in the pin.
- Check the pin’s orientation. For a conventional crimped bobby pin, Kitsch advises placing the crimped side toward the scalp. Decorative or unusual designs may have different directions.
- Catch a small amount. Open the arms only as much as needed for the section. Do not load the full gathered bundle between widely spread arms.
- Slide into nearby hair. Guide the pin along the section so it catches some underlying hair as well as the piece you are holding. Keep the tips moving through hair rather than pressing into the scalp.
- Check before letting go. Ease your supporting hand away. If the piece slips or the pin presses, support it again and withdraw the pin before repositioning.
- Remove along its entry path. Support the held section and slide the pin back out. If strands catch, stop and free them rather than dragging the pin through resistance.
Why a bobby pin keeps slipping
Table: swipe sideways on a small screen, or focus and use arrow keys.
| Observation | Try first | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| The arms sit far apart | Capture less hair or use a pin suited to the section | Stretching the same pin wider. |
| The pin travels out with the side piece | Reposition to catch nearby hair as well | Pushing against the scalp. |
| The pin presses at one point | Withdraw and change the angle or placement | Regarding discomfort as proof of a secure hold. |
| The section overwhelms several small pins | Change the arrangement or fastening format | Stacking more pins over an unstable base. |
| A tip catches during removal | Stop and separate the caught strands | Pulling harder or using a rough pin again. |
Should you cross two pins?
Kitsch’s pin guidance describes crossing two pins for a bun anchor. Regard that as a placement option, not a required step for every side section. Start with a single comfortable placement; add another only when it supports a clear part of the arrangement and can be removed without catching.
Do not add hairspray, glue or another coating to the pin as a default grip fix. First check section size, placement and the condition of the pin. Product directions do not automatically permit spraying an accessory or using an aerosol near a hot appliance.
When another fastening makes more sense
A rigid French pin works through an arranged bun differently from a closed bobby pin. Compare bobby pins and U-shaped hair pins before buying a larger pack to solve a different task. A barrette may be easier when you want a visible clasp around a gathered section.