Bobby Pins

I think I wear at least one bobby pin per day. I usually max-out at five, but for an ill-advised prom updo I must have worn a hundred. I love them because they are simple, useful, and near invisible. Available in a range of metallics made to match different haircolors, these teeny hair accessories hide beneath my thick hair, tucking away frizzy rebels. More often than not, they enable me to pull my hair, fresh out of the shower, into a tight ballerina bun and head off to class without worrying that my curls will become unruly as the day goes on. But who thought to stick metal pins against our scalps, and why does one side have ridges while the other one is smooth?

Bobby pins were invented by Luis Marcus to help style a classic post-WWI flapper bob. He sold them in twos for 35 cents. He originally intended to name them Marcus pins, but instead chose to name them for the hairstyle which inspired them. Contrary to popular use, the rigid side of the pin is supposed to face down against the scalp to hold the hair in place (even so, that can be painful and maybe not worth it in my opinion). Also, despite the fact that some bobby pins are sold with openers to spread the bobby pin, one is not actually supposed to open a bobby pin before putting it in his or her hair. This flawed use fills the bobby pin with more hair than it can hold, causing slippage.

Bobby pin can be used for a variety of hairstyles, ranging from my simple bun and flapper bobs to more complicated styles – including recent looks that use the pin for display and not just utility.