Dazzling *Hair Jewelry* Trend Makes It So Easy to Create Stunning Styles — Here’s How
From rhinestone-encrusted hairpins to sparkly headbands, there's a pick for every hairstyle
The secret to creating a gorgeous hairstyle that completes any party look, yet doesn’t require a pricey trip to the salon or a lot of time or effort? Dressing up your mane with hair jewelry! The twinkling accessories are not only fashionable and functional, taking a hairdo from lovely to luxe, but they come complete with age-defying perks. Here, the celebrity hairstylist-approved hair accessories that are sure to collect compliments and help you feel confident and beautiful for any occasion!
What is hair jewelry?
“Hair jewelry is any trendy jewelry-like statement piece that you can add to your hair to transform your look,” says Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist and founder of The Beachwaver Co., who has worked with Emily Blunt and Lea Michele. It can be a piece of actual jewelry you own or a souped-up-with-sparkle accessory made for hair. Some of her favorite hair jewelry items include bold headbands, large bows and oversized barrettes. Whether you opt for gilded, glittered or bedazzled hair accessories, anything with a little sparkle and shine falls under the hair jewelry category and can dress up a simple outfit with eye-catchingly festive pizzazz.
The benefits of hair jewelry
“There are so many benefits to using hair jewelry to elevate a holiday look,” notes Potempa. Not only can the pieces be used in a unique way to effortlessly change your style up, they offer beautifying benefits to boot! For example, rhinestones on a headband or hair pin can reflect light onto the hair and face to give skin a gorgeous glow and hair a healthy, luminous sheen. Or sparkly clips placed strategically near the hairline can help frame the face to showcase pretty features or give them an optical “boost.” Says Potempa, “The versatility, variety and ease makes this trend perfect for anyone!” Read on to find the hair jewelry piece that’s right for you.
1. Gem-encrusted headband
“A bold statement headband transforms an everyday look into a festive one in seconds,” says Potempa. Plus, the glimmer of a gem-kissed band bounces light onto the face to give skin a lit-from-within glow, says celebrity hairstylist Carrie Butterworth, who has worked with Sigourney Weaver and Mena Suvari.
Get the look: Using a 1½” curling iron, wrap 1″ sections of hair around the barrel, curling hair away from the face. Once hair is all curled, comb through with fingers and set with hair spray. To finish, place a bejeweled black headband, like Rhinestone Velvet Cluster Headband Black (Buy from Beachwaver, $28), behind the ears.
2. Twinkling bun gems
Placing hair into a bedazzled low bun draws the eye vertically, giving the neck a long, swan-like look. Even better? “The sparkle of the gems dresses up a simple chignon and enhance hair’s natural highlights for a more vibrant mane,” says Butterworth.
Get the look: Create a middle part, then brush hair back and secure into a low pony at the nape of the neck. Twist the “tail” into a roll and pin in place. Press adhesive hair gems, like Tuzuaol 1982 Pieces Hair Gems (Buy from Amazon, $6.99) onto the bun. Set with hair spray.
3. Bejeweled barrette
Sparkly barrettes keep an updo in place while their texture gives thin hair added depth. And placing the add-ons near the hairline (it frames the face to highlight pretty features) and the crown (it lifts hair to add volume) boosts the benefits.
Get the look: Tease hair up and forward. Work pomade through ends of 1″ sections of hair and twist upward to enhance layers. Clip a sparkly barrette, like Rhinestone Leaf Decor Bridal Hair Clip (Buy from Shein, $2.10), along one side of the hairline and another just below the crown on the opposite side.
4. Dazzling ‘halo’ comb
A glitzy halo-like haircomb placed across the crown of the head causes the eye to scan up and down, elongating the face so it appears longer and leaner, says Butterworth. What’s more, the halo distracts from any thinning at the crown for the illusion of fuller locks.
Get the look: Lightly tease hair at the roots for lift, then create a deep side part. Wrap 2″ sections of hair around a 1½” curling iron. Comb through with fingers and set with hair spray. Slide a crystal haircomb, like Unicra Crystal Hair Combs (Buy from Amazon, $9.99) into hair at top of crown.
5. Pearl-kissed pin
Fashioning a pearl- and crystal-encrusted bobby pin above one ear in line with the cheekbone pulls focus up diagonally, creating a youthful face-lifting effect, says Butterworth. “And the bright, linear glow of the stones reflects up onto hair for a luminous sheen.”
Get the look: Using a 2″ curling iron, wrap 2″ sections of hair loosely around the barrel, curling hair away from the face; brush through to create loose waves. Make a deep side part, then on the lighter side of the part, place a pearl and crystal bobby pin, like Rhinestone & Faux Pearl Hair Pin Set (Buy from Forever21, $4.99), into hair near the temple so it’s aligned with the cheekbone.
6. Sparkly ‘crown’
Wearing a sparkly headband so it sits just past the hairline keeps any flyaways at bay and ensures longer hair stay out of the face. What’s more, the dimension and sparkle of a crown-like headband creates the illusion of a fuller mane.
Get the look: Lightly tease hair at the crown for added volume, brush hair back and set with hairspray, then slide on a rhinestone-covered headband, like milylove Rhinestone Crystal Diamond Headband (Buy from Amazon, $9.99).
7. Feather clip
A curved feather clip frames the ear, mimicking the look of an ear cuff without the heaviness of the actual jewelry. Plus, it effortlessly takes a simple bob or layer-less hairstyle into an elegant party style.
Get the look: Make a deep side part, then on the lighter side of the part, tuck hair behind the ear and clamp a feather-shaped clip, like Fodattm Vintage Rhinestone Leaf Feather Clip (Buy from Amazon, $8.57), onto hair.
For more easy hairstyling tips, check out these stories:
Hairstylists Reveal The Best Foolproof Ways to Keep Hair Straight Overnight
Pro Stylists’ Tricks for Curls That Last and Last So Hair Stays Lush + Voluminous All Day
This Wavy Hair Routine Ensures Hair Looks Thick, Full and Bouncy Longer After Washing
