Why Are These Bejeweled Barrettes Taking Over Instagram?

Scrolls through Instagram are shining a little bit brighter as of late thanks to (be)jewelers everywhere working overtime on crystal-encrusted hair clips. When banana clips hit the runway this fashion week season I was a bit…nervous. Would the ostentatious and extremely extra hair pieces we’d seen on the runway lose steam? Was I destined to get a 2018 version of the Rachel and put it up with a scrunchie? But while catwalk trends grew simpler, another trend more my speed was bubbling up on Instagram: bejeweled barrettes.

The encrusted barrettes trend first hit mass appeal when Selena Gomez wore an “UGLY” hairpin as a response (we think!) to Stefano Gabbana’s comments about the young songstress.

From there it felt like the crystals were everywhere on my feed. It-girl Alexa Chung, editor and influencer Alyssa Coscarelli, and model Paloma Elsesser all joined in on the trend.

The style isn’t always about messaging, though. Sometimes the barrettes are just there to jack up the glitz and glam to a 10. Hair stylist Justine Marjan used the sparkling pieces to create two looks for Real Housewife Dorit Kemsley. Her Beverly Hills reunion look was full of encrusted bobby pins while a second one spelt out GUCCI in Swarovski crystals.

Actress Dove Cameron has worn the jewels and Rachel Zoe featured the look on models at her fashion week presentation.

Ready to try the trend for yourself? Shop the Ashley Williams London ‘Boys’ and ‘Anxiety’ clips.

I also really love Sincerely Jules by Scunci’s subtle (and inexpensive!) diamond hairpin collection which would make Marie Antoinette proud.