You can buy higher quality bobby pins, if you choose. Salon professionals advise that they do a better job of holding your hair in place. [1] X Research source Try spraying your cheaper bobby pins with hairspray or texturizing your hair before using them. Then, the bobby pins have more ability to grip your hair. [2] X Research source
A rattail comb works well for this because of its pointed tip. If you do not have a comb, you can use your index finger; however, the part will likely not be straight.
If you parted the section of hair on the left side of your head, pinch the hair with your left hand. This frees up your right hand to reach across to slide in the bobby pin. Likewise, if you parted the section of hair on the right side of your head, pinch the hair with your right hand. This way, your arms are not getting crossed and tangled in front of your head.
This method provides a better grip on your hair so that the bobby pin stays in place.
Slide the bobby pin straight up, toward the top of your head, or at a slight angle toward the back of your head. Do not insert it completely horizontal or downward, because your hair will fall out of the pin. This is a quick and simple method for pinning back your hair. However, it is likely that it will not hold for a long period of time, and you will probably have to reinsert it. You may need to use multiple bobby pins to keep your hair secure for an extended period of time.
Gently push away any loose strands of hair that should not be included in the part. Pulling back hair from along the side of your face will help keep it out of your face and keep flyaway hairs from sticking out.
Smooth out bumps using your fingers or your comb. Do this carefully to avoid picking up any stray hairs that should not be included in the part.
You will need to twist the part at least five times to get a tight twist, but you will only need to twist it a couple of times to get a looser twist.
It is best to lay the twist at such an angle (or height) so that the hair that stems from your hairline doesn’t bump, or pouf, up when you lay it. If this happens, you will want to gently slide the twist down until the hair lays flat. Hold the twist in place with the hand that is on the same side of your body as the twist. If your twist is on the left side of your head, then hold the twist in place with your left hand. Likewise, if the twist is on the right side of your head, then hold the twist in place with your right hand.
Aim the bobby pin so that the open side points toward your face. Make sure that the ridged arm of the bobby pin lays against your scalp.
When you are done inserting the bobby pin, most of it should be hidden by the twist. Use bobby pins similar to the color of your hair to hide them better.
Use a comb or brush to help smooth your hair as you pull it back into the ponytail.
Wrap the hair tie enough times to hold the ponytail securely but not so tightly that it might break your hair. About three times should do the trick.
Hold the ponytail upward against the back of your head so that you can reach its underside.
Do this gently so that you do not scratch yourself. Be careful when pushing the bobby pin in since it could be painful and cause scabs on your scalp if done incorrectly.
Grab the hair on the sides of the ponytail and pull out to the sides. This pushes the elastic hair tie closer to your scalp, tightening the ponytail. You can also grab the top and bottom of the ponytail and pull them gently up and down, respectively, to give your ponytail more volume.
Some women recommend buying higher quality bobby pins, claiming that they do a better job of holding your hair in place. [11] X Research source If you cannot afford professional pins, try spraying your bobby pin with hairspray or texturizing your hair before using cheaper bobby pins. This gives them more ability to grip your hair. [12] X Research source
A rattail comb works well for this because of its pointed tip. You can use your index finger if you do not have a comb; however, you run the risk of not having a straight part.
If you parted the section of hair on the left side of your head, pinch the hair with your left hand. This frees up your right hand to reach across to slide in the bobby pin. Likewise, if you parted the section of hair on the right side of your head, pinch the hair with your right hand. This way, your arms are not getting crossed and tangled in front of your head.
Inserting the bobby pin in this way provides a better grip on your hair so that it stays in place.
Carefully clean up any loose strands that got caught up locking the bobby pin but are not actually secured in it.
