How to Use a Banana Clip: Classic & Trendy Hairstyles

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A step-by-step guide to styling your hair with banana clips
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A banana clip is a simple plastic hair clip that helps pull your hair back and secure it in place. It was all the rage in the 80s, and now it’s making a trendy comeback! There are many ways to use a banana clip, and we spoke with professional hair stylist Steven Waldman to bring you the best styling advice possible. So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading to learn the best ways to use a banana clip!

Using a Banana Clip: Quick Style

  1. Comb and detangle your hair, then brush it back.
  2. Open the banana clip and place it at the base of your head.
  3. Push the banana clip upward to comb and gather your hair.
  4. Snap the banana clip closed.
  5. Check for loose hairs or bumps to keep your banana clip ponytail smooth.
Section 1 of 4:

How to Put in a Banana Clip

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Before you style your hair, it’s important to ensure it’s tangle-free. If you have straight or wavy hair, brush it out before inserting the banana clip. If you have curly or kinky hair, use your fingers to make it as knot-free as possible. Then, push all of your hair toward the back of your head. [1]
    • Banana clips can be used on straight or curly hair! They’re a wonderful accessory for any hair type or texture.
  2. Most banana clips have a snap-on latch at either end. This is where you open and close the clip. Open the snap at the top of the clip by tugging on either end of the latch. [2]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Open the clip as wide as you can, and place it at the base of your head where your hair starts to grow. The hinge of the clip should hit near the back of your head, with the jaws open on either side of your hair. [3]
    • Make sure the curve of the clip fits the curve of your head, rather than pointing outward.
    • Styling tip: If you have a lot of hair, it might be easier to flip your head over and insert the clip upside down.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Each jaw of a banana clip has teeth or prongs; these are used to secure your hair in place. Guide the jaws along your head towards each other, combing through the hair. Pull the hair as tightly or as loosely as you’d like. [4]
    • The tighter you pull the hair together, the tighter and sleeker the look will be.
    • Make sure all of your hair is inside the jaws of the clip.
    • Keep the banana clip near the center of your head for a more casual look, or bring the jaws up toward the top of your head for a more dramatic look.
    • Styling tip: Having trouble gathering all of your hair into the clip? Secure your hair in place with a loose elastic, then work the clip around the ponytail and remove the elastic once the clip is shut. [5]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Once the hair is gathered, the two jaws should be parallel to each other. Bring the latch back together, snapping it in place. Depending on how much hair you have, this may take some force. [6]
    • Waldman advises to “keep the teeth secured as close to the scalp as possible to prevent drooping and slipping.” [7]
    • Tip: If you’re having a hard time closing the clip, check to see if there’s hair blocking the closure. Then, push the hair down toward the center of the clip to move it out of the way.
  6. Now all that’s left to do is a quick check of your style. Look in the mirror and see if there are any loose strands outside of the clip’s hold or awkward bumps. If so, try again! It can take some time to perfect the banana clip style, but once you do, you’ll be unstoppable.
    • Styling tip: Don’t feel like restarting? Use bumps and loose strands to your advantage. Style loose strands around your face for a softer look, or pull on chunks of hair near the clip for more volume. [8]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Do a Modern Banana Updo

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  1. For this modern updo, we’ll be showing you how to use a banana clip to create a pile of curls on top of your head. The clip won't be visible, and your curls will create a pile in the shape of a Rihanna-style fauxhawk. Awesome, right? If you don't already have curly hair, go ahead and curl it . [9]
    • Tight ringlets look great with this style and can help the look stay in place better.
    • If you don't want to use a curling iron or hot rollers, try making pin curls .
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Pile your hair tightly at the very top of your head, where you'd place a topknot. Use a comb to make sure the sides and back are smooth, with all the curls piled on top. Hold your hair in place with one hand. [10]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Open the banana clip, and while holding your hair on top of your head, place the clip under the curls. Position the hinge toward the top of your skull. Make sure the clip curves along your head, rather than pointing out. [11]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Close the clip against your head to secure your hair in place, then snap it shut at the top. Ideally, the tip of the clip will be an inch or two back from your forehead. [12]
  5. Arrange your curls around the clip so the ends fall on either side to hide it from view. Use bobby pins to secure the curls in place to keep the clip hidden. Then, add a spritz of hairspray to finish the look. [13]
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Make a 3D Braid

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  1. For this banana clip style, we’ll be adding some extra flair to a traditional French braid. So, start creating the French braid close to the peak of your skull, braiding all the way to the nape of your neck. Leave the tail of your hair unbraided for now, and hold it there with one hand.
  2. Open the clip and place it against your head, so the jaws of the clip are on either side of your braid and the end of your braid falls over the hinge. The tail of your braid will be sticking out over the clip.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Use a Banana Clip
    Snap the clip closed tightly against your head. The teeth of the clip will give your braid a slight lift. If your braid is too tight to insert the clip, use your fingers to loosen it a bit so you can insert the sides of the clip under it and fasten it toward the top of your braid.
  4. Now that the clip is in place, check for areas where it's showing. If you see a place where the clip is poking out, gently loosen that section of your braid just a little to cover it.
    • Use bobby pins and hairspray to help mold the hair to cover the clip.
    • Styling tip: Match your banana clip to your hair (if you can) to better conceal it. For instance, if you have blond hair, opt for a light brown or clear clip instead of a black one.
  5. If the end of the braid is hanging over the clip, gently lift the clip and your braid up and tuck the tail under. Secure the tail in place with bobby pins.
    • Depending on how much hair you have, this can make the braid look even more 3D.
    • If your hair is too heavy to pin up, just leave the tail loose.
    Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

    The banana clip is making a fierce comeback! Open the banana clip and place it at the crown where the hair parts are. For extra volume, backcomb the crown area before clipping. Finish with a holding spray, and just like that, the voluminous banana styles of decades past reemerge with a modern twist!

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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    How do you keep banana clips from slipping? One of the best ways to keep banana clips from slipping, according to Waldman, is to spray your hair and clip with dry shampoo. He recommends spraying your hair and banana clip with dry shampoo before styling to give the clip more grip. [14]
  2. 2
    How do you open and close a banana clip? Open and close a banana clip by unlatching one end. Simply unsnap the latch to open the clip and push the clip jaws back together to close. [15]
    • Some banana clips can open and close on either end of the jaws; just make sure to only choose one when styling.
  3. 3
    Do banana clips work on straight hair? Yes, banana clips work wonderfully on straight hair! Because banana clips create volume, they can add depth and layers to pin-straight hair that other hair holders might not. Banana clips tend to be more secure than claw clips, but they can still slip out of fine hair. Waldman recommends texturizing your hair with dry shampoo or hairspray before styling to prevent this. [16]
    • If you have fine, short, straight hair, opt for a smaller banana clip. If you have thicker, longer straight hair, go with a larger, wider clip.
  4. 4
    Do banana clips work on curly hair? Yes, banana clips are a great accessory for curly hair! Banana clips help define your curls, showing them off with a waterfall effect that a standard ponytail wouldn’t give you. [17] But if you have a lot of hair, it’s best to use a banana clip that’s larger and wider to ensure it can hold all of your gorgeous curls.
  5. 5
    What is the point of a banana clip? Banana clips are an elevated version of a ponytail. Banana clips secure the hair tightly in place at the back of the skull to create a ponytail effect without an elastic. “Ponytails” created with banana clips typically have more volume and can be dressed up or down.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you keep a banana clip in place?
    Steven Waldman
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Steven Waldman is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Director of Technical Training at Hair Cuttery. Steven uses his creative insight and extensive experience to drive educational programming and motivates facilitators and learners to communicate effectively, create and execute strategies to maximize potential, and achieve success. He uses unexpected sources such as art genres, architecture, and cooking to inspire shape, color, and cuts.
    Steven Waldman
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Secure the clip's teeth as close to your scalp as possible to prevent any drooping and slipping.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4
  • Question
    How do you keep banana clips from slipping?
    Steven Waldman
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Steven Waldman is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Director of Technical Training at Hair Cuttery. Steven uses his creative insight and extensive experience to drive educational programming and motivates facilitators and learners to communicate effectively, create and execute strategies to maximize potential, and achieve success. He uses unexpected sources such as art genres, architecture, and cooking to inspire shape, color, and cuts.
    Steven Waldman
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Spray both your hair and the banana clip with some dry shampoo first. This should provide a bit more "grip" to the clip and help prevent slipping.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
  • Question
    Is a banana clip better?
    Community Answer
    A banana clip gives a fashionable look to your hair, so it depends on if you like it that way or not.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/fLvz___34Rg?t=83
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/GZ_fLw1O5Vg?t=19
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/fLvz___34Rg?t=89
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/fLvz___34Rg?t=97
      5. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@mattloveshair/video/7515108742187257119?lang=en
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/fLvz___34Rg?t=103
      7. ↑ Steven Waldman. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 27 July 2021.
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/fLvz___34Rg?t=124
      9. ↑ http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/06/banana-clip-who-knew.html
      1. ↑ http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/06/banana-clip-who-knew.html
      2. ↑ http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/06/banana-clip-who-knew.html
      3. ↑ http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/06/banana-clip-who-knew.html
      4. ↑ http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/06/banana-clip-who-knew.html
      5. ↑ Steven Waldman. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 27 July 2021.
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/GZ_fLw1O5Vg?t=19
      7. ↑ Steven Waldman. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 27 July 2021.
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-UVlzAM-03c?t=2&feature=share

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to use a banana clip to create a ponytail, comb your hair to remove any tangles, then gather your hair into a loose ponytail at the back of your head. Open the snap at the top of the banana clip, then slide the clip under your ponytail so the open sides point upward. Make sure all of your hair is inside the banana clip, then snap the clip shut to secure it. Keep reading to learn how to make a 3-D banana braid!

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