How to Use a Claw Clip on Short Hair: Styles That Actually Work

Short hair and claw clips can seem like a mismatch. Standard clips are too big, tutorials assume you have long hair to twist, and the styles that work for others just... don't. But with the right techniques and the right-sized clips, short hair can absolutely rock the claw clip trend.

This guide covers styles specifically designed for chin-length hair and shorter, including pixies, bobs, and everything in between.

For general claw clip techniques, see our complete styling guide or our ultimate claw clip guide.

Understanding Short Hair + Claw Clips

Why Standard Tutorials Don't Work

Most claw clip tutorials say: "Gather hair, twist, secure." But short hair can't create the rope-like twist that longer hair can. There's not enough length to coil, so the standard approach fails.

The solution: Different techniques entirely. Short hair uses clips for pinning, gathering, and accenting rather than traditional twisting.

What Length Counts as "Short"?

For this guide, "short hair" means:

If your hair touches your shoulders, you're in lob territory and most standard tutorials will work with smaller clips.

The Right Clips for Short Hair

Size Guidelines

Features That Help

Look for clips with:

• Close-together teeth: Grip short strands better
• Strong springs: Compensate for less hair to hold
• Matte finish: Provides friction on slippery short hair
• Lightweight construction: Won't drag down short sections

Features That Don't Help

Avoid:

• Oversized clips: Look awkward and don't grip
• Wide jaw openings: Can't close on thin sections
• Heavy clips: Pull down short hair
• Slippery finishes: Short hair slides out easily

For product recommendations, see best claw clips for short hair and bobs.

6 Styles That Work on Short Hair

Style 1: The Mini Half-Up

Works for: Chin-length and longer bobs

Clip size: Mini to small (1-1.5 inches)

Time: 15 seconds

How to do it:

1. Part hair horizontally above your ears
2. Gather the top section (less than you think, just 2-3 inches of hair)
3. Don't twist, just pinch the section together
4. Open the clip and place it at the gathering point
5. Close the clip and adjust

Tips for short hair:

• Take less hair than tutorials suggest
• Position higher on your head for more lift
• The clip does the work; you don't need to twist

Style 2: The Side Pin

Works for: All short hair including pixies

Clip size: Mini (1 inch or less)

Time: 10 seconds

How to do it:

1. Decide which side to pin (usually the side with more volume or where hair falls into your face)
2. Take a small section (1-2 inches wide) near your temple
3. Smooth the section back toward your ear
4. Pin with a mini clip above or behind your ear
5. Adjust so the clip sits flat against your head

Tips for short hair:

• This is purely decorative on very short hair, and that's fine
• Use a beautiful clip since it's visible and central to the look
• Pin at a slight angle for visual interest

Style 3: The Double Pin

Works for: Pixies and very short bobs

Clip size: Mini (1 inch or less)

Time: 15 seconds

How to do it:

1. Create a center or side part
2. Take a small section on each side of the part
3. Smooth each section back
4. Pin each with matching mini clips
5. Position symmetrically

Tips for short hair:

• Creates a sweet, styled look on very short hair
• Works well for growing out bangs
• Use matching clips for a coordinated look

Style 4: The Back Gather

Works for: Chin-length bobs and longer

Clip size: Small (1.5-2 inches)

Time: 20 seconds

How to do it:

1. Leave front pieces out (face-framing sections)
2. Gather the back section only (from behind your ears)
3. Pinch together at the center back of your head
4. Clip horizontally

Tips for short hair:

• This is different from a standard half-up, you're clipping from behind
• The clip sits at the back of your head, not on top
• Front pieces stay loose to frame your face
• Works well for keeping hair off your neck

Style 5: The Twist Stack (for longer bobs)

Works for: Chin-to-shoulder length bobs

Clip size: Small to medium (1.5-2.5 inches)

Time: 30 seconds

How to do it:

1. Gather hair as if making a low ponytail
2. Twist just 2-3 rotations (not the full length)
3. Push the twist upward against your head
4. Clip at the base of the twist
5. Let the ends fan out above the clip

Tips for short hair:

• You're not coiling the twist around itself like long hair would
• The clip secures the base while ends stay loose
• Creates the claw clip look without needing long hair to twist fully

Style 6: The Accent Scatter

Works for: All short hair

Clip size: Mini (1 inch or less)

Time: 30 seconds

How to do it:

1. Style your hair as usual (down, textured, etc.)
2. Choose 2-4 mini clips in coordinating colors
3. Place clips randomly through your hair
4. Each clip pinches a tiny section (decorative, not functional)
5. Vary heights and positions for visual interest

Tips for short hair:

• This is a trendy, fashion-forward look
• The clips don't need to hold anything, they're accessories
• Works especially well with textured or wavy short hair
• Match clips to your outfit or mix patterns

Problem-Solving for Short Hair

"My clips won't stay in"

Causes and solutions:

"The clip looks too big for my head"

This is a sign you need smaller clips. Mini clips (1 inch or less) are designed for exactly this problem. They're proportional to short hair and smaller sections.

"I can't do any of the styles I see online"

Most tutorials are made by people with long hair. Accept that short hair uses clips differently:

• Functional use (holding hair up) requires chin-length or longer
• Decorative use (pinning sections, accenting) works on any length
• Half-up styles require at least enough length to gather 2-3 inches of hair

If your hair is too short for functional use, embrace decorative clips as accessories.

"My clip slides to the back of my head"

Short hair is lighter and doesn't weigh clips down, but it also means less grip. Solutions:

• Add texture with dry shampoo or texturizing spray
• Position clip higher than feels natural (it will settle)
• Use clips with matte or textured finishes
• Try clips with double rows of teeth

For more troubleshooting, see why does my claw clip keep falling out.

Styling Tips Specific to Short Hair

Creating Texture First

Short hair benefits from texture before clipping:

1. Apply texturizing spray to dry hair
2. Scrunch with your hands
3. Let set for 30 seconds
4. Now clip, the teeth have something to grip

Working With Layers

Layered short hair has pieces of different lengths. Work with this:

• Clip the shorter layers, let longer pieces fall naturally
• Or clip the longer pieces back, let shorter layers frame your face
• Layers add visual interest to simple clip styles

Growing-Out Phase Styling

If you're growing out a pixie or short cut:

• Clips help manage awkward lengths
• Pin back pieces that aren't long enough to tuck behind ears
• Use clips to blend layers as they grow
• The "side pin" style is especially useful during grow-out

Best Styles for Each Short Hair Type

Pixies

Best styles: Side pin, double pin, accent scatter

Clip size: Mini only

Notes: Mostly decorative use. Embrace clips as jewelry for your hair rather than functional tools.

Very Short Bobs (Chin Length)

Best styles: Side pin, double pin, mini half-up, accent scatter

Clip size: Mini to small

Notes: Half-up styles start working at this length if you use small clips and take small sections.

Standard Bobs (Chin to Shoulder)

Best styles: All styles in this guide work

Clip size: Small to medium

Notes: You have the most options. The back gather and twist stack work particularly well.

Long Bobs (Shoulder Length)

Best styles: All short hair styles plus most standard tutorials

Clip size: Small to medium

Notes: At this length, you can start adapting "long hair" tutorials by using smaller clips. See our general styling guide.

Building a Short Hair Clip Collection

Starter Set (3-4 clips)

1. Two mini clips (1 inch) in neutral colors
2. One small clip (1.5-2 inches) for half-up styles
3. One statement mini in a fun color or pattern

Complete Collection (6-8 clips)

1. Set of mini clips (4-6 pieces in assorted neutrals)
2. Two small clips (different neutral colors)
3. One or two statement minis (color, pattern, or interesting material)
4. One medium clip for the rare "I need more hold" situation

Specialty Clips Worth Trying

• Double-row teeth minis: Better grip for very fine short hair
• Matte finish clips: Help with slippery hair
• Claw-barrette hybrids: Snap in like a barrette but have claw clip aesthetic

For clip recommendations, see best mini claw clips for half-up styles and best claw clips for short hair.

FAQs

Can I use claw clips if my hair is pixie length?

Yes, but for decorative purposes. Pixie-length hair can't be gathered and clipped functionally, but mini clips work beautifully as hair accessories that pin back small sections.

Why do clips made for short hair cost the same as large clips?

Manufacturing small clips with strong grips requires quality materials and engineering. Cheap mini clips often have weak springs that don't hold. The investment in quality mini clips is worth it.

I have a bob but my hair is very fine. What clips work?

Look for clips with double-row teeth and matte finishes. These provide extra grip for fine, slippery hair. See our fine hair claw clip guide.

How do I keep clips from showing awkwardly in photos?

For photos, position clips lower and more toward the back of your head. Side pins photograph well if placed right at the hairline. Avoid clips positioned directly on top of your head unless that's the intentional look.

Can I get the "messy bun" look with short hair?

Not the traditional messy bun, no. However, the "twist stack" style creates a similar vibe for chin-to-shoulder hair. For very short hair, embrace different aesthetics that suit your length.

My short hair has a lot of volume. Can I use larger clips?

If you have thick, voluminous short hair, you might be able to size up slightly. But start with small clips before trying medium. The proportional look still matters.

The Bottom Line

Claw clips absolutely work on short hair when you adjust your expectations and techniques:

1. Use smaller clips (mini and small sizes)
2. Learn new techniques (pin, gather, accent) rather than twist-and-coil
3. Embrace decorative use for very short hair
4. Add texture before clipping for better grip

The claw clip trend isn't limited to long hair. Short hair just requires a different approach and the right tools.

For clip recommendations, explore our short hair clip guide and mini clips guide. For more styling inspiration, see our complete claw clip guide.