Hair Pins for Medium-Length Hair: What Actually Holds
Medium-length hair gets left out of most hair advice. Tutorials tend to assume you either have long hair with plenty to work with or short hair that barely needs pinning. If your hair falls somewhere around your collarbone or shoulders, you know the in-between problems well: a bun that's a little too small, ends that poke out, and layers that slip loose by midday.
The good news is that medium hair is one of the easiest lengths to pin once you size the pin to the hair.
Why medium hair slips
There are usually three culprits. First, there's less length to wrap, so the bun is smaller and has less internal tension holding it together. Second, layers. Shorter pieces around the face and nape are always the first to fall out. Third, the pin is the wrong size. A pin built for very long, heavy hair can be too much for a smaller bun, so it never seats properly and ends up sitting on the surface.
The right pin for medium-length hair
For most medium-length hair, I reach for the Petite Power Pin. At 5.5 inches, it's long enough to pass through a medium bun and anchor at the base, but not so long that the ends stick out past a smaller shape. It's our best-selling French hair pin because it works on most hair types and most lengths.
For layers and the pieces that escape, keep a few Hero Pins nearby. They're our version of the bobby pin, built for detail work, and they're the cleanest way to tuck a short layer back into a bun without it looking pinned.
Three styles that work well at this length
The low twist. Gather your hair at the nape, twist it once or twice, and fold it up against your head. Push the pin down through the twist against your scalp, then flip it up and push it through. That flip is what locks it. Because the twist is folded rather than wrapped, it uses your length efficiently and doesn't need much hair to look full.
The half-up knot. Take everything above your ears, twist it, and wrap it into a small knot at the back of your head. One Petite Power Pin through the base holds it. This is a good one for days when you want your hair off your face without committing to a full updo.
The short French twist. Medium hair can absolutely do a French twist. Gather the hair at the nape, twist it upward along the back of your head, and tuck the ends into the roll. Secure it with a Petite Power Pin through the center of the twist, then use a Hero Pin or two to catch any ends that won't stay tucked. If you've never tried one, my French twist tutorial walks through it.
A few tips that make a difference
Work with a little texture. Medium hair that's freshly washed and silky slides out of everything. A little dry shampoo at the roots gives the pin some grip.
Keep the prongs close together when you insert the pin. Opening a U-shaped hair pin too wide is one of the most common reasons it slips, especially in a smaller bun.
Pick a shade that matches your hair. In a smaller bun, more of the pin shows. Our pins come in nine shades matched to real hair, so the pin blends in rather than standing out.
Read the complete hairpin guide, see the best hair pins for buns, by hair type, or shop the Petite Power Pin.