Meet the Power Pin: The Hairpin Designed to Replace the Claw Clip
Posted by Aviva Jansen Perea
I have nothing against claw clips. They're convenient, they're quick, and for a lot of people they're the default for putting hair up in a hurry. But over the years I've seen the same pattern repeat itself: someone with thick, long, or heavy hair reaches for a claw clip, it slips or snaps by noon, and they spend the rest of the day wrestling with their hair.
The problem isn't the person. It's that a claw clip has a mechanical limit. The spring and the teeth can only do so much before the weight of the hair wins. And for anyone with a lot of hair, that limit gets reached faster than you'd think.
The Power Pin is what I reach for instead.
What the Power Pin Is
The Power Pin is our largest hairpin, built for thick, long, or heavy hair that needs real structural hold. It's longer and stronger than a standard hairpin, designed to pass all the way through a full, dense bun and anchor at the base where the hold actually comes from.
It's made in the USA, color-matched to blend into real hair tones, and built with the gauge and tension to hold without bending, slipping, or working itself loose over the course of a day.
One pin. All day. That's what it's designed to do.
Why a Hairpin Holds Differently Than a Claw Clip
A claw clip holds from the outside. It clamps around the hair and relies on its spring mechanism to stay closed. When the hair is heavy enough, or the clip shifts slightly, that mechanism gives and the style goes with it.
A hairpin holds from within. It weaves through the hair and anchors at the structural point of the bun or twist, using the tension of the style itself to stay in place. The heavier the hair, the more tension there is, which actually helps the pin stay seated rather than working against it.
This is why thick-haired people often find that a single Power Pin outperforms a claw clip they've been fighting with for years. It's not that the pin is magic. It's that the mechanics are better suited to the job.
A few other differences worth knowing:
Claw clips can leave a crease or dent in the hair where they grip, especially on finer or more fragile hair. A hairpin doesn't press into the hair from the outside, so there's no crease and no concentrated pressure at a single point.
Claw clips are visible. Even the prettiest one sits on top of the style as a piece of hardware. A Power Pin, color-matched to your hair, disappears into the bun. What people see is the style, not what's holding it.
Claw clips can put uneven pressure on the scalp, particularly with heavy hair pulling the clip downward over time. A properly placed hairpin distributes hold differently, which most people find more comfortable for all-day wear.
Who the Power Pin Is For
The Power Pin was designed with a specific person in mind: someone who has always felt like hair accessories just aren't strong enough for their hair.
It's for thick hair that overwhelms standard pins and clips. For long hair where the weight makes most styles sag by midday. For heavy hair that needs an anchor, not just a surface grip.
It's also for anyone who wants a cleaner, more polished look without the visible hardware of a claw clip or the bulk of layering multiple pins to get the hold they need.
If you have fine or medium hair, or you're working with a smaller bun or a half-up style, our Petite Power Pin is likely a better fit. The Power Pin is built for volume and weight. For lighter hair, a smaller pin seats more cleanly and holds just as well.
How to Use It
The technique is the same as any hairpin, with one adjustment for the size: because the Power Pin is longer, it has more range to anchor. Use that.
Gather your hair into the bun or style you want. Insert the pin at the base of the bun where it meets the head, angling slightly downward toward the scalp. Weave through the bun, catch a small amount of hair near the scalp, and bring the pin back through. The pin should cross the base of the bun, seated close to the head.
For very thick or heavy hair, two pins placed at opposing angles through the base creates an X that keeps both pins in place and distributes the hold evenly.
If you're new to hairpins and want the full technique, How to Use a Hairpin: A Celebrity Stylist's Guide walks through placement, angle, and the weave motion step by step.
The Honest Case for Switching
I'm not going to tell you to throw out your claw clips. For quick, casual hold on a lighter hair day, they're fine.
But if you find yourself re-pinning your hair multiple times a day, if your claw clip snaps or slips regularly, if your bun is never quite as secure as you want it to be, the issue is almost certainly the tool rather than your hair or your technique.
The Power Pin is designed for hair that needs more. Not more pins. Not more fussing. Just one pin that's actually built for the job.
For more on how hairpins compare to claw clips, elastics, and bobby pins, our Complete Hairpin Guide covers the differences and how to choose based on your hair type and the styles you reach for most.
xo, Aviva
