Accessories For Curly Hair - What Works Best?

Having fine hair myself, I’m always envious of a mane of curls! It wasn’t until I was redesigning my website though that I started thinking about which accessories work best for different hair types.

For me, personally, with my fine and fairly short hair, I know there are things that I would avoid, but what about you curly girls? Is there anything you shouldn’t wear?

In short, you can wear anything.

Yes! You are likely in that fortunate position of being able to keep things in your hair with little effort or a stack of hair pins, no matter whether you style your hair up or wear it loose.

The issue, though, may be more to do with the details you choose, rather than the type of accessory, and that’s why I have three tips to help you find a perfect accessory that will accentuate your thick and/or curly hair.

Tip 1: Ask for the same details but in a larger size

I was asked to make an accessory for a shoot a few years ago and the piece that was given as an example would have got lost in the model’s thick, curly hair.

With big hair, you need something that stands out so it doesn’t get lost. That doesn’t mean you can’t keep things delicate (see point two on detail spacing below!), you just need to oversize a little.

The good news is that this is really easy to do!

All it takes is a quick question about whether the design you love could include beads that are a size larger than the ones shown.

In reality, there is perhaps a millimetre’s difference between the sizes of pearls and beads I use. So the teeny, tiny 3mm pearls can easily be swapped for 4mm or 5mm ones and still give the same effect, but will hold their own in your beautiful curls.

Another bonus of having a mane of tight curls is that you can hold more weight in your hair, meaning you can incorporate some interesting details into your headpiece, such as vintage brooches, like the Elsa vine below.

Tip 2: Space your details out for a more minimalistic look

Highly detailed pieces with beaded clusters are perfect for thick and curly hair, but if you prefer a more minimalist look, adding space between your chosen details can have just as much impact without compromising your preferences and style.

You don’t have to overdo the details to make something stand out in your hair. The trick is to focus on how the details are spaced along your accessory to give a sense of balance to your style.

Adding more blank space along a hair vine, for example, will make the detailed elements more eye catching as you won’t have lots of things competing for attention at once. This is something I can help with, and all my designs can be adapted in some way to add more space to help an accessory fit with your hair.

Tip 3: Opt for thicker wire to help your headpiece hold its own in your hair

I use 0.4mm jewellery wire in my headpieces as it’s flexible, sturdy and enables me to create all the little details you love. However, if you’re worried that those details will get lost, I can work with a slightly thicker wire or wire wrap your headpiece so that the metal is clearer in your hair.

This is a really simple process, where I tightly wrap wire around the length of your accessory to make it stand out without compromising the details. You headpiece will still be as flexible, but won’t get lost in your hair - win win!