Both on runways and in real life, hair accessories have made an undeniable comeback. Be it bows, barrettes or brooches, both haute joaillerie maisons and haute couture houses have left no shape, size or statement unexplored in the matter of tress adornments.

Yet, it’s hardly a new trend. Indeed, hair pins, dating as far back as circa 1070 BC, are proudly displayed at both London’s famed Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, implying that the humble bobby pin has been holding hair in place for quite a few millennia now. In fact, according to historian M.E. Pilou Miller, the hair pin is considered among the most ancient of human accessories, crafted from handy materials ranging from bone and wood to precious metals.

However, their functionality isn’t the sole reason why hair accessories have withstood the test of time and trends. Be it Afro hair jewellery like beads and gold cuffs, Thai dance headdresses, Indian bridal hair accoutrements or Western tiaras, almost every culture has its own take on the ornaments that grace our crowns. Indeed, in times Victorian, when displaying long, loose tresses was considered immoral, the humble hair clip became almost a gatekeeper of morality, holding in place not only a woman’s curls, but also her character.

Now though, such prudent pieces have given way to maximalist hair jewellery. Flaunting crystals, diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones, they not only add a sheen of glamour to our coiffures, but also bestow the modern woman with extra confidence, as she sets out to conquer the world with her head held high.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay