I’ve noticed a lot of DIY up-do tutorials floating around the web lately. If you’re on Pinterest (and you should be; it’s totally fun and inspiring!), you know what I’m talking about. While most of these tutorials boast super-easy steps, it dawned on me that none of them will be easy if you don’t know the proper way to use a bobby pin.

Sounds silly, right? You might be surprised to know how many people improperly use bobby pins, resulting in an up-do that quickly becomes an up-don’t (or perhaps a down-do?). Anyway, I’ve outlined a couple of simple tips to help you get the most out of your bobby pin usage.

Tip #1: Don’t open the pin.

It may seem like the more hair you can shove in the bobby pin, the better. It’s not. A bobby pin is meant to hold only as much hair as it can hold when inserted from a closed position. No more; no less. In fact, when you over stuff a bobby pin, it forces the pin out of your hair, causing the hair to fall out of the up-do.

To properly insert a bobby pin, simply slide it into the spot you want it to hold in its natural, closed position. You might be surprised at how much more effective a bobby pin is when inserted correctly.

Tip #2: Use the right bobby pin for your hair.

If you’ve ever shopped for bobby pins, you know that there are several types to choose from.

Photo source: Photobucket

If you have fine, thin hair, a smaller bobby pin is what you want to use. If you try a pin that’s too large, it won’t hold your hair. On the contrary, ladies with thick or curly hair should use the larger bobby pins – you’ll need the extra oomph behind these pins to hold your locks.

A hairpin is a bit of a twist on the bobby pin and is distinguished by its U shape and wavy pattern on both sides. I never use these types of pins on their own to create an up-do. They’re more useful in holding down an unruly piece that has escaped or for pinning a longer bang piece back into the up-do.

Tip #3: Don’t put too much thought into it.

Unless you’re going for a very sleek look, don’t try to be too “perfect” with your up-do. Agonizing over the exact placement of each pin and whether or not any of them can be seen takes all of the fun out of getting a great look.  Besides, slightly messy, imperfect hair is an absolute “do” right now!

What are some of your favorite up-dos to do to your hair? Have any additional bobby pin tips or tricks?