Since I keep telling you whenever a friend panics before a night out: when it comes to party hair, the accessory does half the work. One piece in the right place and the whole silhouette changes, without a trip to the salon. So which pieces really deserve a place in your hair wardrobe this season? Here's what I've observed and documented, without trying to sell you anything more than the bare essentials.

Last Saturday: a wedding at 7pm, and twenty minutes flat to turn a daytime bun into something presentable. That night, a resin claw clip saved the day — not a last-minute blow-dry, not a fresh balayage. Which just goes to show: you can have the best hairdresser in the world and still end up on your knees in front of the bathroom mirror, wondering what on earth to do with that mane!

Thick hair twisted and held by a large amber resin claw clip
The claw clip tames lengths without denting the hair
Structured cognac leather-effect headband worn on slicked-back hair
The structured headband lifts tired hair in one move

The headband: the easiest statement piece to wear

The structured headband is not going anywhere, and I'm not complaining! In quilted satin or pearlescent beads, it lifts a tired bob and dresses a low bun in ten seconds. Rhinestone styles, long reserved for weddings, are now worn with an all-black outfit and nothing else — and honestly, it works. It's the last-minute move that makes it look as though you spent an hour at the mirror, when really you just grabbed the first thing lying on the dressing table.

Hands adjusting a quilted satin headband on brown hair, soft window light
The wide headband lifts a tired bob in seconds

Be careful with the fit, though: on fine hair, a wide headband tends to slip and ruin the look. Go for a discreet elastic band at the back, or a narrower version that will stay put all evening — because a headband that rides up every five minutes is the quickest way to lose your composure. Some brands make ornate versions sold online: I've seen them, I haven't tested them, so judge for yourself when yours arrives.

Fine headband trimmed with small powder-pink silk flowers on a brown bob
A few silk flowers are enough to dress up a sensible bob

The claw clip: an ally for thick hair

It's the accessory I've seen come back over the past two years, and my verdict hasn't shifted a millimetre: on long or thick hair, the claw clip holds better than a hair elastic and leaves far fewer marks. In tortoiseshell resin, translucent or matte acetate, choose it according to your hair — the thicker your hair, the wider the grip needs to be, otherwise it slips. And a clip that slips, as we all know, means an evening spent putting it back in place!

Headband covered in small pearls worn on a low bun, three-quarter rear view
Pearlescent beads dress a low bun without overloading it

For a night out, sweep one side back, twist the other, and place the clip above the ear. The move that changes everything is leaving two or three loose strands around the face: the result looks less neat, more considered, even though you spent only two minutes on it. It's the kind of detail that makes the difference between an office bun and party hair, without bringing out the heavy artillery.

Gold claw clip with a wide grip decorated with pearls, on a thick-hair bun
On dense hair, a wide grip holds all evening without leaving marks

The bow, from velvet to tulle

The bow has been everywhere for a few seasons, from black velvet to cream satin, by way of tulle for a more romantic touch. It clips in as a hair slide or ties around a half-up ponytail, in dramatic baroque maxi sizes or mini versions on a bun. One bow per head, though: two and the hairstyle tips into costume. We love the idea on paper, but we temper it once we're in front of the mirror!

Black velvet bow fixed as a hair clip on a half-up ponytail, rear view
A single bow is enough to romanticise a simple half-up ponytail

Scarves, ribbons and hair jewellery

A silk scarf on loose hair remains the easiest bohemian option to pull off. A 50–70cm square is enough, tied under the nape or worn as a headband — and good news: it's probably one of the most forgiving accessories, hiding an imperfect hairstyle better than any hair clip. On the jewellery front, pearl-trimmed clips and fine gold pins have now replaced the bling headbands of the 2010s: pushed three or four into a bun, they look like safety pins in a dressier form.

Velvet ribbon tied around a low ponytail, rear view
A simple velvet ribbon lifts a low ponytail in seconds

The mirror test (and the flash test): before you leave, take a flash photo from a metre away. Rhinestones, pearls and satin react far more strongly to artificial light than to daylight. A discreet accessory in the middle of the afternoon can become very bright by 10pm — handy for avoiding a mistake.

A single piece, chosen for its material

Focus on the material rather than the size. Satin, velvet, resin, acetate: these textures go with almost anything, including a black basic. A very colourful piece, on the other hand, demands an outfit that plays along, with a print or bold layering. In truth, most failed evening hairstyles suffer from excess, not lack — it's amazing how one accessory too many can ruin a good base.

On the sustainability side, it's worth keeping an eye out: acetate is made from plant cellulose, which makes it a more interesting alternative to the petroleum-based plastic its transparency is often confused with. A well-structured velvet, ornaments sewn rather than glued, a clip whose spring doesn't rust — that's what will make you bring it out again in five years. And second-hand is a real goldmine here: vintage acetate clips and hair slides are often better finished than their new copies. A good tip we forget too often!

Fine hair: go for a narrow headband or hair clip. Thick hair: a claw clip or scarf. Still unsure? Try the accessory on an ordinary evening, in front of your bathroom mirror: you'll know straight away whether it holds and whether you like it. It sounds silly, but it's the best trial there is.

Tortoiseshell acetate headband, close-up of material on slicked-back hair
Acetate, velvet or satin: the material is what makes the piece last
Designer quilted velvet headband embroidered with fine pearls, worn in a vintage shop aisle
In designer collections, the jewelled headband remains the piece that pushes up the price

Budget

Expect to pay around £5–£18 for a simple hair clip or gold pin, £9–£30 for a satin or velvet headband from a fashion retailer, and £7–£22 for a resin claw clip. If you move up a level — worked acetate, gold-plated finish, a designer piece — the ranges climb quickly: £25–£60 for a clip, £35–£100 for a jewelled headband. A bow hair clip costs between £7 and £25, and a 50–70cm square scarf between £17 and £50 in mulberry silk (£4–£13 in polyester, with a less crisp drape and a petroleum-based fabric).

What changes the price: the material, the finish, where it was made, the size of the piece and the city — in London, the same styles can cost more than elsewhere in the UK. Where to find them? Supermarkets and fashion retailers for basics, beauty halls and costume jewellery shops for the more ornate pieces, haberdasheries and markets for ribbons, online designers for the statement piece. And car boot sales, charity shops or resale platforms, where a 1980s acetate clip sometimes goes for a few pounds. Enough to treat yourself to a lovely piece without emptying your purse!

One last, very practical tip: before you buy, empty out your accessory box. Chances are a forgotten clip or headband is already doing the job — and that might be the best piece of the evening.