I hear this backstage constantly: "I don't know why, it just won't stay in." After 15 years of clipping up hair for a living, I can tell you it's almost never the hair. Here's what's actually going wrong — and how to fix it.
1. The Spring Tension Is Worn Out
Cheap claw clips use a thin metal spring that loosens with every open-and-close cycle. After a few weeks of daily use, the clip simply can't grip hard enough to hold weight. There's no styling trick that fixes a worn spring — the clip itself needs replacing with one built to hold tension long-term, which is exactly why we reinforced the spring mechanism on every Loxx clip.
2. You're Clipping Hair That's Too Slippery
Freshly washed, product-free hair is the hardest hair to clip — it has nothing for the teeth to grip. A light texturising spray or a bit of dry shampoo on the section you're clipping gives the clip something to hold onto.
3. Wrong Clip Size for the Job
A small clip on a thick ponytail is fighting a losing battle. Match the clip size to the amount of hair — when in doubt, size up rather than down.
4. Clipping Flat Instead of Twisted
Clipping hair straight back with no twist means the clip is holding against gravity with nothing helping it. A simple twist before clipping adds friction and structure, which does a lot of the holding work for the clip.
5. The Teeth Are Too Narrow or Too Sparse
Cheaper clips cut corners on the teeth — fewer teeth, spaced too far apart, means less surface area gripping the hair. Look for a clip with evenly spaced, slightly wider teeth.
The fix
Technique helps, but a clip that's lost its tension will never hold properly again, no matter what you do. That's the whole reason Loxx Hair Inc exists — I got tired of handing clients clips that couldn't survive a full shoot day. Every clip in the Loxx collection is built with a reinforced hinge and wider teeth so it actually does the job. If your current clip is letting you down, it might just be time for a better one.
— Chad
