A claw clip is one of those hair accessories you reach for without thinking. It goes into your tote bag, sits on your bathroom counter, comes with you on vacation, and saves your hair on busy mornings.
But even a well-made claw clip needs a little care.
Hair spray, dry shampoo, sunscreen, lotion, saltwater, chlorine, heat, and everyday scratches can slowly affect the finish of your clip. Glossy clips may start to look dull. Clear clips can show fingerprints and buildup. Printed clips may fade or scratch if they are stored roughly. Rhinestone and pearl clips need extra gentle handling.
The good news is that caring for claw clips is simple. You do not need a complicated routine. A few small habits can help keep your clips clean, shiny, and beautiful for longer.
Why Claw Clip Care Matters
Claw clips may feel sturdy, but they still have delicate parts.
Most claw clips include a clip body, teeth, a spring, hinge hardware, and sometimes decorative details like rhinestones, pearls, printed patterns, metallic accents, or flower-shaped edges. Each part can be affected by daily wear.
Product buildup can make the surface look cloudy. Water can sit around the spring. Heat can affect some plastic or resin materials. Keys and jewelry can scratch glossy or clear finishes. Perfume and hair spray can dull decorative coatings over time.
Taking care of your claw clips helps protect both the look and the function. A clean clip feels better in the hair, holds more comfortably, and looks more polished when worn.
How Often Should You Clean Your Claw Clips?
You do not need to clean your claw clips after every wear.
For everyday use, a quick wipe every one to two weeks is usually enough. If you use a lot of hair products, wear your clip at the beach, or carry it loose in a bag, you may want to clean it more often.
Clean your claw clip sooner if you notice:
Product buildup
A sticky or oily feel
Sunscreen or lotion residue
Cloudiness on clear or glossy clips
Sand, saltwater, or chlorine exposure
Hair caught around the teeth or spring
If a clip touches sunscreen, saltwater, pool water, perfume, or hair spray, it is best to wipe it down the same day.
How to Clean Claw Clips Gently
Start with the simplest method first.
Remove any loose hair from the teeth and spring area. Then wipe the clip with a soft, slightly damp cloth. For most light buildup, this is enough.
If the clip needs more cleaning, mix a small amount of mild soap with lukewarm water. Dip a soft cloth into the soapy water, squeeze out the extra water, and gently wipe the clip.
Do not soak the clip. This is especially important if the clip has a metal spring, rhinestones, pearls, printed patterns, glued details, or metallic accents.
After cleaning, wipe away any soap with a clean damp cloth. Dry the clip completely with a soft towel before storing it.
What Not to Use on Claw Clips
Avoid harsh cleaning products.
Do not use alcohol, bleach, acetone, nail polish remover, abrasive powders, rough sponges, or strong household cleaners. These can dull the finish, damage printed designs, weaken decorative coatings, or affect glued details.
Also avoid scrubbing too hard. A claw clip should be cleaned gently, especially if it has a glossy finish, rhinestones, pearls, or printed artwork.
A soft microfiber cloth is usually the safest choice.
Claw Clip Care by Material
Different claw clips need slightly different care depending on the material, finish, and decorative details. A simple plastic clip can handle everyday use more easily, while printed, pearl, rhinestone, glossy, or acetate-style clips need a little more protection.
Use the material care chart below as a quick guide before cleaning or storing your clips.
Claw Clip Care by Material
Different claw clips need slightly different care depending on the material, finish, and decorative details. Use this chart as a simple guide before cleaning or storing your clips.
| Claw Clip Material / Finish | What It’s Like | How to Clean It | What to Avoid | Best Care Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic Claw Clips | Lightweight, everyday, easy to wear | Wipe with a soft damp cloth. Use mild soap and lukewarm water for light buildup. | Avoid high heat, harsh cleaners, and bending the teeth too hard. | Dry completely before storing, especially around the spring. |
| Acrylic Claw Clips | Glossy, clear or colorful, often more rigid | Use a soft microfiber cloth with a little water. For buildup, use mild soap gently. | Avoid dropping, alcohol, acetone, rough cloths, and hard objects that may scratch the surface. | Store separately from keys, jewelry, and metal accessories. |
| Acetate-Style Claw Clips | Smooth, glossy, often marbled or patterned | Wipe gently with a soft damp cloth. Dry with a clean towel. | Avoid perfume, hair spray buildup, high heat, and long sun exposure. | Keep in a soft pouch to protect the polished finish. |
| Resin Claw Clips | Smooth, decorative, sometimes slightly heavier | Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap if needed. Dry fully after cleaning. | Avoid soaking, dropping, and exposing to heat for long periods. | Handle gently and avoid pressure on thin decorative areas. |
| Matte Finish Claw Clips | Soft, non-glossy surface with a modern look | Wipe gently with a clean damp cloth. Use very mild soap only when needed. | Avoid oily hands, sunscreen buildup, rough rubbing, and strong cleaners. | Clean soon after contact with lotion or sunscreen to prevent marks. |
| Printed or UV-Printed Claw Clips | Patterned, graphic, or colorful printed surface | Use a soft damp cloth and wipe lightly over the printed area. | Avoid scraping, soaking, alcohol, acetone, and abrasive cloths. | Store printed clips separately so the design does not rub against other clips. |
| Rhinestone Claw Clips | Decorative, sparkly, often glued or set by hand | Gently wipe around the stones with a soft damp cloth. Dry carefully. | Avoid soaking, pulling on stones, alcohol, and strong cleaners. | Hold the clip by the body, not by the rhinestones, when opening it. |
| Pearl Claw Clips | Feminine, polished, often with glued pearl details | Wipe gently with a soft cloth. Use minimal water. | Avoid soaking, perfume, hair spray buildup, and rough storage. | Store in a separate pouch to prevent pearls from scratching or loosening. |
| Metal-Detail Claw Clips | May include metal springs, hinges, charms, or accents | Wipe with a damp cloth and dry the metal parts completely. | Avoid leaving wet, soaking, or storing in humid places. | Always dry around the spring and hinge before putting away. |
| Flower Claw Clips | Decorative shape, often plastic, resin, acrylic, or acetate-style | Clean gently with a damp cloth, especially around petal edges and teeth. | Avoid dropping, bending petals, soaking, or storing under heavy items. | Store flat or in a pouch so the flower shape does not get scratched or pressed. |
| Clear Claw Clips | Transparent, glossy, shows scratches and buildup more easily | Wipe often with a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints and product residue. | Avoid rough cloths, makeup bags with hard items, and sunscreen buildup. | Clean after heavy product use to keep the clear finish bright. |
A Simple Rule for All Claw Clip Materials
If you are not sure how delicate your claw clip is, treat it gently.
Use a soft cloth, a small amount of water, and mild soap only when needed. Avoid soaking, harsh chemicals, high heat, and rough storage. The more decorative the clip is, the more carefully it should be cleaned and stored.
Tips for Protecting the Finish of Your Claw Clips
The finish is what gives your claw clip its color, shine, pattern, or special surface detail. Protecting the finish helps the clip look newer for longer.
1. Apply Hair Products Before Putting in Your Clip
Hair spray, texture spray, dry shampoo, styling cream, and shine products can leave residue on the surface of your clip.
If possible, apply your hair products first. Let them settle or dry, then put in your claw clip. This helps prevent buildup and keeps glossy, printed, pearl, and rhinestone finishes looking cleaner.
2. Keep Perfume Away from Decorative Clips
Perfume can affect some finishes over time, especially glossy, printed, metallic, pearl, and rhinestone details.
Spray perfume before styling your hair, and try not to spray directly onto the clip. If perfume gets on the clip, gently wipe it with a soft cloth.
3. Be Careful with Sunscreen and Lotion
Sunscreen and lotion can transfer from your hands to your clip, especially during summer, beach days, and vacations.
Before touching your clip, wipe excess product from your hands. If sunscreen gets on the clip, clean it gently after wear. This is especially helpful for clear, matte, glossy, and printed clips.
4. Do Not Store Claw Clips Loose with Keys
Many scratches happen inside a bag.
Keys, sunglasses, jewelry, metal makeup packaging, and other hard objects can rub against your claw clip and scratch the surface. If you carry a clip in your purse, place it in a small pouch or separate pocket.
This matters even more for clear clips, glossy clips, printed designs, rhinestone clips, pearl clips, and flower-shaped clips.
5. Keep Claw Clips Away from Heat
Avoid leaving claw clips in direct sunlight for long periods, inside a hot car, beside a curling iron, or near a hair dryer.
High heat can affect some plastic, acrylic, resin, or acetate-style materials. It may also weaken decorative details or change the surface finish.
Let hot tools cool before placing clips nearby.
6. Avoid Soaking Your Clips
Most claw clips can handle light moisture, but they should not be soaked.
Long exposure to water can affect the spring, hinge, glue, rhinestones, pearls, printed details, or metallic accents. If your clip gets wet, wipe it clean and dry it completely before storing.
7. Treat Embellished Clips Like Jewelry
Rhinestone, pearl, metallic, or decorative claw clips should be handled more carefully than basic everyday clips.
Do not pull the clip open by the rhinestones or pearls. Hold the clip by the body or handle area instead. Store embellished clips separately so the details do not rub against other accessories.
How to Store Claw Clips
Good storage prevents most damage.
Store claw clips in a drawer, tray, pouch, or hair accessory organizer. Try not to throw them into a crowded makeup bag or jewelry box where they can rub against hard items.
For everyday clips, a small tray or drawer works well. For delicate clips, use a soft pouch or separate compartment.
If you have flower claw clips, store them flat or in a place where the petals will not be pressed under heavier items.
How to Travel with Claw Clips
Claw clips are easy to pack, but they can crack, scratch, or bend if they are squeezed under heavy items.
For travel, place your clips in a small pouch, structured case, or soft fabric bag. If the clip is delicate, wrap it in a soft cloth before packing.
Avoid placing claw clips at the bottom of your suitcase. Keep them near soft clothing or inside a toiletry pouch.
For vacation, it is helpful to bring one everyday clip and one prettier clip. Use the everyday clip for beach bags, pool days, and quick updos. Save the more decorative clip for outfits, photos, brunch, or dinner.
How to Care for the Spring and Teeth
The spring and teeth are what make your claw clip functional.
To protect the spring, avoid forcing the clip open wider than it naturally goes. Do not twist the clip sideways while opening it. If hair gets caught near the spring, remove it gently instead of pulling hard.
If the spring gets wet, dry it completely before storing.
To care for the teeth, check them occasionally for product buildup or trapped hair. Wipe them gently with a soft damp cloth. Avoid dropping the clip on hard floors, since teeth can chip or break depending on the material.
If a tooth breaks and feels sharp, stop using the clip. A sharp edge can snag your hair.
Can You Wear Claw Clips in Wet Hair?
You can wear some claw clips in damp hair for a short time, but it is better not to leave decorative clips in wet hair for long periods.
Wet hair is heavier and more fragile. It can also transfer more moisture to the clip, especially around the spring and hinge.
If you use a claw clip on damp hair, choose a gentle style that does not pull tightly. After wearing, dry the clip completely before storing it.
Can You Wear Claw Clips at the Beach or Pool?
Yes, but choose the right clip.
Beach and pool days expose claw clips to saltwater, chlorine, sunscreen, sand, heat, and moisture. These can affect the finish over time, especially on clear, glossy, printed, pearl, rhinestone, or metallic clips.
For beach or pool days, use a more durable everyday clip. Save delicate or embellished clips for dry styling, photos, brunch, dinner, or vacation outfits.
If your clip gets wet, sandy, or covered in sunscreen, wipe it clean and dry it before storing.
Common Claw Clip Care Mistakes
One common mistake is tossing claw clips loose into a purse. This can scratch the finish and damage decorative details.
Another mistake is cleaning clips with alcohol or harsh cleaners. These can make the surface look dull or damage printed designs.
Leaving clips in a hot car is also risky. Heat can affect the shape or finish of some materials.
A final mistake is storing wet clips in a closed bag. Moisture can sit around the spring, hinge, or decorative details. Always dry your clip first.
Claw Clip Care FAQ
How do I clean my claw clips?
Wipe your claw clips with a soft damp cloth. For buildup, use mild soap with lukewarm water, then wipe clean and dry completely. Avoid soaking the clip.
Can I wash claw clips with water?
You can gently clean most claw clips with a damp cloth, but avoid soaking them. This is especially important for clips with metal springs, rhinestones, pearls, printed details, or glued decoration.
How do I protect the finish of my claw clips?
Keep claw clips away from perfume, hair spray buildup, sunscreen residue, harsh cleaners, high heat, and rough storage. Store them in a pouch, tray, or separate drawer to help prevent scratches.
Can hair spray damage claw clips?
Hair spray can leave buildup and make the finish look dull over time. Apply hair spray first, let it dry, and then put in your claw clip when possible.
Can I wear claw clips in the pool?
It is better to avoid wearing decorative or embellished claw clips in the pool. Chlorine may affect the finish, spring, or decorative details over time. If your clip gets wet, clean and dry it completely before storing.
Can I wear claw clips at the beach?
Yes, but sand, saltwater, sunscreen, and heat can affect the finish. Use a durable everyday clip for beach days and clean it afterward.
How should I store claw clips?
Store claw clips in a drawer, tray, pouch, or accessory organizer. Keep them away from keys, jewelry, sunglasses, and sharp objects that may scratch the surface.
How do I care for rhinestone or pearl claw clips?
Do not soak rhinestone or pearl clips. Wipe gently with a soft damp cloth and dry carefully. Avoid pulling on the stones or pearls when opening the clip.
Final Thoughts
Claw clips are easy to care for when you build a few simple habits.
Keep them clean. Store them away from hard objects. Protect them from heat, water, perfume, sunscreen, and harsh cleaners. Handle decorative clips gently, especially if they have rhinestones, pearls, printed details, or flower-shaped edges.
A little care helps your claw clips stay beautiful, polished, and ready to wear again and again.
