Getting your child's hair performance-ready looks simple until you're standing backstage ten minutes before curtain, searching for a pin that will actually hold. The right dance hair accessories for kids make all the difference between a polished performer and one who spends the routine tucking flyaways behind her ear. This guide covers what to buy, how to use it, and what actually works for Australian dance families.
The Core Kit: What Every Young Dancer Needs
Most dance teachers specify a hair style in their uniform requirements. Even so, the tools you use to achieve that style are up to you. A well-stocked dance bag covers three jobs: securing the base, smoothing flyaways, and finishing the look.
- Ripple pins (also called wave pins or crimped bobby pins) for firm hold without slipping
- Straight bobby pins for flat sections and fine hair
- A bun net in a colour that matches your child's hair
- A hair tie or elastick that matches the required uniform colour
- A snag-free scrunchie for rehearsals and class days
You can browse the full range of these essentials in our dance hair accessories collection, sorted by type and colour to make matching easy.
Ripple Pins Versus Bobby Pins: Which One to Use
This is the question that trips up most dance parents. The short answer is that both have a place, and knowing which to reach for saves a lot of frustration.
Ripple Pins
Ripple pins have a wave or crimp along the length of the pin. That texture grips the hair shaft rather than sliding straight through it. They work best for buns, chignons, and any style where you need the pin to anchor into a dense section of hair. For thick or slippery hair, ripple pins are the stronger choice.
Bobby Pins
Straight bobby pins are better for pinning down flyaways along the hairline, securing a ribbon, or holding a fine layer flat against the head. They sit lower-profile than ripple pins, which matters when stage lighting picks up every detail. Use both types together for a bun that stays put through jumps, turns, and a full concert programme.
For a deeper look at pin types and how they compare across different hair textures, the hair accessories guide for New Zealand dancers covers the same product categories and is worth reading alongside this one.
How to Choose a Bun Net
Bun nets are one of those items that look identical until you actually use them. Here is what to check before you buy.
- Colour match: choose nude, brown, or black to match your child's hair, not the costume
- Mesh size: finer mesh is less visible under stage lighting
- Elasticity: the net should stretch to cover a full bun without pulling or distorting
- Quantity: buy at least three. They disappear. Always.
Most competition and concert requirements call for a neat, invisible bun net. If the teacher has not specified, match the hair colour and use the finest mesh you can find.
Scrunchies for Dance: Class Days Versus Performance Days
Scrunchies are for class, rehearsal, and the trip to and from the studio. They protect the hair tie from over-stretching and are gentler on fine hair than a bare elastic. On performance day, the scrunchie usually comes out in favour of a flat, colour-matched elastic or ribbon.
That said, some concert styles, particularly musical theatre and jazz, call for a scrunchie as part of the look. Check the costume brief before buying a specific colour.
For class days, a plain black or neutral scrunchie works with every uniform. Keeping two or three in the dance bag means there is always a spare when one gets lost at the studio.
Practical Tips for Getting the Style to Last
Even the best pins will not hold on freshly washed hair. Natural oils give the hair something to grip. If wash day falls on concert day, a light spritz of hairspray before pinning helps recreate that texture.
- Apply pins in an X pattern over each section to lock the style from two directions
- Tuck the pointed end of every pin under the bun so nothing scratches the scalp
- Use a fine-tooth comb and a soft bristle brush together to smooth the surface before the net goes on
- Finish with a light-hold hairspray rather than a stiff lacquer, which can make hair brittle under stage heat
If your child has very fine or straight hair, dampening it slightly before styling gives extra grip. For thick or curly hair, a smoothing serum on the surface before brushing reduces frizz without making the style heavy.
What to Pack in the Dance Bag
A small zip pouch kept permanently in the dance bag saves a lot of pre-concert stress. Stock it with the following and replace as items run low.
- Six ripple pins and six bobby pins in the correct hair colour
- Two bun nets
- Two hair ties
- One scrunchie for class days
- A small container of bobby pin caps (the rubber tips that stop pins snagging)
- Travel-size hairspray
Keeping a dedicated dance pouch means you are not hunting through the main bag ten minutes before class. It also makes it easy for older children to take responsibility for their own kit.
Everything in this list is available through our dancewear hair accessories range, with options in a wide range of colours to suit every hair type and uniform requirement.
