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 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 will specify a hair style in their uniform requirements. Even so, the tools you use to achieve that style are up to you. Start with these essentials.
- Ripple pins (also called wave pins or crimped bobby pins): The rippled shape grips hair without sliding out. They hold buns and French rolls far better than straight pins. Buy them in a colour that matches your child's hair.
- Straight pins (sectioning pins): Useful for pinning back wispies and flyaways after the main style is set.
- Bun nets: These hold the bun shape and stop it loosening over a long performance or exam. Match the net colour to hair colour for a clean finish.
- Hairpins (U-pins): Best for securing thicker or longer hair into a bun. Use alongside ripple pins for extra hold.
- Scrunchies: Good for ponytails, low buns, and jazz styles. Fabric scrunchies cause less breakage than elastic bands.
- Snag-free elastics: The small clear or brown elastics used to tie off plaits and ponytails before pinning. Worth keeping a bulk supply.
Choosing the Right Dance Hair Accessories for Kids
Children's hair varies a lot in texture, thickness, and length. What holds well on fine, straight hair may not work on thick or curly hair. Keep that in mind when selecting products.
Fine or Thin Hair
Fine hair needs extra grip. Choose ripple pins with a tighter wave pattern. Use a bun net even on smaller buns, as fine hair tends to slip. A light-hold hairspray helps pins grip without making hair brittle.
Thick or Coily Hair
Thick hair needs longer, stronger pins. Look for jumbo or extra-long ripple pins. U-pins are particularly useful here. Avoid thin elastics that cut into the hair. A larger, stretchy scrunchie works better as the base tie before you build the bun.
Short or Growing-Out Hair
Short lengths are the trickiest to keep tidy. Use a combination of straight pins and a small amount of gel or pomade to slick back shorter sections. A headband designed for dance can help keep the hairline neat when there is not enough length to pin.
How to Use Ripple Pins Correctly
Many parents buy ripple pins and then find they still fall out. Technique matters as much as the product.
- Insert the pin with the wavy side facing down, against the scalp.
- Slide in at an angle, then push down so the pin crosses over itself into the bun or roll.
- Do not push straight in parallel to the hair. Cross the pin through the style to lock it in place.
- Use at least four to six pins evenly spaced around a bun, more for thicker hair.
- Finish with a bun net over the top and a few more pins through the net itself.
Buying a tin or bulk pack is practical. Pins disappear in dance bags, fall on studio floors, and get confiscated by airport security. A good supply on hand saves stress before competitions and concerts.
Scrunchies and When to Use Them
Scrunchies are not just for casual styles. Many jazz, tap, and contemporary teachers allow or encourage scrunchies as part of the look. Satin and velvet scrunchies stay put better than cotton during active routines. For classical ballet, scrunchies are generally reserved as a base tie only, hidden underneath the bun itself.
Choose scrunchie colours to match costumes where possible. Having a small collection in black, white, red, and a skin-tone option covers most concert situations. You can browse our full range of dance hair accessories to find scrunchies, nets, and pins that suit different hair types and styles.
Storing and Organising Hair Accessories
A small tin or zippered pouch kept in the dance bag saves time before every class and concert. Separate pins by type so you are not hunting through a tangled mix backstage. Label the pouch if it goes to and from school. Small accessories are easy to leave behind at a studio.
Replace pins regularly. Pins with damaged or missing rubber tips can scratch the scalp. Check the tips before competition season and replace any that are worn.
Quick Reference: What to Buy by Dance Style
- Classical ballet: Ripple pins, U-pins, bun nets, snag-free elastics, neutral scrunchie as base tie.
- Jazz and tap: Scrunchies, straight pins, light-hold gel, coloured accessories to match costume.
- Contemporary and lyrical: Soft scrunchies, minimal pins, depends on choreography and teacher preference.
- Exams and eisteddfods: Follow the syllabus body's specific hair requirements. ATOD and RAD both specify neat, secured styles.
If you are unsure what your child's studio requires, ask the teacher before buying. Most will have a preferred brand or style they recommend. Once you know what works, shop our dancewear hair accessories to stock up before the busy competition season.
