Getting your child's hair performance-ready is one of those tasks that looks simple until you're standing backstage ten minutes before curtain, searching desperately for a pin that will actually hold. If you've been there, you're not alone. At Total Dance, we work with thousands of Australian dance families every year, and we know that the right hair accessories can make the difference between a polished, confident performer and a distracted one who keeps tucking flyaways behind her ear mid-routine.
This buying guide is designed to help you compare the most popular options available, specifically ripple pins in different sizes, scrunchies, and bun nets, so you can choose exactly what works for your child's hair type, dance style, and upcoming performances.
Why Dance Hair Accessories Are Not One-Size-Fits-All
Dance hair is a specialist category. Unlike everyday hairpins or elastic bands, dance accessories need to withstand vigorous movement, stay invisible under stage lighting, and hold firm across an entire recital without causing breakage or discomfort. The best choice depends on several key factors:
- Hair texture and thickness: Fine hair needs gentler, lighter-weight accessories while thick or curly hair requires stronger hold and more coverage.
- Dance style: Ballet demands a sleek, tight bun with no movement at all. Jazz and lyrical allow for slightly softer styles. Tap and contemporary can often accommodate a half-up look.
- Age and comfort: Younger children have more sensitive scalps, so comfort matters as much as hold.
- Event type: A weekly class calls for practicality and ease. A competition or concert requires a more polished, secure finish.
With those criteria in mind, let's look at each product category in detail.
Ripple Pins: The Backbone of Dance Hair
Ripple pins, sometimes called wave pins or crimped bobby pins, are the workhorse of the dance world. Their wavy shape grips hair far more securely than a straight bobby pin, making them ideal for buns, chignons, and up-dos that need to survive an entire performance without shifting.
Choosing the Right Size: 4.5cm vs 6cm
Size matters more than most parents realise when it comes to ripple pins. Getting the right length for your child's bun size and hair volume is one of the most important buying decisions you'll make.
Ripple Pins 50 Pack 4.5cm options are ideal for younger dancers or children with finer, thinner hair. The shorter length sits neatly within a small bun without protruding or catching on costumes. At Total Dance, we stock the Ripple Pins 50 Pack 4.5cm Brown and the Ripple Pins 50 Pack 4.5cm Light Brown, giving you a shade match for darker and lighter brunette hair tones. Colour matching your pins to your child's hair colour makes them far less visible under stage lighting, which examiners and adjudicators genuinely notice.
For dancers with thicker, longer hair or larger buns, the Ripple Pins 6cm - 50 Pack provides extra length to anchor more hair with each pin. These are particularly useful for older primary school and teen dancers whose buns have grown with them. The additional length means each pin catches more layers of hair and distributes tension more evenly, reducing the risk of pins popping out mid-performance.
How Many Pins Do You Actually Need?
A well-secured ballet bun typically requires between eight and fifteen ripple pins depending on hair volume. Buying in bulk packs of fifty is always the smarter choice because pins have a habit of disappearing at the bottom of dance bags, getting dropped backstage, or bending out of shape after heavy use. Having a generous supply on hand means you're never caught short on concert day.
Tips for Using Ripple Pins Without Causing Damage
- Always slide pins in the direction of the hair grain rather than against it to minimise breakage.
- Avoid reusing bent or worn pins as they lose grip and can snag hair.
- Remove pins gently after performances, working from the outside of the bun inward.
- Apply a light mist of hairspray to the bun before pinning for a stronger, longer-lasting hold.
Scrunchies: Gentle Hold for Everyday Classes
The humble scrunchie has made a well-deserved comeback, and in the dance world it never really left. The Scrunchie is a staple in every dance mum's kit bag for good reason. Because the fabric distributes tension across a wider surface area than a standard elastic, scrunchies are far gentler on hair, reducing the breakage and scalp tension that can come from using tight elastics every day.
Scrunchies are best suited to:
- Holding a ponytail or half-up style during casual dance classes
- Securing the base of a bun before pinning (used underneath ripple pins for extra structure)
- Young children whose scalps are particularly sensitive
- Dance styles like jazz and contemporary where a softer, looser style is acceptable
For concert and examination settings where a polished, sculpted bun is required, scrunchies alone won't provide enough hold. Pair them with ripple pins and a bun net for the best result.
Bun Nets: The Secret to a Stage-Ready Finish
If ripple pins are the foundation of a dance bun, bun nets are the finishing touch that elevates a good bun to a performance-ready one. Bun Nets wrap around the finished bun to smooth flyaways, unify the shape, and keep every hair in place under studio fluorescents and stage spotlights alike.
When choosing bun nets, look for a colour that closely matches your child's hair. Most dance retailers stock black, brown, and blonde options. The net should be fine enough to be nearly invisible once secured but strong enough not to tear during use.
How to Apply a Bun Net Correctly
- Create and pin the bun first using ripple pins.
- Stretch the bun net over the entire bun, tucking any loose edges underneath.
- Secure the net with two or three additional ripple pins placed around the perimeter of the bun.
- Finish with a light mist of hairspray to set everything in place.
This three-step system, elastic or scrunchie, ripple pins, then bun net, is the approach trusted by dance teachers and competition coaches across Australia.
Quick Comparison: Which Accessory Is Right for Your Child?
| Accessory | Best For | Hair Type | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ripple Pins 4.5cm | Small buns, younger dancers | Fine to medium | Class & concert |
| Ripple Pins 6cm | Large buns, thick hair | Medium to thick | Class & concert |
| Scrunchie | Ponytails, bun base | All hair types | Everyday class |
| Bun Nets | Finishing & smoothing | All hair types | Concert & exams |
Building Your Dance Hair Kit
Rather than buying accessories piecemeal throughout the year, we recommend putting together a dedicated dance hair kit at the start of each dance season. Here is what we suggest for a well-stocked kit:
- One pack of ripple pins in the appropriate size and colour for your child's hair
- A handful of scrunchies in both black and a colour that matches any costume requirements
- A pack of bun nets in your child's hair colour
- A fine-tooth comb and a soft bristle brush for smoothing
- Travel-size hairspray
Keeping everything together in a small pouch inside the dance bag means you're always prepared, whether it's a Tuesday night class or the annual end-of-year concert. You can browse our full range of dance hair essentials for kids and teens to stock up on everything you need in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between brown and light brown ripple pins?
The difference is simply the shade of the pin's coating. The Ripple Pins 50 Pack 4.5cm Brown suits mid to dark brown hair, while the Ripple Pins 50 Pack 4.5cm Light Brown is a better match for lighter brunette, caramel, or dark blonde hair. Matching pin colour to hair colour makes the pins far less visible, which is important in examinations and performances where a clean, polished look is expected.
How do I stop bun nets from slipping off?
The key is securing the net with ripple pins rather than relying on the net's own tension to hold it in place. Place at least two pins through the net and into the bun itself, one at the base and one at the top. A light mist of hairspray over the finished bun will also help the net grip and stay put throughout a performance.
Are scrunchies suitable for ballet buns?
Scrunchies work well as the base layer of a ballet bun, used to gather and hold the ponytail before you begin forming the bun shape. However, they should not be used as the sole accessory for a ballet bun, particularly for concerts or examinations. Always follow up with ripple pins and a bun net to achieve the firm, smooth finish that ballet requires.
How often should I replace dance ripple pins?
Replace pins as soon as they start to bend, lose their coating, or no longer grip firmly. Damaged pins can snag hair and cause breakage. Because pins are inexpensive and sold in bulk packs of fifty, it is worth refreshing your supply at the start of each new school term or dance season to ensure you always have a reliable stock on hand.
Shop Dance Hair Accessories at Total Dance
Whether you're preparing for a first ballet exam or a major eisteddfod, having the right accessories on hand gives both you and your child the confidence to focus on what matters most: the dancing. At Total Dance, we've curated a range of trusted, high-quality options specifically chosen for Australian dancers. From ripple pins in multiple sizes and shades to bun nets and scrunchies, everything you need is right here.
Head over and shop our complete hair accessories collection to find the perfect fit for your child's hair type and dance schedule. And if you're ever unsure which product is right for you, our team is always happy to help.
