- Hair clips are clips used to keep hair in place as well as to decorate it. There are a few different kinds of clips, some square shaped, others are triangular, while others are rounded. All of them serve the same purpose. Specifically, the hair bow clip is a hair clip with a bow or ribbon as the embellishment, as opposed to it being a plain clip or a different type of embellishment. The bow can be large or small and in different colors. Many times the smaller hair bow clips come in a matching pair.
- The function of the hair blow clip is to hold hair in place and out of a girl's face. It is also used to decorate the hair. It is a hair accessory. The hair bow clip is usually seen on little girls, and usually match their outfits. Some larger hair bow clips can be used to keep the hair in a ponytail, but most are only big enough to take small sections of the hair at a time, and keep them up.
- Small ribbons are used more for little girls, many times in a pair. There are bigger types of hair clips with bigger ribbons, made to put the hair in a ponytail. The ribbons can be made out of different material, such as cotton, nylon, vinyl, silk and stain. The dressier hair clips are usually worn for formal occasions, like weddings or coming of age parties like a quinceñera. Some hair bow clips have flowers attached to the bows. They can also be used for more eccentric everyday styles and costumes, such as a pinup or rockabilly style.
- Colors for hair bow clips that are popular with little girls are pastel colors, like pink, yellow, blue and purple. Bright primary color are also popular, especially with school uniforms. Polka dots are another popular pattern. Gingham and plaid are also seen. There are more eccentric styles, like heart patterns, star patterns, even skull and crossbone patterns. Bows intended for older girls and young women are many times in the style of a rock 'n roll, indie, pinup, or rockabilly subculture and have solid colors, polka dots, plaid and leopard patterns.
- Hair bows became most popular during the Victorian Era, which is the era of the rule of Queen Victoria: 1837-1901 and the Edwardian Era, which was the era of the rule of King Edward VII: 1901-1910. The Victorian aesthetic was simpler than the Edwardian, and women seldom wore bows in their hair. When they did, the bows were usually black or another modest color. These bows were generally subtle and small in size. In the Edwardian Era, which was quite fanciful and decorative, women wore bows of different sizes and colors, some being very large, especially compared to today's standard of hair accessories. Luxurious bows of the Edwardian Era were seen on many of the upperclass women, and even more so on the little girls of the time. Since then, bows have remained a popular hair accessory for little girls throughout the 20th Century, and they're still quite popular today.
