Let's talk about one of our absolutely favorite things in the world ... the good ol' forever classic hair bow! Hair bows have been around since the 18th century, when both men and women loved a great accessory. Hair bows were often worn by those with a high status in society, and were especially common with military men. Seriously, think back to all of those images of the 18th century - monarchs, great military leaders, the founding fathers ... notice the bows tying their hair back? 

Nowadays, hair bows are most commonly seen on adorable little girls to add a little bit of pizzazz to pigtails, ponytails, buns, braids .... the list is endless! Later we'll be showing you some easy-to-style, super cute back to school looks but today we're going to go over some hair bow basics to get things started. I know when I first came on board here at The Hair Bow Company, I was a little out of my element surrounded by all of the cute frilly things and I too had to go through a crash course on hair bows. 

If you've ever given us a call or sent us an email regarding our bows, one of the first questions we'll ask is if you're looking for alligator clips or French clips. Right about now some of you may be thinking "Alligator clips?! French clips?! What in the world does that mean?" Or not. Maybe y'all are as crazy about all things bow related as we are and already know what we're talking about. Please bear with us if you're in the second camp. 

An alligator clip is a clip which you pinch open with your thumb and forefinger to slide directly into your hair or onto a headband. These work great with all ages, although those with finer hair may still need a headband to keep the bow in place. Because of their versatility, alligator clips are popular for kids of most ages. 

A French clip is essentially a traditional barrette style clip. These clips are ideal for those with thick, curly, or long hair. The size of the clip will determine how much hair it will be able to hold. 

Alligator clip (left); French clip (right)

Once you know which clip style you're after, the next step is to decide which size will work best for your little one. Exactly how big of a bow does she want? We offer bows in several sizes and styles, ranging from our 2.5" Original Grosgrain Hair Bow up to our 7-8" Texas Size Bows! 

The Original Grosgrain Hair Bow is the smallest bow we currently offer. With their smaller size, they are perfect baby bows. Measuring about 2.5", they have a 1.75" partially lined alligator clip attached. Available in more than one dozen color options, these bows are perfect for pigtails or to hold hair back to the side! The Original Grosgrain Hair Bows can be purchased individually or in a variety pack of 12 basic colors. 

Original Grosgrain Hair Bow

The next size up is the Boutique Hair Bow. These measure approximately 4" across and also have a 1.75" partially lined alligator clip attached. We love to use these bows to style pigtails or for a classic half-up hair-do. These are currently only available in a variety pack of 12 classic colors. 

Boutique Hair Bow

The Classic Oversized Grosgrain Hair Bow has remained one of our more popular items through the years. Our Classic Oversized Bows are 5-6" across, making them the perfect accessory for all hair styles. These awesome bows are available with a 1.75" partially lined alligator clip or with a 2" French clip. We also offer the Classic Oversized Hair Bows with alligator clips in a variety pack of 12. 

Classic Oversized Grosgrain Hair Bow

Our latest obsession is the Cheer Bow. These bows have a ponytail tie attached in place of a clip so it's easier for your athletes to keep them in place through the game, the dance, or the cheer! Our Cheer Bows are made using 2.25" grosgrain ribbon and measure 6" across with 6" tails. Available in solid grosgrain, two-tone grosgrain, solid sequin, or two-tone sequin, we're sure to have a Cheer Bow to complete your little's ones game day attire. 

Cheer Bows

Now, y'all know we're in Texas, right? And here in Texas, we believe that bows only get better as they get bigger. Many of y'all seem to agree with us, and for that reason we brought the Texas Size Bows! These wonderful bows are 7-8" across and are made using 3" grosgrain ribbon. Available with a 1.75" toothed style alligator clip or with a 2.5" French clip, these bows will work for any gal who loves big bows! 

Texas Size Grosgrain Hair Bows

We have come up with this handy dandy chart to help in your search for the perfect bow!

*Newborns and kids with finer hair may require a headband to keep the bow in place.

So there you have it, y'all! A brief introduction to our classic bow styles. These definitely do not sum up all we have to offer. If you haven't already, take a look at our specialty bows online. You'll find marabou bows, sequin bows, and satin bows galore! If there is anything else you might have a question on, give us a call or shoot over a message. We're always happy to chat about one of our favorite things ever! 

Specialty Hair Bows

Did you miss our Facebook Live video we posted a few months back? No worries! You can find the video here to see Krissy cover more of the bow basics!