20+ Creative DIY Hair Clip Holder Ideas to Organize Your Collection

If you’ve ever spent ten minutes hunting through a drawer for a matching pair of bobby pins or untangled a clump of barrettes from the bottom of your bag, you already know the struggle. Hair clips, barrettes, bobby pins, and hair ties have a mysterious way of multiplying and disappearing at the same time. One day you have forty clips and can’t find a single one when you need it; the next you’ve emptied an entire drawer and found nothing but lint and a sad, broken elastic.

The solution isn’t buying fewer clips. The solution is a hair clip holder — and the best part is you don’t need to spend money on a fancy store-bought organizer. With a little creativity and some basic craft supplies, you can build a system that keeps everything visible, accessible, and honestly pretty enough to display on your vanity or bathroom wall.

This post walks you through more than twenty of the most creative, practical, and budget-friendly DIY hair clip holder ideas you can make at home. Whether you’re a minimalist who wants something sleek or a crafter who loves a good weekend project, there’s an idea here for you.

Why a DIY Hair Clip Holder Makes Sense

Before diving into the ideas, it’s worth talking about why making your own organizer beats buying one. First, store-bought hair organizers are often designed for a generic collection. They either have too many small loops for bobby pins and not enough space for chunky claw clips, or they’re sized for kids’ accessories but not adult-scale headbands and barrettes.

When you make your own, you design it around what you actually have. You can scale the project up or down, choose materials that match your bathroom or bedroom aesthetic, and repurpose things you already own so the whole project costs next to nothing.

Second, DIY holders make great gifts. A personalized organizer made from ribbon, a picture frame, or a painted piece of driftwood is thoughtful and genuinely useful — which is a hard combination to beat.

Now let’s get into the ideas.

1. Ribbon Organizer on a Wooden Dowel

One of the simplest and most elegant DIY hair clip holders is made from nothing more than a wooden dowel, a few strips of ribbon, and a piece of twine for hanging. Cut three to five strips of ribbon in equal lengths — about twelve to sixteen inches each — and tie or glue them evenly across the dowel. Then clip your barrettes and snap clips directly onto the ribbon. The result looks like a hanging display piece, and every clip is immediately visible. You can use coordinating ribbons in a single color palette for a polished look or mix patterns if your style is more eclectic.

2. Repurposed Picture Frame With Ribbon or Wire

Take an old picture frame, remove the glass and backing, and weave several rows of ribbon or thin elastic cord horizontally across the opening. Secure each row at both sides of the frame using a staple gun or hot glue. You now have a grid that holds an impressive number of hair clips without taking up any counter space. Hang it on the wall near your vanity or lean it against a mirror. Paint the frame first to give it a fresh look — chalk paint in a matte pastel tone works beautifully for bathroom spaces.

3. Magnetic Strip for Bobby Pins

Bobby pins are arguably the hardest hair accessories to keep organized because they’re so small. A magnetic strip solves this problem completely. Purchase a magnetic knife strip (widely available online and in kitchen supply stores) or make a DIY version by gluing a strip of strong magnetic tape to a painted piece of wood. Mount it on the wall or the inside of a cabinet door. Bobby pins will snap right onto it and stay put. This is one of those solutions that looks almost impossibly simple once you see it, and it works better than any other bobby pin organizer on the market.

4. Mason Jar Display

A mason jar sitting on your vanity is a classic for a reason. Drop your claw clips and larger barrettes directly into the jar, and your hair clips become part of the decor rather than clutter. You can use a single jar for a streamlined look or group several jars of different sizes and label them. Paint the lids, wrap twine around the necks, or tuck a sprig of dried flowers beside them if you want to add a little personality. This works especially well if you already use mason jars elsewhere in your home decor.

5. Cork Board Hair Clip Station

A small cork board — the kind often used for notes and photos — makes an excellent hair clip holder. Push decorative pushpins into the board in a grid or scattered pattern, and hang your clips and barrettes directly from the pins. You can also stretch a few rubber bands across the board to hold smaller clips in rows. Frame the cork board in a color that suits your space and hang it at eye level. The nice thing about this setup is how easy it is to rearrange as your collection grows.

6. Driftwood or Branch Wall Hanger

If you love a natural, bohemian aesthetic, this one is for you. Find a piece of driftwood or a sturdy branch from your yard that’s roughly the length of your hand span. Sand it lightly, let it dry completely, and tie a length of jute or leather cord to both ends for hanging. Then simply clip your hair accessories directly onto the wood. There’s something satisfying about the combination of natural texture and colorful clips. This idea works especially well for claw clips and large barrettes that have an open jaw and can grip the branch.

7. Pegboard Organizer

A small section of pegboard mounted on the wall gives you infinite flexibility. Hooks of different sizes let you hang everything from small bobby pin rings to large claw clips, and you can rearrange the hooks anytime you want. Paint the pegboard in a color that complements your space — a soft blush, a deep navy, or a clean white all look great — and add small baskets or bins to the pegs for items that don’t hang easily. Pegboard organizers are popular in craft rooms and workshops for a reason: they’re endlessly customizable.

8. Decorated Binder Rings on a Hook

This is one of the fastest and cheapest solutions on this list. Thread a handful of large binder rings onto a wall hook or a cup hook screwed into the inside of a cabinet door. Slide bobby pins and small snap clips onto the rings. Each ring can hold dozens of bobby pins, and flipping through them to find the right one is easy. If you want to make it prettier, wrap the rings in washi tape or paint them with nail polish before loading them up.

9. Vintage Cheese Grater Holder

This might sound unusual, but a flat-sided vintage box grater repurposed as a hair clip holder is genuinely charming and wildly functional. The small holes across the surface are the perfect size for bobby pins, which slide right in and stay put. Claw clips and barrettes can hang from the raised edges. Spray paint it in a metallic or matte finish to make it feel intentional rather than random, and stand it on your vanity like a piece of art. This is the kind of idea that gets compliments from everyone who sees it.

10. Cardboard and Fabric Roll Holders

Save the cardboard rolls from paper towels or toilet paper, wrap them in fabric or decorative paper, and stand them upright in a small tray or basket. Slide large claw clips and snap clips over the outside of each roll, where they hold their shape and stay easily accessible. This is a zero-cost project if you already have fabric scraps and cardboard, and it’s a great way to keep chunky clips from getting squished or tangled in a drawer.

11. Ladder-Style Mini Shelf

Build or repurpose a small decorative ladder — the kind often used for blankets or towels — and hang rows of ribbon or twine between the rungs. Clip your hair accessories to the ribbons and lean the ladder against the wall on or near your vanity. This works on any scale: you can make a tiny tabletop version from craft sticks or build a larger standing version from wooden dowels and rope. The tiered design gives you lots of surface area without taking up much floor or counter space.

12. Framed Lace or Mesh Organizer

Similar to the ribbon frame idea but with a different texture, you can stretch a piece of vintage lace, wire mesh, or fabric netting across a picture frame to create a breathable clip holder. The open weave makes it easy to clip small barrettes and snap clips directly to the material, and the visual effect is delicate and decorative. This is an especially nice option for a girl’s bedroom where you want the organizer to feel like part of the room’s styling rather than a utility item.

13. Painted Tin Can Cluster

Collect several tin cans of different sizes — from soup cans to tomato paste tins — clean them thoroughly, sand any sharp edges, and spray paint them in coordinating colors. Arrange them in a cluster on your vanity: taller cans for combs and large claw clips, smaller cans for barrettes and hair ties. Wrap them in twine, cover them in washi tape, or decoupage them with patterned paper for a more finished look. Grouping them with a ribbon or placing them on a small wooden tray keeps the arrangement looking intentional.

14. Rotating Lazy Susan Organizer

Attach small hooks, clips, or fabric pouches around the rim of a lazy susan turntable base. Hang and store hair clips in the pouches or on the hooks, then spin the base to find what you need. This is particularly practical if you have a large collection and want everything in one spot that you can rotate through quickly. You can buy a plain lazy susan from a dollar store and customize it entirely from scratch.

15. Hanging Fabric Pocket Organizer

Sew or glue a series of small fabric pockets onto a rectangular piece of canvas, felt, or burlap. Leave the top row of pockets open and shallow so you can easily see and grab clips, and use deeper pockets on the lower rows for bulkier items. Add a dowel or wooden rod along the top edge so the whole thing can hang from a hook on the wall. Fabric organizers like this are quiet, soft (no clanking when you dig around in a drawer), and can be made to fit almost any amount of wall space.

16. Ice Cube Tray Drawer Organizer

If you’d rather keep your clips in a drawer than display them on a wall, a silicone ice cube tray is one of the most underrated organizers you can use. The individual compartments are perfectly sized for bobby pins, small barrettes, and snap clips. You can lay multiple trays side by side in a single drawer and designate each section by clip type or color. Silicone trays are flexible so they conform to the drawer shape, and they’re easy to remove and clean.

17. Washi Tape Decorated Jar and Bowl Set

Take a few small bowls, mugs, or jars you already own and decorate them with washi tape in geometric patterns or stripes. Group them on a small tray on your vanity, with each container dedicated to a specific type of clip — one for claw clips, one for bobby pins, one for hair ties. The washi tape makes plain containers look custom without any real crafting skill required, and because washi tape peels off cleanly, you can redecorate whenever you want a change.

18. Embroidery Hoop Display

Stretch a piece of fabric, lace, or ribbon lattice across an embroidery hoop and tighten the outer ring to hold everything in place. Clip small barrettes and snap clips directly to the fabric or ribbon grid. Hang the hoop on the wall using the screw at the top of the outer ring or tie a ribbon bow for hanging. Embroidery hoops in various sizes can be nested or grouped in clusters on the wall for a more gallery-style display. Natural wood hoops look wonderful as-is, or you can paint them to match your decor.

19. Repurposed Belt Rack

A small wall-mounted belt rack — the kind with multiple hooks or arms — is a surprisingly perfect hair clip holder for anyone with a large collection of claw clips and thick barrettes. Each arm can hold several clips clipped in a row, and the wall-mount keeps everything off your counter. Look for belt racks at thrift stores, where they often end up because someone swapped to a different closet organization system, and give one a coat of paint to make it feel new.

20. Chalkboard-Painted Tray With Sections

Paint a divided tray (the kind used for organizing desk supplies or kitchen utensils) with chalkboard paint. Once dry, use chalk to label each section with the type of clip it holds. The chalkboard finish looks intentional and stylish, and you can relabel sections any time your collection changes. This is a great option for a shared bathroom where multiple people have different types of accessories and want a shared system that everyone can follow.

21. Velvet-Lined Shadow Box

For anyone who considers their clip collection a genuine display-worthy collection — and if you’ve ever spent real money on hand-painted barrettes or vintage clips, this is absolutely a valid perspective — a velvet-lined shadow box is the upgrade you deserve. Line the inside of a deep picture frame or shadow box with velvet fabric, then add small brass pins or hooks. Arrange your most beautiful clips as if they’re jewelry in a display case. This turns everyday organization into something that feels luxurious.

22. PVC Pipe Clip Holder

Cut small sections of PVC pipe — about three to four inches long — and stand them upright in a row inside a box or on a shelf. Large claw clips slide over the outside of each pipe section and hold their shape perfectly without being compressed. PVC pipe is cheap, easy to cut with a handsaw, and can be spray painted any color. This is a particularly practical choice for thick clips that tend to warp or lose their spring when stored flat.

Tips for Making the Most of Your DIY Holder

Whatever design you choose, a few principles will make your organizer more functional in the long run. Group similar items together so you’re not hunting through a mix of bobby pins and large clips every time you get ready. Keep the items you use most at eye level and within arm’s reach so your daily routine stays fast. Every few months, take everything out, edit down to what you actually use, and give your holder a quick clean. And if your collection grows — because it will — let yourself build a second holder rather than trying to cram everything into the first one.

The best hair clip holder is one that you’ll actually use consistently. That means it should match your space, hold the types of clips you own, and not require a lot of effort to maintain. Any of the twenty-plus ideas above meets that bar, and most of them cost less than five dollars to make.

Final Thoughts

Getting your hair clips organized doesn’t require a trip to a specialty store or a big investment in storage products. Some of the most functional and beautiful holders on this list are made from mason jars, old picture frames, tin cans, and ribbon — materials most people already have at home. The process of making your own also gives you something a purchased organizer never can: a setup that’s exactly right for the way you live.

Pick one idea that resonates with you, gather whatever materials you have on hand, and give yourself an afternoon to put it together. Your morning routine will thank you, and so will your drawer full of tangled bobby pins.