What is a chignon pin?
A chignon pin is a two-pronged hair pin used to secure buns and French pleat hairstyles (also known as a French twist or French roll). They may look simple, but they can feel daunting if you have never used one before. This guide will help you choose the right chignon pin for your hair type, and show you how to create an elegant French pleat with one.
Chignon pin hairstyles
Chignon pins are designed to create neat and elegant updos such as a bun or French pleat. They lie flat against the head, making them comfortable to wear when sitting in the car or working in the office (or at home). You could use one larger chignon pin to secure the style, or a few smaller ones if you want to keep it extra secure and neat. Small chignon pins can also be used to create a half-up style, securing a small top knot or bun using half of the hair.
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How to use chignon pins (or French pins)
For a French pleat
- Gather the hair at the nape of the neck and twist.
- Bring the twist up so it is flat against your head.
- Tuck the ends under and roll slightly into the pocket of hair that forms beside the twist.
- With the pin upside down so it curves away from the head, push the prongs of the chignon pin through the top layers of hair in the middle of the updo. Don't place it too low, or the top will be too heavy and it will not hold in place.
- Then flip the pin and push it into the twist so that it follows the curve of your head.
Hair tutorial: French pleat using chignon pins
How do I pin my hair?
For a bun
- Gather the hair at the back of the head, at the height where you would like the bun to sit.
- Twist the hair round into a bun shape.
- With the curve of the pin facing away from the bun, push the prongs of the chignon pin through a few layers of hair on one side of the bun.
- Then flip the pin and push it underneath the bun to secure it in place, with the curve of the pin following the curve of your head.
- This technique can also be used to create a half-up bun, using a smaller pin and the top layers of hair.
Hair tutorial: how to use chignon pins in a half-up bun
Do chignon pins work in thick hair?
The thicker or longer your hair, the larger your chignon pin should be. For a bun or French pleat, you could try the Long Hair Pin from our French Handmade collection. All of the accessories in this range are made from strong cellulose acetate, a material which is slightly flexible and polished to a smooth finish, making it comfortable to wear and strong enough to help keep your style in place.
In medium-thick hair, one long pin should be plenty to keep your style in place. In very thick, heavy or curly hair, you may find you need two large chignon pins for extra hold. In this case, you could try a French pleat comb instead, as the hairstyle it creates is the same but it may give more hold if your hair is very thick or heavy. A lovely option is our Curved French Pleat Comb.
Alternatively, you could use several slightly smaller chignon pins, such as the 6x 9cm Chignon Hair Pins, for extra hold. These can also be used for half-up hairstyles. Placing pins along the length of your French pleat or around your bun helps to hold more of the hair firmly against your head, which is particularly useful if you have heavy hair or would like extra support.
A Guide to Choosing the Right Hair Pins for Your Hair Type
Do chignon pins work in fine hair?
If your hair is fine, or around shoulder length, smaller hair pins will suit you better for a French pleat or bun. You could try the Medium Hair Pin from our French Handmade collection, a versatile pin with waved teeth for a firm grip. If your hair is particularly fine, one of our Small Square Hair Pins is a lovely option. You could also use a few of these if you have more hair, for extra security.
If your hair is fine or slippery but long, the Long Hair Pin could suit you, as its longer length holds more hair. You could also try several smaller pins, such as the 6x Small Chignon Pins, to help hold all of the hair in place. These smaller pins, as well as the Small Square Hair Pin, can also be used to create half-up hairstyles.
