Stop Ruining Your Long Hair: How to Use Hair Pins to Prevent Breakage & Tension

If you have long hair, chances are your go-to style for pulling it back and getting it out of your face is a standard elastic hair tie. But if you’re noticing hair breakage around your ponytail band or a receding, stressed hairline, those tight elastic ties are likely the culprit.

Elastic hair bands exert constant, tight tension on your hair follicles and twist around the same shaft repeatedly, causing friction, split ends, and traction stress.

Fortunately, there is a simple, damage-free alternative that holds long hair securely all day without elastic bands: U-shaped hair pins.

Why Hair Pins Beat Hair Ties & Bobby Pins

Many people confuse hair pins with traditional bobby pins, but they function completely differently:

• Bobby Pins: Tightly closed, flat, and meant to clip small sections of hair or secure flyaways.

• Hair Pins (U-Pins): Open-pronged, longer, and designed with extra space to hold large volumes of hair using tension against the scalp, rather than tight elastic squeezing.

By distributing weight evenly across your scalp, hair pins eliminate tension headaches, protect your hairline, and keep your hair smooth and breakage-free.

Step-by-Step: How to Put Up Long Hair with Pins

Using hair pins is quick and easy once you master the basic tension technique. Follow these steps for a comfortable, long-lasting bun or twist:

Step 1: Gather and Twist

1. Pull all of your hair back to your desired height (mid-head or high bun).

2. Begin twisting your ponytail tightly from the base.

3. Hold the base with one hand as you twist, repeating this down the hair shaft until it naturally coils into a bun around itself.

Step 2: Tuck the Ends

1. Wrap the remaining length of your hair completely around the base of the bun.

2. Tuck the tail end neatly underneath the bun base.

Step 3: Insert the First Hair Pin (Bottom Anchor)

1. Pick up a long U-shaped hair pin.

2. Catch a small section of hair at the outer edge of your bun, making sure to slide it over the tucked tail end.

3. Push the pin outward so it touches your scalp, then flip the pin inward and slide it smoothly up into the base of the bun along the scalp.

Step 4: Insert the Second Hair Pin (Top Anchor)

1. Take a second hair pin and repeat the process from the top edge of the bun.

2. Catch a small edge of hair from the top of the bun, press it against the scalp, flip the pin, and slide it straight downward into the center of the bun.

The two pins cross inside the bun to create a rigid, tension-backed lock that will stay put all day—no ponytail holder needed!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do hair pins work on thick or long hair?

Yes! Because U-shaped hair pins rely on scalp tension and spatial volume rather than elastic squeezing, they are ideal for thick, heavy, or long hair.

How many hair pins do I need to hold a bun?

In most cases, just two long U-shaped hair pins placed opposite each other (one going up from the bottom, one going down from the top) are enough to secure even heavy long hair.

Watch the video short here.