Hair Bows and Fashion Fringe

Last week singer Dua Lipa shared some behind the scenes looks from her upcoming music video with rapper Pop Smoke who passed away last year. They collaborated on the song “Demeanor” before his untimely passing in February, and the Instagram pics she shared with her hairdresser, celebrity stylist Chris Appleton lit up social media for her unique look.

Wearing a Regency-period gown, Lipa’s new hairstyle featured eyebrow kissing blunt bangs and a long sleek ponytail, crowned with two bows made from hair. Appleton created the pieces using extra long hair extensions and custom crafted the bows for a look that elevates the classic ponytail into some unique, unexpected and surprisingly elegant.

Lipa isn’t the first star to rock a bow fashioned from hair however. Flash back to May 1st, 2005 when Paris Hilton appeared on the red carpet for the Teen Choice Awards to pick up her award for Best Scream in the film “House of Wax”. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a top knot with an oversized bow and accented by pearl and diamond earrings with simple and classic makeup.

The hair bow would be out of the Hollywood spotlight for a few years before appearing again than none other than fashion maven Lady Gaga and it becoming one of her signature hairstyles for years. First created for her by stylist Patricia Morales in 2008, her classic hair bow was worn at the top of the head and slightly to the side for a look that was quirky and striking, with subtle pink highlights.

In 2018 it would make a return on Gaga, reimagined by celebrity stylist Frederic Aspiras into a braided version of her classic look, with her hair pulled back into a massive ponytail.

A year later, she’d hit the carpet at the MET Gala in a retro blonde bob with a crown of mini hair bows on the top of her head, also created by Frederic Aspiras. What sealed the deal however was the blunt bangs, similarly worn by Lipa in 2021.

Of all of the variations of this fun and unique look, what pulls it together and makes it modern, elegant and not as cartoonish as the early 2000s are the blunt bangs. This sleek structure draws the eye from the eyes to the head for a style that isn’t as overstated as the large hair bows of yesterday.

The best thing about bangs is that they look good on anyone! Our Perfect Locks Clip-In Bangs are fast, easy, and securely fastened, lasting up to 2+ years with proper care. Available in 6 different shades, once you gain the eyelash kissing fringe of Hollywood you’ll be ready to get crafty creating hair bows of your own with extra long extensions!

Hair Accessories and Extensions: What Works

"Hair accessories have had an incredible resurgence - bows, barrettes, headbands, clips, and fringe are all having a major moment. What's interesting from an extensions perspective is that accessories and extensions work beautifully together: accessories can draw attention to or away from different parts of the style, helping to integrate extension hair with natural hair very naturally."

- Priyanka Swamy, Founder of Perfect Locks

Hair Bows with Extensions

Hair bows - from small satin versions to dramatic oversized grosgrain styles - work well with extension hair. A bow at the nape of a low ponytail sits naturally over the area where clip-in wefts would be placed, neatly covering the attachment points while adding visual interest. Bows at the crown or as half-up accents draw the eye upward, away from the mid-lengths where extension blending happens.

Fashion Fringe and Extensions

Fringe (bangs) and extensions are typically separate decisions - fringe comes from the natural hair at the front, while extensions add length and volume throughout. The combination of fringe and longer extension hair creates a dramatic contrast that's genuinely striking.

Clip-in fringe pieces are also available for women who want to try fringe without cutting their natural hair. Combined with clip-in extensions for length, this gives a complete style change that's entirely temporary and removable.

Barrettes and Clips with Extension Hair

Decorative barrettes and claw clips work well with extension hair with a few considerations: ensure the clip grip is strong enough to hold the combined weight of natural and extension hair (flimsy clips slip more easily on denser hair), and position decorative clips where they cover rather than reveal the extension weft line.

Headbands

Velvet and embellished headbands push hair back from the face while covering the front hairline - useful for extension wearers who want to conceal any visible clips near the face. Thick headbands worn slightly behind the hairline are particularly effective. Elastic headbands with tension can cause clip-in clips to shift, so secure all clips well before applying a tight headband.