Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007
Review: Lil’ Sugarplum Hair Clips
Alternate title: Come on dads, it’s time to treat the light of your life.
Double alternate title: What do you mean you need your wife to do your daughter’s hair? Be a dad.
When Lil’ Sugarplum offered to send me a couple hair clips to review, two questions occurred to me. How much can I possibly say about a hair clip, and are these clips something I would recommend to my readers? In short, a fair amount, and yes.
A gift-wrapped box arrived a few days later. Inside was a 1.25" Bliss flower snap clip and a 1.75" alligator-style Dragonfly hair clip. Those measurements are the outside visible lengths, not the metal clip beneath (see close-up photos below). A snap clip is the type you bend to open or close. The Dragonfly is a good hair control mechanism while the Bliss’ smaller size makes it ideal as an accent, even in a baby’s tuft of hair.
The clips are made from satin, grosgrain (a woven silk or rayon fabric) and/or nylon over metal. Both have a piece of Velcro in the closure grip. At first, I was annoyed because my daughter’s fine hair drags a little over the Velcro when removing the clip. However, after using the clips for a few days, I realized the Velcro makes these true no-slip devices.
We own a ton of cheap store-bought hair accessories which claim to be "no slip," but in every case do eventually slip and need to be reapplied throughout the day.
I found myself using these two Lil’ Sugarplum clips in my daughter’s hair every day for a second, unexpected reason. They are beautiful, and because they are beautiful, they conceal my own inexperience with hair styling. I pull back some hair, attach a stylish clip and I’m done. Our store-bought clips are so ordinary I get preoccupied with making naked hair look perfect.
The Lil’ Sugarplum web site is run by Monique, the mother of a 1-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy. She was an elementary school reading teacher prior to choosing to become a full-time mom.
Monique learned digital scrapbooking for her first child, and that gave her a jump-start when she launched her web site last May. She explained via e-mail, "It all began with wanting to make my daughter her own hair clips. […] I had a hard time finding clips to stay in her hair so I was able to design some that would. The business is a creative outlet for me; it keeps me sane when I’m changing diapers, making meals and cleaning house 24/7—it’s nice to look forward to something for myself too. I kept thinking bigger and said why not have an online baby boutique and sell whatever I make with my own hands."
She has a true stay-at-home-mom business, from making the hair accessories to photographing and designing the web site. Sales are conducted through a PayPal shopping cart which, if you’re unfamiliar, you’ll be happy to know does not require you to have a full-blown PayPal account to make a purchase.
Lil’ Sugarplum sells more than hair clips. There are also bobby pins, teddy bear pony tail holders and headbands. If you have a bald baby girl with gender-neutral clothing, a cute headband is essential for stopping strangers from complimenting your "beautiful baby boy." Sometimes even a pink dress isn’t enough to dissuade the kindest stranger from thinking that bald equals boy.
My message to dads of daughters: I’ve previously come down squarely against promoting princess syndrome in girls, but there is a difference between raising a Disney princess clone and embracing femininity. Surprise mom by indulging in some classy hair accessories for your child. And if you didn’t grow up with sisters, remember that the toddler years are the time to experiment with hair styling, before your daughter is old enough to formulate an opinion about your clumsy or capable cosmetology.
Comments
45 Responses to “Review: Lil’ Sugarplum Hair Clips”
This will be great for my daughter. I could never get those cheap clips to stay on her hair.
Thanks for posting this review with the detailed pictures.
And just say No to the Disney Princess!
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I went ahead and bought some of these. The owner said that I was the first Daddy to buy something from her.
January 4th, 2007 at 6:41 am
I’ve been reluctant to do anything with hair for my now 17 month old daughter because a) what the heck do I know about girls hair, and b) I was completely phobic about her eating the hair accessory, and c) her wild curly hair when wet actually reaches to the middle of her should blades when strait/wet.
We’re now pretty much done with the mouthing phase - unless it is remarkably food like, so I think it may be time. And since you’re other reviews have been spot on … I think I’m going to go ahead and do it …
January 4th, 2007 at 10:06 am
The clips that I ordered came today and they look really nice and well made. The velcro thing works like a champ.
January 8th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Great hair clips! We now order them for every Holiday and they last from year to year. Great quality, good prices and they are adorable!
January 14th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Now my little girl looks a bit more like a girl, no more mistaken her for a he.
January 19th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
The hair clips are SUPER CUTE! I have been searching for clips that would stay in my daughter’s hair. The velcro on the back of the clips is genius!
January 20th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Thank goodness for the artisans in the world! My poor one-year-old, Beth, inherited my extremely fine hair, the which you’d like to tear out by the roots because
you can’t do anything with the limp, flighty
stuff!! But a friend told me about your
hair clips, and I can’t thank her (or you) enough.
Not only are they really, really pretty but
they stay in place!! Her hair doesn’t get
in her eyes anymore and worry me, and she
looks totally adorable.
It’s also pleasing to find a Mom
Making It! Congrats, Liz
January 24th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
We just LOVE the hair clips. They stay in my daughter’s hair with no problem at all even if she has been wearing a hat over top of them.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:30 am
What great clips! They are so cute and stay in perfectly. I am very pleased, and they were worth every cent.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
The review was so well written that I went to http://www.lilsugarplum to check out the handmade hair clips. There were so many beautiful and colorful hair clips that it was difficult for me to choose just a few.
I ended up getting several for my daughter and also bought some to give to the girls in her play group.
The clips arrived in a few days and were packaged very safely. The quality was excellent and the hair clips were so beautiful and well made!
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I was so suprised to open the envelope from lil’ sugarplum and find a cute little pink box tied with ribbon. Monique took the time to package her clips with care and style. The clips are well made and you can tell she takes great pride in her work. The clips stay in very well. They stay in SO well that you have to make sure you have them in the right spot - because they won’t move!!! This is perfect for someone who wants to add just a little something to their daughter’s hair, without overpowering their head! TWO THUMBS UP! (Plus she posted my little cutie on her website) :o)
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:55 pm
After reading this review, I went to the lil sugarplum site and ordered several infant clips. I Love Them! They are so cute! And, yes, they actually do stay in my 15-month-old daughter’s super-fine, baby-soft, very flighty hair. Everyone has said they are adorable. The clips arrived safely, well-packaged, and quickly too.
Thanks for clueing me into such a great product!
February 8th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I was excited to discover Lil Sugarplum hair clips. They stay in my infant daughter’s super fine hair really well and they are very modern and cute! They aren’t too big or frilly AND as a plus they arrived to me quickly and safely with personal correspondence from the owner. Thanks Monique!
February 9th, 2007 at 6:21 am
I saw this review of these clips and decided that I had to try them. First of all, after going to the web site, they are truly beautiful. I bought 2 infant clips for my daughter, and liked them so much that I purchased one for a friend. She loved them as well. I then went back for a third time and purchased 2 headbands. They look so elegant and dainty, I can’t wait to see them on my little girl. I am so happy to have found this website.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Many little ones have very fine hair.
and it is so difficult to keep bows there.
When I saw the Lil SugarPlum bows with velcro,
I was so delighted. The material is great and
the colors are attractive. They are a delight
to see on thelittle one’s head, and it makes
the children happy when they see the smiling people
looking at them.
Thank Heavens for “Monique’s” gift of creativity and ‘doability.’ There are many little Angels that will enjoy the hair dressings. Please keep them in supply. Chris
February 16th, 2007 at 11:46 am
My daughter is expecting her third child and how I hope it is a girl! I have several hairclips and headbands in mind from viewing the website of Lil’ Sugarplum and can hardly wait to see her wearing them (if not a girl this time, then the next one)! Thank you Monique for your creativity and whimsy with all of your creations! You make this grandmother happy!!
Cindy
February 19th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Lil’ Sugarplum is not just for “lil” ones. My 10 year old daughter wore one as an accessory to her flower girl dress….and loved it! She still wears her clips which she says helps keep her hair out of her face when doing homework. I think these are also great for goody bags, stocking stuffers, Easter egg fillers, and especially cute to decorate the outside of a baby shower gift- just clip onto the ribbon or even the card envelope.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
My 2-year old daughter has baby fine hair. These clips really stay in place, where other clips slip out easily! They are very pretty and well-made. They arrived in a cute, pink box with a bow. I am very impressed with the quality.
February 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 am
I absolutely love these beautiful hairclips! They stay in my 4 month old Daughter’s hair wonderfully! Other clips I’ve tried slip out constantly but these stay in all day! I love it! I can even pull her winter hat on and off and the clip stays! My husband put one in her hair the other day while I was away at work - that’s proof that they’re real easy to use! :)
Not only do they stay put, but they are so pretty and sweet. I highly recommend these clips!
February 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I was so pleased when I received these clips! I put one in my daughter’s (lacking) hair and it didn’t budge. It stayed put until I took it out for naptime. I couldn’t be happier and I am about to buy some more!
February 28th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Loved them! Great product…..I bookmarked your website so I could
shop as my daughter gets older…
February 28th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the infant hair clips! Our 9 month old only has a few wisps of hair and these are the only clips I’ve found that actually stay in place!! Now we hardly get the “what a cute little boy!” comments! Thank You!
March 1st, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I got my order today and I love them!!! I’ve
ordered hair accessories from other companies and I think these are probably
the nicest I’ve seen. Very cute and good quality. I’ll have to order some
more. There can never be enough especially with three girls!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:17 pm
My little sisters got these clips and i saw a really pretty one so i tried wearing it for a day.Its the first clip i’ve worn in a while because my hairs to thick to hold one but this one stayed in all day! Its really useful for my sisters too. I would definately reccomend these clips to kids because they will most likely stay in even with hyper kids who have trouble keeping normal clips in.
March 6th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I love the hair clips! My daughter has very fine hair, and they stay in! The packaging was lovely as well! I found a new favorite spot to shop, and I will recommend her to anyone who wants to make there kids look cute!
March 9th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Monique I love my baby girl Alexa’s new bows :) I just got them today and I keep changing them as they are ALL so cute. By the way I have been looking for the last 4 months since she was born for bows and these are the best for new borns by far !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nordstroms has some and they don’t compare. Thank you.
Your presentation of the box, bow and sticker at the bottom are great too :) Congratz on your business.
Alessandra
March 10th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
What cute little barrettes! They are perfect for my baby girl. She hardly has any hair, but these clips seem to grab on to what little hair she has and stay put. She is always getting compliments on them from strangers. They are a great finishing touch for all her outfits.
March 12th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Thanks to your recommendation - the blue bliss clip I purchased from Monique is the only clip that works with my daughter’s hair. I am so pleased with the service and product that I will be buying more for the spring and summer season!
March 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I am always looking for unique and well made handcrafted items and Lil Sugarplum is just what I needed when it came time for my wedding to add a an extra special touch in my niece’s and step daughters hair. Each clip is made with love and Monique pays attention to every little detail as she creates her wonderful clips.
I think they are wonderful and make great presents for any special occasion or just for a goody bag stuffer, which is what I plan on doing at my step daughters next bday party.
March 18th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I love the hair clips! I tried the Cotton Candy and Bliss on my 8 month old, she have very little hair. They stayed in place and she did not even notice she had anything in her hair. I also purchased Summertime and Painted Lady clip for my 2 year old. I normally need fix her hair but not with Lil’Sugarplum clips. Monique offers a great selection and a professional product. The perfect accessory for Easter!
March 28th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Like others that have posted here, I found it difficult to choose among all the adorable selections, so I bought several! I was particularly impressed with the “baby” clips, which are tiny enough to put on a newborn’s hair (if they have it), but would still suit a toddler with fine hair. The range of colors is impressive, so if you’re a matching freak like me, you can get clips to go with practically any outfit. We’re definitely impressed!
April 12th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Monique’s hair clips are absolutely fantastic! I too had a difficult time deciding and ordered several. We’ve used them on 2 occasions already - they stay in place quite well and look so pretty in our 17-month old’s hair.
April 14th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Our clips arrived this week and we love them. I’ve even recommended them to my friends with “hair-challenged” children. What a great product…kudos to Monique!
April 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I love them! The daisy is so cute…I think what you make is amazing and I hope you do TONS of
business! I’m telling everyone in town who asks about your site!
May 1st, 2007 at 2:15 pm
My daughter looks so cute in her new barrettes. She has super-straight hair and she tends to play in her hair. I like that they don’t slide out as easily as others I have tried. Great idea!!
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I love the pink flower, white daisey, and purple butterfly I choose for my 1 month old daughter. They actually stay in her hair and she looks adorable in them.
May 8th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I bought 2 clips for my 8 month old, they are adorable and we get lots of compliments on them. They really do stay in place, and my daughter doesn’t even notice it’s in her hair, which means she doesn’t try to pull it out! I definitely recommend them.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I ordered several clips and a headband for my 6-month old daughter with fine hair. We just LOVE them! Beautiful selection to choose from, fast international delivery and a really good service! The clips stay in my daughters hair really well! We will buy some more! I’ll tell everybody in Finland about this website! Thank you Monique!
May 19th, 2007 at 1:29 am
Truly beautiful high end clips, not only do they stay on great they are gorgeous! Very good quality clips, I highly recommend this product for all the gorgeous babies oout there, enjoy!
June 1st, 2007 at 8:35 am
After searching many, many web sites for snap hair clips, I finally came to Monique’s. What luck. I probably looked at everyone of her clips over and over and purchased 5 for my granddaughter who is turning 1 in a few weeks. Monique’s communication is fabulous and the clips arrived 2 days after ordering. Amazing service. The clips are much more than cute. The web site photos do not do them justice. They’re perfect. I immediately ordered another one and can’t wait to see them in the baby’s very fine hair. Thanks so much Monique.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:20 pm
We LOVE the clips that we purchased from Lil’Sugarplum. Not many other clips work in our baby’s hair, but these are adorable!
June 5th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
I love the Bliss Clip that I got for my daughter’s oh so fine hair. It really is no-slip and it looks adorable on her. Thanks for the wonderful product!!
June 7th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Our clips just arrived today. They are so cute and really stay in our 9 month old daughter’s hair. The summertime clips are particularly
cute! Monique gave us excellent service and the clips arrived within a week, even though we are across the country.
Emily
June 9th, 2007 at 9:12 am
The little baby clips are so adorable. They are so well made and stay in my baby’s hair all day (even through the naps!) Thank you for creating such pretty and sweet designs. I plan on buying more really soon.
Thank you………thank you!
Debbie
June 12th, 2007 at 3:56 pm