Barrettes vs Snap Clips: Are They the Same Thing for School Hair?

If you've searched for "barrettes" for school hair and kept landing on pages calling them "snap clips" or "hair clips" instead, you're not imagining things. It's the same item — just a different name. In the UK, what's commonly called a barrette elsewhere is almost always sold as a snap clip or hair clip.

What's actually the difference?

A barrette is the general term for any hair accessory that clips shut with a hinge or clasp, holding a section of hair in place. A snap clip is simply one common style of barrette — one that closes with a spring-loaded snap action rather than a sliding prong. Most of what UK shops sell as "snap clips" or "hair clips" is exactly what you'd call a barrette elsewhere.

Why snap clips work well for school

For everyday school wear, the spring-snap closure has a real practical advantage: it holds securely through a full day of break-time running around, grips most hair thicknesses without sliding loose, and is simple enough for children to fasten themselves once they're a little older. Our hair clips range covers the full set of school-approved colours in this style.

Matching barrettes to your school's uniform colours

Most UK schools specify an approved range of hair accessory colours as part of their uniform policy, so it's worth checking your school's exact rules before buying. Once you know your colour, our school hair accessories pages are organised by shade to make finding a match straightforward.

Whatever you call them — barrettes, snap clips, or simply hair clips — the goal is the same: something secure enough to survive a school day, in the right colour to meet uniform rules.