Monday, November 15, 2010

What To Do With Old Hair Accessories?

They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But who’s to say your “trash” can’t become your own treasure?

As trends come and go in fashion, we are often left with a pile of old stuff that we’d probably never wear again and may have regretted buying in the first place. Among them are hair accessories, especially for us girls.

Whatever long-lost accessory you may have unearthed---it could be that peacock feather headpiece you dressed up with for a Halloween party 3 years ago or the beaded pearl headband you wore as a bridesmaid for your cousin’s wedding---you’re sure to have the following questions in mind: “Is it still in good condition (no missing or broken parts?”, “When and where else can I wear it?” and “Am I confident that it’s stylish enough?”.

Now, answering positively to those questions is a rarity. When the negative side of your inner debate wins, you most likely decide to get rid of your old hair accessories right away. Instead of throwing them out, you can try recycling.

Good thing green is always in now! Dust off your old hair clips and bows and breathe life into them by providing them with brand-new functions. If you can’t be bothered with glueing fasteners on clips or sewing fallen sequins back in place, here’s what you can do:

Brooch. Use a metal pin back to transform an old jeweled hair clip into a vintage-looking brooch and pin them on your solid-colored clutch for that extra pizzazz on a special night out. Or you could take apart an old oversized floral clip, turn the fabric flower into a modern eye-catching accent on a sophisticated dress a la Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw.

Belt Buckle. This project is ideal for old hair accessories with incomplete pieces. Maybe it’s that heart-shaped clip with missing embellishments. Just take out the parts that are still intact i.e. beads, sequins, rhinestones, etc. and decorate them on your plain battered belt buckle and voila, it’ll be fab and glam in no time.

Cocktail Ring. Cute and quirky plastic cocktail rings are all the rage among young women and little girls today. Popular ones are animal-inspired so if you have an old hair clip with an animal face or figure, you’re in luck! Designs featuring fruits and cupcakes are also pretty popular.

Scrapbook Supplies. The easiest of them all, this project will work well with any old hair accessory out there, even highly recommended for those with rusting metal fasteners. Simply remove the fasteners, thread or glue and have them stand on their own as ornaments. Design as you please on your scrapbook masterpiece.

Recycling is definitely one of the neatest ways to put used hair accessories to good use. You may even give them as gifts to your friends and family. Remember, you don’t have to be a handyman to do a little DIY. You don’t have to be an artist either to engage in arts and crafts. You just need an open mind and a good heart. Doesn’t it feel good knowing that your helping Mother Earth too?

1 comment:

  1. In formal occasions, just a little sprig of flowers or garnishment may be needed. Formal occasions are the only time that is okay to match your hair accessory for your clothing. But still, don’t go overboard. What attracts the eye should be the beauty of hair, not too-busy hair accessories. If in doubt about what hair accessory or just how much of it to include, opt for the simple solution: use less than possible.

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