I spent most of my life using hairpins the wrong way, and when I found out the truth, it honestly felt like my whole world shifted. It turns out that the wavy side of a bobby pin—the side we usually think goes on top—is actually meant to face downward toward your scalp. That wave isn’t just decorative; it’s designed to grip your hair and keep the pin in place.

The smooth side is the “pretty” side, meant to show, but it does absolutely nothing when it comes to holding your hair together. Once I started placing them the right way, my hair stopped rebelling halfway through brunch, and I never looked back. But here’s the real kicker—hairpins aren’t just for taming a flyaway or finishing off a messy bun. These tiny tools are the ultimate multitaskers, and I promise, once you see all the tricks they can do, you’ll never look at them the same again. Imagine you’re running late, your jacket zipper breaks, and you’re stuck—enter the hairpin. Just loop it through the hole where the zipper tab snapped off, and you’re good to go. If you’re caught without a bookmark, a hairpin saves your page like a tiny book ninja.

Struggling with a tiny nail while trying not to hammer your thumb? Grab a hairpin, hold the nail in place, and drive it in safely without turning your finger purple. Lost your chip clip in the black hole of your junk drawer? Use two bobby pins to seal the bag—crunchy chips saved. That last squeeze of toothpaste can feel like you’re extracting gold from a rock, but a simple hairpin at the bottom helps push the paste up smoothly and efficiently. Need to pop out your phone’s SIM card and can’t find that microscopic tool? A bobby pin does the job just as well, if not better. No more lost sock mates either—pin pairs together before tossing them in the wash. Shoes slipping off your heel? Secure the strap with a hairpin for instant reinforcement.

Got tangled cords or earbuds in your bag? Wrap them neatly and secure the ends with a pin. Some gadgets, like routers or game controllers, have tiny reset buttons that require something sharp and skinny—guess what fits perfectly? Yup, a bobby pin. Eyeliner wings are famously frustrating, but a clean pin works as a makeshift template to help get that perfect flick. Tops with wide necks that keep slipping off hangers can be tamed with pins acting as little wardrobe stoppers.

Going out and don’t want to carry a purse? Fold some cash, tuck it into a bobby pin, and clip it inside your waistband or bra strap for a stealthy money stash. Cleaning crumbs between your keyboard keys or inside ports is a breeze when you wrap a tissue around a pin and use it to get into tight gaps. Lost a button or need to adjust an outfit last minute? A stylish pin can be your quick fix, adding flair while holding things together. But don’t forget—hairpins aren’t invincible. They bend, they lose their grip, and eventually, they stop doing their job. Replace them often, and don’t rip them out of your hair unless you want to bring a chunk with it. I’ve got pins in my bags, pockets, car, desk—basically everywhere. They’re so small you don’t even notice them until you desperately need one, and then they’re a miracle. It’s not just about using them right-side down—it’s about realizing they’re one of the most underrated tools we all have lying around. Mention these hacks next time you’re with friends over brunch and watch their eyes go wide. It’s oddly satisfying to see someone realize they’ve been doing something wrong their whole life and just got handed a low-key superpower in the form of a tiny piece of bent metal. Bobby pins are unsung heroes, and once you unlock their secret world, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.