Are Scrunchies Still in Style? 2026 Hair Accessory Trends | The Pixie Garden Hair Podcast Ep. 11
Delena MarklandEvery season someone declares scrunchies dead -- and every season they are still on the shelf for a reason. In this episode Delena, a licensed cosmetologist and 2026 Davis Chamber Small Business of the Year Semi-Finalist, gives the honest stylist read on 2026 hair accessory trends: which pieces are genuinely in style, which are just viral noise, and the three she keeps in rotation -- the Silk Satin Scrunchies, the Jumbo Lay Flat Oval Claw Clip, and the Black and White Paisley Bow Hair Clip.
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Episode Summary
Licensed cosmetologist Delena Markland answers the question everyone is searching in 2026 -- are scrunchies, claw clips, and bows still in style -- with a stylist's judgment instead of a trend list. She explains why scrunchies endure, which claw clip shapes are current, where bows and barrettes fit, and how to choose accessories that flatter your hair rather than date your look.
For the full written breakdown of what is actually worth buying this year, read my companion guide: 2026 Hair Accessory Trends.
Featured in this episode
Silk Satin Scrunchies — satin that holds a ponytail without the crease or breakage of a tight elastic · $5.95
Jumbo Lay Flat Oval Claw Clip — the flat, lay-flat oval shape that sits close to your head and holds thick hair without the pinch · $6.00
Black and White Paisley Bow Hair Clip — a grown-up statement bow: polished, not too sweet, and dresses up a style in seconds · $7.50
Full Episode Transcript
Jess: Welcome to The Pixie Garden Hair Podcast. I am Jess, here with licensed cosmetologist Delena Markland. Delena, before we get into it -- congratulations are in order. You were just named a 2026 Davis Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Semi-Finalist.
Delena Markland: Thank you, that one means a lot. It is the first time The Pixie Garden has been recognized like that, and it is especially nice because we built this brand to feel like a friend -- salon-grade hair without the inflated prices or the bougie attitude. Having the community notice that is really special. Now let's get to what everyone keeps asking me about.
Jess: Perfect lead-in -- let me ask the question everyone is googling. Are scrunchies still in style in 2026?
Delena Markland: Yes, and they are not going anywhere -- which is exactly why I still stock the Silk Satin Scrunchies. Here is the thing people miss: scrunchies stopped being a trend years ago and became a tool. A satin or silk scrunchie holds a ponytail without the crease and breakage a tight elastic gives you, so it earns its spot on function, not fashion. The styles rotate -- oversized, velvet, silk -- but the category is permanent. If something is genuinely good for your hair, it does not go out of style.
Jess: What about claw clips? People keep asking if those are over.
Delena Markland: Claw clips are the single biggest accessory story of 2026, and the trend has shifted toward the flat, lay-flat shapes -- which is why the Jumbo Lay Flat Oval Claw Clip is the one I point people to. The old bulky round claws are fading; the flat oval sits closer to your head, holds thick hair without that painful pinch, and actually looks intentional when you are wearing it down at your desk or out. So the answer is not just "still in style" -- the shape you choose is what makes it current.
Jess: And bows and barrettes? Those feel like they come and go.
Delena Markland: Bows are having a real moment in 2026, but the grown-up version -- think a structured fabric bow clip, not a little-girl barrette. The Black and White Paisley Bow Hair Clip is my example: it reads polished, the pattern keeps it from being too sweet, and it dresses up a simple style in two seconds. Barrettes and bows are the easiest way to look pulled together, but the trick is one statement piece, not a headful. Restraint is what makes it look styled instead of costume.
Jess: So how does someone shop trends without wasting money on stuff they will not wear?
Delena Markland: Buy for your hair and your real life, not the algorithm. Ask two questions: does this actually work for my hair type and thickness, and will I wear it past this month. A silk scrunchie, a claw clip that fits your density, and one good statement clip will outlast every viral accessory of the season. That is the whole 2026 list that matters -- function first, trend second. I would rather you own three pieces you reach for daily than a drawer of things you bought because a video told you to.
Jess: Function first, trend second. The scrunchies, claw clips, and bow clips are all at thepixiegarden.com. Thanks for listening to The Pixie Garden Hair Podcast.
Building your 2026 accessory kit?
Delena's three picks that actually last: Silk Satin Scrunchies, the Jumbo Lay Flat Oval Claw Clip, and the Paisley Bow Clip.
Hosted by Delena Markland, Licensed Cosmetologist and Owner of The Pixie Garden. New episodes weekly. Browse all episodes.
