Today’s tutorial is actually more of a “hair hack” or hair tip. We’re sharing several different ways to get elastics out of your hair. Years back, after I’d posted our Rubber Band Wraps hairstyle, and more recently with the Side Swept Faux-Hawk I had people comment on how hard or painful it is to remove elastics. Because of that they tended to shy away from styles requiring lots of elastics.
So because of those concerns, I’ve put together a little video showing different ways you can remove elastics easily and that will cut down on the knots and hassle that can accompany “yanking” elastics out of hair.
Obviously – use caution when using any of these because the goal here is just to cut the elastic out … not hair! 😉 When using any of these tools, be sure you are only cutting the elastic and that all hair is out of the way. That’s why I find, pulling one piece of the elastic up and out of the way works best, then I can slide my tool around that one section and snap it. Below we talk about each tool briefly and there are links if you need to purchase one.
Baby Nail Clippers
First up, is the one I probably use the most, and that’s our baby nail clippers. These came in a little hair & nail care kit that I got when the girls were infants. They are just the perfect size and I love them. I suppose regular nail clippers work, but I’ve always used the baby ones. If you want some of these handy baby nail clippers you can buy some HERE.
Cutter Comb
Second is a “Cutter Comb” from Gimme Clips. I’d actually shared a post about these Cutter Combs years back. It’s got a built in razor that is great for snapping elastics. Buy a Gimme Styles Cutter Comb (that even comes with elastics) HERE.
Nail Cutting Scissors
Third are nail cutting scissors. If I have to use scissors, I prefer these because they aren’t pointed on the end and don’t have as much area that could accidentally cut hair. You can get these in a little nail kit, that comes with the baby nail clippers as well as these type of nail scissors HERE.
Seam Ripper
Fourth is a seam ripper. If you sew you likely have one of these on hand. Obviously, exercise caution when using around small children due to the pointy end. But just slip that pointed end under the elastic and just like when you’re unpicking something you’ve sewed, you can snap the elastic with this. If you don’t have one, mine is a Dritz seam ripper and you can get one HERE.
Cuticle Cutter/Pusher
I’m not sure if that’s the correct name of these it is pictured below. I used to have one of these, but it’s gone missing, so I don’t show how to use it in the video. However, the idea is the same, in that, you’d take the elastic and put it in the little groove on the silver end to get it to cut the elastic. You can find cuticle cutter/pushers HERE.
So we hope that knowing that there are better ways than yanking and unwinding elastics to get them out of your hair that you’ll be able to do more hairstyles that use elastics. These different tools will come in handy especially if you’re working on toddler that has a more tender head or if you’ve got a style that requires a lot of elastics.
Try some of our fun Rubber Band Wrap Styles HERE
Or one of our latest styles requiring plenty of elastics – the Messy Side Swept Faux-Hawk. Then use one of the above tools to snap those elastics out quickly and easily!
We hope this post helps and that you’ll share it with your other hair loving friends! Be sure to click on the social media buttons below to share! Have other “tools” or ways to get elastics out of hair? Please comment below and let us know!
Elle says
I’m addicted to your blog, I just found it and I have two little girls after 3 boys. I actually just said today how much I hate those little elastics, and I was going to email and ask you about them! I use the baby nail clipper to remove normally, but I have such a problem with the elastics grabbing other hairs, or making a big frizzy spot in the hair, they even knot up when I have cut them! What kind are you using? Maybe I have bad ones?? Also one of my girls has a good amounts of curls, and the other one is so curly, she looks like shirley temple. Maybe their hair type is the issue, I don’t know.
Becky says
Well, if you’re addicted to something … I’m glad it’s my blog! hahah 🙂 The elastics I usually use for styles like I show in the video, or to finish off the end of a braid are ones that come in little cases at Wal-Mart. You’ll find them on a little display in the kid/baby section. Sometimes there are other accessories like belts, umbrellas and such on these little displays, but the one side is usually all hair bows, headbands, clips etc. They used to come in little cases that resembled a rectangular pill case with the little flip top lids, but now they are a circular or flower looking case, still w/the flip top lids. If I’m needing a sturdy clear elastic for a full ponytail with all their hair or something, I usually buy Goody elastics. But a couple years ago they changed the way they were made and they were snapping and breaking on me constantly so I stopped buying them. I recently bought a new pack to see if they’d changed them, and I’ve had better luck, so I’m hoping they’ve fixed whatever the issue was. hth