Newbie bow question- alligator clip vs. french clip

[SummerBaby]

Madeline finally has just enough hair for a bow and I'm about to go crazy with this co-op. :P One question- what's the difference between a french clip and an alligator clip? The bow we have has a metal clip and it opens and closes like a clothes pin, i.e. you squeeze the end and it opens. Would that be french or alligator style? Thanks!

Val
Mom to Madeline
7/28/04

[ddmarsh]

Hi Val - That style you refer to is the french clip. Alligator is the type that just pops open on one end and you slide it on.

[SummerBaby]

Thanks Debbie! And thanks for arranging the co-op.

Val
Mom to Madeline
7/28/04

[stillplayswithbarbies]

now I am confused. I thought the alligator clips were the kind the opened like a clothespin by squeezing one end? (looking like an alligator mouth. although I assume the ones used for hair don't have ridges that look like teeth?)

I want the kind that have the two tabs that you press to open it and there is one metal bar that goes in between two bars, slightly U shaped.

Does anyone have pictures they can post of both kinds?

[MomToCaroline]

Karen is correct! I "just" placed an order on Ebay for bows, had the same question myself. The bow lady told me the pinchy kind are alligator clips. Here's a pic http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=57922&item=6760623489&rd=1 .

Happy bow shopping, it's so much fun!

[parkersmama]

Okay...the ones that open like a clothes pin are the alligator clips. They sometimes have "teeth" and sometimes do not. The french clip kind are more like a barrette. They have a part that you pinch from the sides and the barrette pops open.

Here is a page with the four kinds of clips that I generally see. The alligator clip is called a "pinch clip" on this page.

http://www.andreasbeau.com/All%20About%20Clips.htm

[laretce6]

Thanks Denise for the pictures, I'm less confused now. FTR when I was googling "alligator clip" this morning one of the sites said that Alligator clips are better for thin hair. Now I just wish I knew how thick DDs hair was going to be in a year or so becuase I want to order Toddler bows as well as a few infant bows for now!


Caroline
Mama to Eleanor Katherine 8.2.04

[colleenfs]

This is also helpful to me since I didn't know what the different terms were! I LOVE the pinch or alligator clips with big grosgrain bows for Julia. They are just perfect. And she has a fair bit of hair now at age 3.25. I actually HATE the snap clips. And most of Gymbos curlies are on a plastic clip, which I have a hard time with.

Julia is wearing a pinch/alligator clip bow here. http://www.onlyimages.com/uploads/feb1e7db55.jpg

~Colleen
Mama to Julia 1-10-02
Baby GIRL! due 7-23-05
http://lilypie.com/baby4/020110/3/4/0/-5/.png

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