Ugh, Bobby pins- need I say more? My daughter took ballet lessons for 14 years! She loved ballet. At least a few times a week, we would have to put her hair in a bun. It was time-consuming and a hassle when I couldn't find the bobby pins I needed. While she was a lovely ballerina, I dreaded looking for bobby pins! So, over the years, we had bought and lost my fair share of bobby pins!
The bobby pins never seem to return to the container or bin we have for them. I would find them everywhere - in the sock drawer, on the kitchen floor, in the car side pocket, in a pencil box, in the backpack (affiliate), in the shower - they were everywhere!
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- Key Takeaways
- Upright Paper Clip Holders are handy for quick access.
- Use a magnetic strip attached to the inside of a vanity mirror, bathroom cabinet door, or drawer.
- Use a Tic Tac (R) container to hold bobby pins.
- Store in small mason jars with a lid.
- Keep your used Altoids(R) container and store them inside.
- Travel to and from College Container
- Repurpose a Divided Drawer Organizer
- Repurpose Pushpin Containers
- Updated 2026: Additional Creative Storage Ideas to Add
- faqs
Key Takeaways
- Store bobby pins using upright paper clip holders for quick access, ensuring a large (affiliate) opening to avoid sticking.
- Use a magnetic strip inside vanity mirrors or cabinets for hidden storage; consider a backup location for travel.
- Repurpose small containers like Tic Tac boxes (affiliate), Altoids tins, or mason jars (affiliate) for effective organization and portability.
- Consider a divided drawer organizer (affiliate) or a pill case to sort bobby pins by size or color.
- Explore creative storage ideas, like decorated containers, to keep bobby pins organized and accessible.
Over the years, I found several creative ways to store bobby pins.
Here are some ways to store bobby pins in reusable items to prevent losing them again.
Upright Paper Clip Holders are handy for quick access.
But note that if you use it, get a large (affiliate) opening in the container because the magnet can get stuck inside, and the only way to get it out would be to take the lid off.
Use a magnetic strip attached to the inside of a vanity mirror, bathroom cabinet door, or drawer.
Use a magnetic strip attached to the inside of a vanity mirror, bathroom cabinet door, or drawer.A hidden place works nicely. Note: you will not be able to take it with you. It's a good idea to have a backup location to store bobby pins while in transit. 
Use a Tic Tac (R) container to hold bobby pins.
Empty the container and break the label (affiliate) seal around the top. Wash it out, add the bobby pins, and reattach the lid. If you want, you can re-tape the edges of the top. Be sure not to tape the flap that opens.
Store in small mason jars with a lid.
Mason jars are so useful. I use them often because they are cheap and durable. The smallest size mason jar (affiliate) works great for holding small items.
Keep your used Altoids(R) container and store them inside.
Use contact paper (affiliate) and affix it to the top for a decorative look.
The key (affiliate) is to have a place small enough to keep them organized and easily accessible. If the container is too large (affiliate), you will have an issue with them getting tangled. And, when you need it, you will have to go through and disconnect them from one another.
Travel to and from College Container
When I was in college, this is where I would keep my bobby pins. It was a cute, sturdy box that held up for years. However, it was smaller, so if I needed to bring the bobby pins with me, such as when traveling back and forth to college, I could do that easily.
Repurpose a Divided Drawer Organizer
When my daughter was in Kindergarten, I used to hide the bobby pins in my vanity drawer in one of these drawer organizers. The drawer organizer (affiliate) kept the bobby pins organized, but I couldn't take it with me when we traveled. Instead, I would add the bobby pins to a resealable small snack bag and put it in my traveling bag.
Repurpose Pushpin Containers
But, as she got older, I needed to find something for her to use. I found this push-pin holder that worked for her. It doesn't have a lip, so the bobby pins come right out with a wand attached to the lid. I found it in the clearance section at an office supply store. Cool, right? The magnet pulls out the bobby pins for me. Nice!
Updated 2026: Additional Creative Storage Ideas to Add
Below are even more bobby pin storage options you may have lying around your home.
- Repurpose a pill organizer (7-day case) - Each daily compartment holds a few pins, so you always know where to grab one, and it's easy to toss in a purse or gym bag.
- Old spice jars or empty gum tins - Small enough to fit in a junk drawer or vanity, and gum tins have a hinged lid for quick one-handed access.
- Magnetic spice tin (mounted inside a cabinet door) - Same magnetic trick as the strip idea, but a tin keeps them fully contained if the door swings open.
- Empty lip balm (affiliate) tube (like a Chapstick tube), sawed in half - A clever, ultra-portable (affiliate) option for a makeup bag; holds just a few pins for touch-ups on the go.
- Small jewelry (affiliate) ring box - The velvet or foam slot design keeps pins from sliding around, and it looks pretty on a bathroom counter.
Did you know there were that many places to store bobby pins? It's surprising to me, too. Here is some additional information and tips about bobby pins and how to make buns WITHOUT bobby pins. A great tip my daughter does almost every day for school. She's still a ballerina at heart.
Here is some excellent information on how to use bobby pins curated by Good Housekeeping.
Check out this video tutorial on how to make a bun without bobby pins by The Pages of Ink.
With any organizing project, the system may need to be adjusted and updated when it no longer works for you and your family. Hopefully, you will come back and revisit this post for more creative ideas on organizing those pesky bobby pins.
faqs
Small, portable options work best: a Tic Tac container, an Altoids tin, a lip balm tube cut in half, or a resealable snack bag are all great for tossing in a purse, dance bag, or suitcase.
Choose a container with a large opening so pins don't get wedged against the magnet. If they do get stuck, you may need to remove the lid to pull them free.
Yes! Contact paper on an Altoids tin, or a mason jar with a painted or labeled lid, are easy ways to dress up a functional container.
A divided drawer organizer or a 7-day pill case works well; each compartment can hold a different size or color, so they're easy to grab at a glance.
Yes, look for one without a lip so pins slide out easily with the wand, rather than getting caught inside.
Now it's your turn; what do you do with your small bobby pins? If you don't have bobby pins, do you use these small containers for other small organizing items? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Janet Barclay says
Only having boys, I was surprised to find out that bobby pins were still around - now I get it, with dance. 🙂 You've come up with some really creative storage ideas, Sabrina!
Linda Samuels says
Such creative ways to store bobby pins! During our daughters' dance lesson years, did their bobby pin storage old school and kept the bobby pins affixed to the cardboard packaging that they came on. I would have loved to instead have had that cool magnetic push pin jar that you showed.
Seana Turner says
I think ballet alone accounts for about 80% of bobby pin use! My daughter did this for awhile, and she has a TON of hair. I found the altoid container was one of the easiest options - perfect size, and you could keep a couple of them around (one in the dance bag, one in the drawer, one in the car....)
Hilda Rodgers says
Thanks for all these ideas Sabrina! My daughter is in ballet as well and bobby pins end up all over our home. I like the mason jar idea... I use the large ones for so many things but never thought about the small ones for bobby pins.