After looking for ages, finally found plain hair pins (the ones like big kirby grips but wavy both sides) to allow me to indulge my new obsession for decorating my own pins - woohooooooo!  40 for 99p or 50 for £1.50, nice new pins, very low cost.

Can finally do more impressive updos without spending for ever removing the pins because they've disappeared.  Did a plaited bun the other day and looked like I was going to a wedding with my lovely shiny new pins (slightly dissonant with the hiking boots but hey, just cause I have to be practical doesn't mean I can't have glam hair right?).  Wish I had a picture I could post.

Just needed to celebrate with people who understand the true joy of hair toys (o/h doesn't comprehend my joy, though really liked new hair do!  - which is a miracle as he doesn't like my hair long).

We've been together about three and a half years so it was quite a bit shorter when we met, still long though. He constantly used to say 'it's too long' and also doesn't like it curly (FREAK!!!!!  he is the only person I know who doesn't coo over my long curly hair, good thing it's almost always tied back for practicality), apparently I look like a witch (and.........) though everyone else says I look like a pre-raphelite painting.  He's learnt that I will pay no attention to him telling me it's too long so rarely says anything now.

Anyway, he's very lovely in general, just not a great fan of 'abnormally' long hair.  But hey, I'm not a fan of balding crew cut blonde men (give me a head of thick dark curls anyday!)

 O/h has his face tickled with my ends when I'm feeling evil, makes him go all squirmy which is hilarious to watch.  Doubt it's jealousy as my hair is always up outside of the house so noone has any idea how long it is.  Think he just doesn't like anything that's not 'normal' (also doesn't like my piercing or that I want a tattoo), he's very conservative in some ways.  

Just ordered some hair sticks for £16 (with postage if that makes it better?) so the economy drive came to a bit of a crashing halt.   Budget blown for the month but they look gorgeous (handmade with a silver metal lotus) and I had to have them.  Soooo excited about them arriving, will be watching for the postman.  Fingers crossed they looks as good in real life.  Good thing I can justify it through the money saved on haircuts  

Anyone else not in the US and struggling to find accessories for long hair beyond what's in Claires?  

Has anyone found a good UK based company - there are lots selling cheap accessories (Ringmania seems to be good at the mo' for ibis clips) but few seem able to contain my mop.

Thanks Dave.  Yes I have heard of them, I've never seen them in the UK anywhere (including online and ebay) so I assume I'd have to pay shipping from the US and they seem a little expensive.  I looked at the hair toy links from LHC and postage in general is just too much for my poor grad student wallet

It seems that Britain just isn't the place to live if you have long hair, parents are on holiday in Goa and have been instructed to track down hair toys if possible.  Off to the Asian grocery in town tommorrow to try and buy some nice chopsticks.