Barrette

A device for holding a section of hair comprising:

• a. a bowed semi-rigid structure with a convex surface;
• and
• b. a flexible member with a length in an elongated direction, the flexible member being attached by its ends in the elongation direction to at least two attaching positions through pin hinge elements on the bowed structure, wherein the attaching positions are separated by a linear distance less than the length of the flexible member in the elongation direction, such that the flexible member preferentially bows out from the convex surface of the bowed structure with the device in an open position and bows inward toward the convex surface of the bowed structure with the device in a closed position, where in the bowed semi-rigid structure partially straightens as the passes through the open an closed position.

A method for holding a section of hair comprising the steps of:

• a. placing the sections of hair between a first elongated member and a second elongated member that are separated and bowing away from each other, the first elongated member and the second elongated member being hingably attached near their ends, wherein the first elongated member is substantially more rigid than second elongated member;
• and
• b. pressing on the second elongated member with the section of hair between the first and the second elongated member such that the second elongated member bows in substantially the same direction at the first elongated member, thereby gripping the section of hair while the first elongated member and a second elongated member remain hingably attached.

A device for holding a section of hair comprising;

• a. an elongated semi-rigid structure with a convex surface and a concave surface;
• b. an elongated flexible strip spring member attached by its ends through pin hinge elements to elongated semi-rigid structure wherein the elongated flexible strip spring member snaps between an open bowed position away from the convex surface of the semi-rigid structure and a closed bowed position toward the convex surface of the semi-rigid.