The Bobby Pin Trick for Clasping Your Own Bracelet Before Girls Night

Ten minutes to get out the door, one bracelet left to put on, and not a single soul around to hold the other end. So you do the thing we all do. You pin the clasp against your wrist with your thumb, twist, miss, twist again, and eventually give up and toss it in your bag to deal with later.

Girl, there's a better way. And it takes one bobby pin.

The trick, start to finish

Slide the jump ring (that little loop the clasp hooks into) onto a bobby pin. Then close your hand around the bobby pin so it sits flat in your palm, sticking out just enough to hold that end steady. Now bring the bracelet around your wrist and clasp it into the pinned end with your free hand.

That's it! The bobby pin does the job of a second person, and your good hand is finally free to actually work the clasp.

The first few times feel a little clumsy, we won't lie. But by the third go it's muscle memory, and you'll wonder how you ever spent so long fighting a lobster clasp one-handed.

Why it works better than fingers

The whole problem with clasping your own bracelet is that you're asking one hand to hold tension AND fasten at the same time. Fingers cramp. The jump ring spins.

The clasp swings right out of reach.

The bobby pin holds that tension for you. Your palm keeps it locked in place, so both ends stay put while you guide the clasp home.

It works on chain bracelets and beaded ones, and it's just as handy on an anklet when you're already dressed and don't want to bend yourself into a pretzel.