I have used the bows with rubberbands, plastic barrettes, and metal barrettes. Gracie will have none of them. I can get her to keep one in for a very short period of time, but eventually she'll run off and I'll find her rolling on the floor or bed somewhere till she gets it out. The bows with the rubberbands work best of course, but she still has a hissy fit till their all crooked and half hanging off her head.