Ric Rac 6: The Zigzag Trim That Defined Vintage British Hair Accessories

Run your fingers along the edge of a vintage headband and you'll feel it: a rhythmic wave of tiny peaks and valleys. That's ric rac. Among the many sizes of this braided trim, ric rac 6 holds a special place in the history of British hair accessories. Wider than the delicate size 3 used for edging baby clothes, and more pronounced than the medium size 5, ric rac 6 measures roughly half an inch from zig to zag. It was the go-to trim for adding a bold, cheerful flourish to barrettes, headbands, and hair combs from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Unlike flat ribbons or stiff lace, ric rac 6 has a springy, dimensional structure. Each wave is created by a continuous bias-woven cotton or polyester thread that is heat-set to hold its shape. When sewn onto a fabric-covered hair clip or wound around a metal hair comb, the trim stands away from the base just enough to catch light and movement. That subtle lift is what gives vintage hair accessories made with ric rac 6 their unmistakable texture—a look that feels both playful and refined.

A Brief History of Ric Rac 6 in British Fashion

Ric rac itself arrived in Britain as an imported novelty from France and Germany in the late 19th century, but it was during the post-war years that ric rac 6 became a staple. The austerity of the 1940s gave way to a craving for colour and whimsy, and home sewists embraced ric rac as an affordable way to refresh a dress, a collar, or a hair accessory. Pattern books from the 1950s often recommended ric rac 6 for children's hairbands and women's evening headpieces because its generous width held its own against bold prints and solid colours.

By the 1960s, British manufacturers such as Wright's and Coats & Clark were producing ric rac 6 in a rainbow of hues—from primrose yellow and mint green to deep burgundy and navy. These trims found their way onto the hair accessories of the era: fabric-covered barrettes with a single strip of ric rac 6 stitched down the centre, or velvet headbands with the trim woven through slots to create a scalloped edge. The 1970s saw a resurgence of DIY culture, and ric rac 6 was often used to embellish plain hair claws and tortoiseshell combs, giving them a handmade, bohemian charm that collectors still prize today.

Materials and Techniques: What Makes Ric Rac 6 Special

Authentic vintage ric rac 6 is almost always made from cotton or a cotton-polyester blend. The cotton variety has a matte, soft hand that absorbs dye beautifully, while the polyester blend holds its shape longer and resists fraying. Modern production still follows the same bias-woven technique, but the thread count and heat-setting can vary. For collectors, a true vintage ric rac 6 has a slightly irregular wave pattern—a sign of older looms—that gives it a handcrafted feel.

Attaching ric rac 6 to a hair accessory requires a steady hand. The trim is usually sewn along its centre line, leaving the zigzag edges free to flutter. On metal hair combs, a thin line of jewellery-grade glue is applied to the spine of the comb, and the ric rac is pressed into place, then left to cure for 24 hours. For fabric-covered barrettes, the trim is often stitched with a matching thread, taking care not to pull the waves flat. The result is a durable, flexible edge that moves with the hair without sagging.

Identifying Quality Ric Rac 6

When you are browsing a vintage fair or a charity shop in search of ric rac 6 accessories, look for these signs of quality:

• Even wave spacing – Each zig and zag should be roughly the same width; uneven spacing indicates poor manufacturing or wear.
• No fraying at the ends – The ends of the ric rac should be cleanly cut and either heat-sealed or tucked under a metal clasp.
• Colourfastness – Rub a damp white cloth gently against the trim; if colour transfers, the piece may bleed when exposed to moisture.
• Flexibility – Gently bend the trim; it should spring back. Stiff, brittle ric rac has likely degraded from sun or age.

Pairing Ric Rac 6 Accessories with a Modern Wardrobe

The beauty of ric rac 6 is its ability to bridge decades. A headband trimmed with this zigzag braid can look as fresh today as it did in 1965, provided you balance it with clean, contemporary pieces. Try wearing a cream-coloured ric rac 6 headband with a simple white linen shirt and high-waisted jeans—the trim adds a touch of texture without overwhelming the outfit. For a more deliberate vintage nod, pair a navy ric rac 6 barrette with a Peter Pan collar dress; the contrast between the crisp collar and the playful trim creates a delightful tension.

If you already own a braided headband such as the Georgia Maxi Braided Headband in Rust, you can layer a thin ric rac 6 barrette just behind it to introduce a second wave pattern. The key is to keep the colours complementary—warm rusts and browns with a cream or gold ric rac, or cool blues with a silver or white trim. This technique works especially well for events where you want your hair accessory to be noticed without shouting.

Caring for Your Ric Rac 6 Hair Accessories

Because ric rac 6 is a woven trim, it requires gentle handling. Here is a practical care routine that will keep your pieces in good condition for years:

1. Spot clean only – Dip a cotton bud in lukewarm water mixed with a drop of mild soap (such as a wool wash) and dab the trim. Never submerge the entire accessory, especially if it has a metal clip or comb that could rust.
2. Dry flat – Lay the accessory on a towel and reshape the ric rac waves with your fingers. Do not wring or twist.
3. Store away from sunlight – Ultraviolet light fades the colours of ric rac 6, particularly the bright 1960s shades. Keep your accessories in a drawer lined with acid-free tissue paper, or in a fabric pouch.
4. Fluff before wearing – If the trim looks flattened after storage, run a steam iron on a low setting a few inches above the ric rac (do not touch the iron directly to the trim) to revive the waves.

For metal combs with ric rac 6 glued on, avoid bending the comb too far; the glue joint can weaken over time. If the trim starts to lift, a tiny dot of clear fabric glue applied with a toothpick will reattach it without leaving a residue.

Finding Ric Rac 6 in the Wild

Vintage ric rac 6 accessories turn up in unexpected places. British charity shops, especially those in smaller towns, sometimes have boxes of 1970s hair accessories that include barrettes and headbands with this trim. Boot sales and vintage textile fairs are also good hunting grounds. When you find a piece, examine the ric rac carefully: the most collectible examples have the original manufacturer's tag or come with matching fabric-covered buttons. Even a simple hair claw with a strip of ric rac 6 can be a treasure if the colour is rare—look for shades like mustard yellow, teal, or coral pink, which were popular for only a few seasons.

If you prefer to work with new ric rac 6, many haberdashery shops in the UK still stock it. The modern cotton versions are excellent for DIY projects: you can glue or sew the trim onto a plain metal hair comb from a craft store and create your own vintage-inspired accessory. Just be sure to pre-wash the trim in warm water to soften it and test for colourfastness before committing to a project.

One last detail worth mentioning: the number 6 in ric rac 6 is not arbitrary. It originally referred to the number of waves per inch on the finished trim. A size 6 has approximately six complete zigzag cycles per inch, which gives it a rhythm that is neither too tight nor too loose. That ratio is why it works so well on hair accessories—it offers enough visual interest to be noticed, yet remains subtle enough to complement the wearer's natural hair texture. Whether you are restoring a vintage find or stitching a new one, that six-wave cadence is the secret to the trim's enduring appeal.