How to become a lock star

You spend money on your clothes, shoes, bags, makeup and salon. Why not splurge a little on hair accessories, especially if you have the mane for it?

’Twas a pleasant surprise to stumble upon a brand-new arrival of Ficcare accessories tucked inside a glass cabinet at Rustan’s Makati.

I recognized the skinny metal headbands worn by Hollywood stars, like Drew Barrymore at the London premiere of Music and Lyrics.

This is not your typical headband, by the way. This one sits on your hair like a jewel. It dresses up your outfit, well enough for the red carpet.

I found out the name Ficcare comes from the Portuguese word ficar, which means “to stay.”

It was created by the Lau sisters, who wished to stay with each other through thick and thin and in business.

Their stylish barrettes are also meant to keep your hair in place.

The Lau sisters grew up experimenting with each other’s hairstyles.

When they got tired of cheap, plastic clips, they thought about creating something cool that they would like to wear — such as hairclips with Swarovski crystals and dressy headbands that make you look like a Grecian goddess.

Since Ficcare was launched in 1997, it has been a favorite accessory of Hollywood stars like Jennifer Aniston, Kate Beckinsale, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Sandra Oh, Ming-Na, Christina Applegate, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox Arquette, Cybill Shepherd, Kirstie Alley, Helen Hunt, Felicity Huffman, Ellen Pompeo, Katherine Heigl and Minnie Driver.

All Ficcare accessories are handmade, hand-painted and are strong enough to handle even the thickest manes.

They have been featured in numerous fashion magazines like In Style, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, Lucky and many more.

Besides their pretty, pricey clips, you might also want to check out the purse hangers, to protect your bags from what they call “bagteria” or bacteria found under one’s bag. You can get those by leaving your bag on the floor. (It’s also bad feng shui, by the way.)

Ficcare’s fashionable bag hangers are light and small enough to carry inside your purse. Take them out when the need arises, to hang up your bag on the edge of the table of a restaurant or even on a church pew while hearing mass.

Ficcare accessories come in over 100 styles featuring a myriad of colors. The line has expanded to include bangles, belt bags and soon, haircare products.

* * *

Look for Ficcare at the women’s accessories department of Rustan’s.