Abstract: The hair holder of the present invention is formed of two complementary halves having finger tabs and hair gripping elements, which are hinged together to move the hair holder from a first closed position to a second open position. A lever having a groove on its first end and an elongated member on its second end engages with a locking structure to lock the hair holder in the closed position in the user's hair and serves to shield the spring, hinge or other connection assembly. The groove pivotally engages the first finger tab and the elongated member engages the locking structure in the second finger tab. The locking structure comprises a channel and a pair of projections along its sidewalls to reversibly lock the elongated member in the channel. The lever also comprises a reversible attachment means for interchanging decorative appliqués on the hair holder.