The invention is directed to a hair retaining clip having a first clip member including a handle portion and a claw portion, a second clip member including a handle portion and a claw portion, and a hinge pivotally connecting the first and second clip members such that the first and second clip members are rotatable between a normal closed position and an open position. The hair retaining clip further includes an elastic member disposed between and attached to the claw portions of the first and second clip members. The elastic member biases the first and second clip members toward the normal closed position and retains the first and second clip members in the normal closed position.