Company History

Short view of our 100-year history:

Sta-Rite became a corporation in September of 1917. The first Sta-Rite product was a patented hairpin made from celluloid. Celluloid is a trademark for a substance essentially of pyroxylin and camphor and usually is colorless or resembling ivory.

By 1921 Sta-Rite had developed a method of manufacturing hairpins from wire. The beauticians were very fond of these fine wire hairpins that were easy to use and stayed in the hair. In 1925 bobby pins appeared on the market and Sta-Rite designed and patented several bobby pins to satisfy the new bobbed hair that had become so popular with the movie stars. Both Sta-Rite hairpins and bobby pins were very popular with the beauticians. In 1926 Sta-Rite joined the Barber & Beauty Supply Institute and have remained members of this organization ever since.

Volume grew with Sta-Rite pins until World War II which resulted in limited availability of steel wire. Sta-Rite shifted its production to supply the U.S. Defense Department with metal safety clips and arming wire for bombs. The Sta-Rite employees received an Army-Navy E Award for Excellence both in 1943 and 1944.

Following WW II, the company continued its work to provide and manufacture the finest quality bobby pins and hairpins possible. Sta-Rite has met demand for styling brushes, combs, hairnets, wave nets, caps, bonnets, and ponytail holders along with other popular hair care accessories. We continue to proudly provide our US military with bobby pins and snap-eze clips and have been mentioned in the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, & Escape) Handbook for humanities courses at Stanford University.

We are pleased to offer wholesale bobby pins, wholesale hair accessories, and private label opportunities to our customers. Please reach out to discuss your options.

Our goal is the same today as it was when my grandfather and father led the business and that is to provide the finest hair care accessories, at the best possible price, on a timely basis.

R. Noel Bolinger II – President

Julia E. Bolinger – Vice President

Sta-Rite Ginnie Lou, Inc. – Wholesale Bobby Pins, Wholesale Hair Accessories, Private Label Options