Daniel Mercer
Cameras have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, appearing on everything from earbuds to air purifiers, and even on your cat’s litter box. Meanwhile, your hair—if you have it—has been silently observing this parade of camera-laden gadgets without any technology of its own. That is, until now…
Thanks to Jenny Zhang, the innovative founder of the tech startup Computer Angel, we now have what may be the world’s first camera embedded in a hair clip. While it bears some resemblance to smart glasses, this device also serves as a refreshing alternative to other face-mounted wearables.
I invented a hair clip camera and moved from NYC to Shenzhen to make it 🙂 pic.twitter.com/5nyBI6mOw9
— jenny z (@cowjuh) April 2, 2026
Zhang, who relocated from New York to Shenzhen to develop this innovative wearable, markets the hair clip camera as a tool for recreational video recording. The sample footage has a distinctly retro aesthetic, reminiscent of a flip phone from 2003 rather than the advanced Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, which can record in high-definition 3K. While it may not be suitable for capturing intense sports action, I find its charm lies in its intentionally low-fi quality.
Unlike many other wearables, it’s unclear if there are plans to expand its functionalities beyond video recording—there’s no emphasis on productivity features. In this respect, the hair clip camera stands apart from the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which include various features such as a voice assistant and AI-driven computer vision for environmental recognition.
Zhang has shared with Gizmodo that the primary focus remains on video recording, stating she “won’t be revealing anything else at the moment.” This hints at the potential for future developments, leaving us curious about what might come next.
Could this hair clip camera, similar to smart glasses, be utilized for spying? Absolutely. unlike the discreet cameras on Meta’s smart glasses, this hair clip clearly indicates its recording capability. A privacy indicator light would be a welcome addition to ensure transparency.
As expected, the hair clip camera is already stirring debate among some viewers, though perhaps not for the reasons one might anticipate. Given its hair clip design, Zhang has positioned the device as a women’s wearable, which has sparked some backlash from men. On one hand, it’s true that men can also have long hair and express themselves outside traditional masculinity. This argument holds water.
On the flip side, it’s likely to attract more interest from women. And for those who are bald? Well, perhaps you’ll need to explore other options. As a bald man myself, I can confidently say, “Just deal with it.”
Zhang has yet to disclose pricing or a release date, but the hair clip camera seems to be gaining traction among enthusiasts. Even Pebble’s Eric Migicovsky has expressed interest. So, what about you? Are you ready to enhance your hair with this low-resolution video technology, or do you find yourself too bald to partake?
Brandon Fletcher
