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How to Make Rave Sprouts That Don’t Fall Apart

If you’ve ever ordered a set of rave sprouts online and had them fall apart before you even got to the festival gates, you’re not alone.

Cheaply made rave sprouts on sites like Temu or Shein are made with low-quality glue (usually hot glue), plastic charms that don’t stick well and pop off the moment you start dancing. Let’s change that.

In this post, I’ll show you how to make rave sprouts that don't fall apart, look amazing, and won't become garbage.


PLUS you can make rave sprouts that are totally unique and will make other ravers squeal with delight when they are gifted. So if you're tired of cheaply made rave sprouts, here's everything you need to know.



What Are Rave Sprouts?

Rave sprouts are tiny accessories that get clipped into your hair, hat, or clothing. They are shared when someone loves your vibe and wants to spread PLUR. They are commonly a duckbill or alligator-style clips decorated with a green little sprout but "rave sprouts" have evolved to include any cute plant or charm that is attached to the clip. See some examples below



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Why Most Rave Sprouts Suck

Basically, all mass-produced sprouts use hot glue to attach lightweight plastic charms to metal clips.


The problem? Hot glue doesn’t bond well to slick surfaces, especially not metal. These sprouts might look cute in a product photo, but they often arrive crooked, fall off immediately, or the glue will melt if exposed to the hot sun.


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The good news: it’s pretty easy to make your own, and they’ll last way longer if you use the right supplies.

What You Need (With Links!)

Here are the essentials:

  • Alligator or duckbill clips You can get ones that are just the clips SO with little springs (which are personally my fave because they wiggle around)


  • Strong glue - B-6000, E-6000, Gorilla Glue any super glue will do (fast drying is a must)

  • Sandpaper or nail file - to rough up surfaces before gluing


  • Charms or Figurines - Amazon charms or trinkets you love just make sure they are small and lightweight.

    Step-by-Step: How to Make Rave Sprouts

  • Lightly sand both surfaces - the top of the hair clip and the base of your charm. This creates texture so the glue can grip better.

  • Apply a strong adhesive - Use a small dab of your super glue of choice (less is more). These glues take longer to dry but offer way better hold than hot glue.

  • Stick the charm on the clip and press firmly until the glue takes hold

  • Let it cure - Leave your clip in a safe place to cure for 24+ hours. The longer it sets, the stronger the bond. You can clip them onto a piece of cardboard so they stand upright and dry

  • Test before you fest - Give it a gentle wiggle to make sure everything is secure before packing.

If you choose to use the spring style clips then the process will be a bit different. All you have to worry about is getting your figurine onto the top of the spring.


If it's hard resin figurine you might need to drill a little hole but if you use something soft like styrofoam, rubber, or a pom pom for example you won't need ot drill any holes, you'll be able to just push the spring post into the item and in this case use hot glue


Fun Ideas for Decorating Your Clips

Want to make something totally original?

  • Shrinky dinks: Draw or print your own designs, bake them, and glue them on.

  • Polymer clay: Sculpt mushrooms, aliens, hearts, smiley faces, or kandi-inspired phrases.

  • Mini toys or found trinkets: Old keychains, buttons, or earrings make great charms.

  • Letter beads: Spell out short phrases using letter beads and glue them onto the clips.

Rave Sprout FAQ

Can I use hot glue? Technically, yes. But I don’t recommend it. Hot glue is fast but doesn’t hold well on metal. It's just a matter of time before they fall apart.


What’s the best glue for rave sprouts? Any super glue will do but make sure it's fast drying so you don't have to hold the item in place for too long until it sets. Jewelry glue, E-6000, B-6000 or Gorilla Glue Gel are all great. Yes, they take longer to cure but offer strong, lasting bonds.


Do I really need to sand them? YES. This is one of the most overlooked steps and makes a huge difference in durability. Roughing up the surface gives the glue more to hold onto.

How long do they need to cure? At least 24 hours. If you can leave them for a full day and night, that’s best.

Wrap-Up

Making your own rave sprouts means you can match your fit, express your vibe, and know they won’t break mid-set. Plus, it’s a fun little DIY project that doesn’t take much time or money.


Tag @thetrippystuff on IG or TikTok when you make your sprouts – I’d love to see what you create! And keep an eye out for my upcoming tutorial video.

For more rave DIYs and kandi content, check out my other blog posts here!


 
 
 
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