Are Women Allowed to Use Beads and the like on Their Hair?

Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Uthaymeen said:

If someone were to ask: Some scholars are of the view that the prohibition of [a woman] attaching something to her hair is general regardless of whether the thing is hair or other than hair while some scholars are of the view that it is restricted to hair. Which of the two views is the most correct?

We will respond by saying: The correct view is that if a woman joins another hair or artificial hair to her real hair, there is no doubt that it falls under the hadeeth which prohibits [joining false hair to one’s real hair]; because whoever sees it will think that it is a natural hair. However, whoever attaches something else to the hair, which is very clear that it is not hair, such does not fall under the hadeeth. For example, if a woman ties something that dangles or hangs on her hair, there is no problem or harm in it. This is because it does not fall under the hadeeth and it cannot be considered changing Allah’s creation…

Source: Fath Dhil-Jalaal wal-Ikraam bisharh Buloogh al-Maraam, vol. 4, p. 567 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen