Self defence weapons UK

They are 2 pronged curved pointy things that you push through your hair if you have a ponytail

Or a bun. My sister has loads of them for her buns and had a wooden one confiscated when boarding a flight.

You are allowed to use whatever you want to defend yourself so long as your attacker is equally/more armed. Subject to the regular restrictions as the what you may carry/possess (e.g. you can’t own a gun without a license).

My Nan used to carry a chisel that she'd meant to return to her friends who she borrowed it from for 30 years she had to use it once on a mugger.
(She didn't whittle bits off him she just clonked him over the head)

you could find yourself up for manslaughter, where you would find that "s/he was asking for it" is only a defence for men who strangle women during sex, not women who stab would-be rapists.

Not that it's completely a case of one rule for women and another rule for men, you understand.

In a state of suicidal despair at the state of women's rights, I wondered in another thread whether women should carry labryses painted in suffragette colours, after all the Most Oppressed People Ever carry trans flag baseball bats.

When I'm not suicidal with despair, I advise against arming yourself. The weapon can be used against you, you could be charged for carrying it at all, and if you used it you could find yourself up for manslaughter, where you would find that "s/he was asking for it" is only a defence for men who strangle women during sex, not women who stab would-be rapists.

Metal hair forks are awesome and completely legal

They are 2 pronged curved pointy things that you push through your hair if you have a ponytail

They usually have little bells or decorations on the curved end and are used as hair decorartions and to help secure the ponytail

I would not advide using them as a pointy weapon, their use is defensive if an attacker attempts to grab a woman's ponytail.

Apparently ponytails are attractive to rapists as they are effectively a handle on the back of the head that can be used to control a woman.

If a woman has hair forks in her hair the attacker will and up stabbing his own hand when he attempts to grab :)

Other than that, I would advise boxing / martial arts training and running away skills

I would bever advise anyone to carry a knife or bladed weapon as it can very easily be used against you. Plus you might end up in jail

Learn some self-defence tactics and carry a personal alarm.

Anything that a woman might use in self defence, could also be used to attack a woman

This. Any weapon can be taken from you and used against you, and that advice goes for men as much as women.

It is better to learn a few techniques to help you escape, such as always turn against the thumb if someone grabs your wrist, knee to the groin, heel of hand sharply to underside of nose cause pain/distraction without needing much force.

Your best defence though is always going to be awareness, but as a woman I'm sure you already know that.

If the law doesn't protect you, protect yourself.

You can still buy pepper spray, you are not supposed to use it on humans but you'll feel a lot safer with it.

Anything that a woman might use in self defence, could also be used to attack a woman, so I don’t think legalising tasers is the way to go.