Hardy female grasping right head adornment (5)
I believe the answer is:
tress
'head adornment' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both body parts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'hardy female grasping right' is the wordplay.
'hardy female' becomes 'tess' (in Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy novel).
'grasping' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or grasped).
'right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'tess' enclosing 'r' is 'TRESS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tress that I've seen before include "Obsolete support" , "Long lock or plait of hair" , "is a bit of a shock" , "Braid of hair" , "Rests (anag.)" .)