This bread does a good job holding my hair. My hair is not thick or thin just regular. Very pretty color and the price was just rightMade of thoughtfully manufactured materials, this clip secures well and does not pinch or catch stray hairs. The colors are lovely and varied to match your hair or outfits and the sturdy clip will not rust, nor the barrette fade. It is possible to buy more cheaply-made clips, but if you love your hair, you will not want to: these clips last for years. They come packaged in a small, pull-close (re-useable) bags, like a piece of jewelry and that is what it feels like you are getting - jewelry for your hair.After more than half a century of long hair, I really feel for the women who would like to clasp it to their ponytail and have it stay. The problem is: hair is slippery by nature, the polished steel closure on this clip is smooth and slippery by nature - add to that motion + gravity and it is inevitable that the barrette will slip. You’ve got to put some sort of resistance in the equation to make it work! I’ve tried elastic-banding my ponytail loosely and putting the clip over that, or braiding two twists and clipping onto that, with fair success. Two or three dots of sticky silicon adhered to the clip itself, would give it the needed resistance needed to make it stay put - at least for the ponytail-hang solution.This was a gift.I have no other knowledge about this item.This is a very nice looking barrette BUT I can't seem to get it to work for me! I am the person who asked the question about it holding long, medium thick hair in a ponytail and the answers were 'yes'. Unfortunately this isn't so unless I'm doing something wrong and I don't believe I am (I put it at the nape of my neck). My hair goes 1/2 way down my back and I put it in a ponytail most of the time and occasionally clip it on top using a 'claw' clip. The fabric bands that I use cause too much of my hair to fall out and I have been reading the reviews for various barrettes - some which are meant for ponytails specifically and others that can be multi purpose like this one. Perhaps this would be better for someone who has hair different from mine just as the ones for ponytails (I just bought one like this and my hair slipped out in no time) or styles their hair another way. I do think this is well made and it came in a mesh bag inside a little plastic bag that snaps closed. It also says that it's made in France in a couple of places, and although I ordered this in caramel it doesn't quite look like the color of caramel (mine has more black and gold in it) but it's still pretty. After receiving this item I was very anxious to use it and after clipping it in my hair I went out to the store - before I finished shopping this barrette fell out several times in the store and twice in the car. Each time I fixed it it came loose again! This is definitely made better than those from a drugstore - both their brand and the ones made by Goody (I think that's how it's spelled). I hope this review will help someone else who's looking for a barrette(s) - had it worked for me I would have bought more colors!These are the best barrettes ever!Shipped quickly and works great! Recommend!It's a bit expensive, but I feel most hair accessories are. It does have a strong spring and is a good size for holding hair back.I buy these over and over. I like yo keep one on my phone strap, one in my car etc. I don’t like my hair on my neck and this can hold my hair and keep it up. I only have to buy more bc I leave them places!This item is elegant, of excellent quality and workmanship. I am very happy with this purchase.