Review (4/5): Inexpensive product that works with practice
I received these hairstyle buns for free to test and evaluate. The following is my unbiased review after testing them.
These items are "good". They are an inexpensive item and it is expected that they will be inexpensively made. Rather like purchasing a scooter vs a BMV. There are "better quality" hair bun clips that can be purchased, they cost around $5-9 each and do the exact same job as this less expensive set. That said, I am going to discuss the pros and the cons of these.
I have a set of the fancy ones purchased at the Los Angeles Fair. They are one of those "always there" type of items and they sell like hot cakes. They are made from a fabric that reminds me a bit like velour. They are perfectly made and cost a small fortune that somehow seems like a good deal while you are high on cotton candy, fudge, ten pound buns, and the latest fried concoction. You look at the different hairstyles made by the stylist and you nod as you think, "that looks easy". Except, it takes practice and patience to learn to do more than the simplest updos.
This set works the same way my expensive set does except it costs 1/3 the price. To compensate for the lower cost, the material is more of a sponge type that is found on sponge curlers. The slit in the center wasn't cut on one of mine, but I quickly opened it. The metal inside feels less than sturdy but that doesn't bother me. The metal in the ones purchased at the fair feel about the same. The edges on these are not cut cleanly, the stamping press is leaving bits of extra material making these look jagged. Guess what? It doesn't matter. These are not hair accessories. They are meant to be worn hidden in your hair. These have no odor (thank goodness!!!!) so that is a major bonus.
There are youtube videos that you can spend hours watching and practicing following the steps if you are so inclined. The long and the short of it is, these can help with making a pretty bun or french roll as basics. There is a learning curve, don't give up, it can take 5-6 times to figure it out. Try them out when you have time to sit and play with your hair or your friend's hair, or your daughter's hair. There are videos that go way beyond the basic updo. You can use these for padding under a pomp, etc... There is a vast array of ways to use these, it depends on your patience and your skill level.