Review (2/5): Eh, meh, nah.
I got these a month ago when I saw these featured on a YouTube hair video from a YouTuber I follow and generally, her advice on products is solid but these French pins?
The IDEA/CONCEPT is simple and tried and true. So no way to really mess it up, right? Well...
What I do like is the color and the paint or coding hasn't faded or chipped off. The slight curve allows for the in to rest against the curve of your head. The length is nice, and allows more versatility.
What I don't like is the material. For $10 at Target, I wasn't expecting something industrial but the material is very, very flimsy and not remotely sturdy. Not only that, maybe it's the coating on the pins, these things don't stay in for long, or at all sometimes. I have fine, long hair and these pins won't stay put if I don't use product. I usually use a leave-in conditioner so that helps to create texture and the pins seem to stay in longer. These might work better with coarse, thicker hair. It's too bad the material isn't sturdier--so don't think you can do anything while wearing them. The minute you start anything other than sitting and look pretty for however long you wear them, they will fall out without even trying. I had my hair half pined up with a barrette and then pulled the rest up in a twist and made sure the prongs were under the barrette so that it was more secure but it didn't even last half a day and I sit in a cubicle for 8 hours staring at a computer. Just getting up to get a cup of coffee or a printout from the copy machine or other basic tasks would easily loosen the pin.
These are merely okay if you're doing absolutely nothing but sticking a pencil to keep your bun in place work just as well. It's too bad since they are pretty but these are not that functional.