Barrel diameter creates nice loose curls, straightener works very well, just as well as any other ceramic straightener. The only downsides are the cord tends to twist frequently, and the hook which transforms the straightener into a curling iron is made of plastic, and breaks off. As long as your keep your thumb on the lever, you can manually hold the iron together. At the end of the day, as long as you're careful I think it's definitely worth the $30 price tag. You're not going to find anything as versatile and works as well as this iron for $30.