I've been using metal barettes on DD's hair since she was very small.  Her hair is quite thick, and fine to medium, and waist length.  

I know the metal barettes (the snap closure ones.  I don't know how to describe them.  They don't have that intricate closure that some do, they're very simple) are breaking her hair; there are all these short hairs that fall in her face without them and the ends are ragged.  

Those little plastic barettes slide right out.   I've tried french braids, but those little hairs are too short.  I don't want to use gel, though that may become an option, since I wash her hair every day anyway.  I've done her hair in two regular braids, and pony braids.  

Nothing seems to work.  These metal barettes are the only thing I've found that keeps it out of her face, and I don't want to use them anymore. Argh!  What can I do?

If you are braiding her hair why not use Scuunci hair safe pony tail holders on the ends?  You can find them in the drugstore in the hair care aisle.   They have no metal on them whatsoever. HTH :)

Have you tried bobby pins? 2 in the shape of an X works well for holding my hair.

Are bobby pins hair safe?  I use them on my own hair, or I used to, before it was long enough for a ponytail

And I do use the metal free hair bands.  They don't slip, or anything, though if I put them in the same place over and over again I do see some breakage.

Most bobby pins are hair safe. Just make sure that they don't have any sharp ends poking out of their casing.

I sent DD to school with bobby pins, arranged in an X with the bumps on top and the cased ends pointing up.  

They slipped out of her hair.  Sigh.  Back to the drawing board.  Maybe I should point the ends down.

What about an alice band?  Or braid the hair across the front into a kind of hair hairband. http://dreamweaverbraiding.com/braids/lace.htm has instructions. I find if I do it neatly I can leave it in or several days.

Wow, hmm....is there a way that you could keep using the metal barrettes and just cover them? Many of the ones I've seen made by Goody have some sort of a coating on them for æsthetics and I prefer these because they don't seem as harsh as plain, pure metal. Then again, I don't have a problem with metal clip barrettes in the first place. Hmmm....

When I make hair decorations with those type of metal clips, I always wrap something around the underside of the top half to hold the decoration part to the top. Sorry if that made no sense at all. I wish I could do illustrations. ;D
But I wonder if wrapping them with something might help in some way. Or maybe just painting them over with clear nail polish?

Perhaps the breakage isn't from the barettes.  Maybe it's from the way she sleeps on her hair, and I should get her a better pillowcase.  IDK.

I do sometimes get the painted ones.  I'll try those, and try removing them more carefully and telling her to take them out more carefully.  The issue is, I think, that the hair gets wrapped around the front edge (I wish I had a picture, too).  There's a little metal rivet, or something, at the point of the top part, and her hair gets caught in that.  It's less of an issue if I remove it carefully, but she just rips them out impatiently.

Oh, right. I know exactly what you're talking about. That tiny little O-shaped piece. I think I'd try painting it over with nail polish first. Then, if that didn't work, I might try another style of barrette. :-?