Context: Personas are commonly employed in software projects to better understand end-users needs. Despite their frequent usage, there is a limited understanding of their practical application and effectiveness. Objective: This paper aims to investigate the current practices, methods, and challenges associated with using personas in software development. Methods: A two-step investigation was conducted, comprising interviews with 26 software developers, UI/UX designers, business analysts, and product managers, along with a survey of 203 practitioners. Results: The findings reveal variations in the frequency and effectiveness of personas across different software projects and IT companies. Additionally, the study highlights the challenges practitioners face when using personas and the reasons for not using them. Notably, the research shows that some human aspects (e.g., the needs of users with disabilities), often assumed to be a key feature of personas, are frequently not considered for various reasons in requirements engineering. Conclusions: The study provides actionable insights for practitioners to overcome challenges in using personas during the requirements engineering stages. Furthermore, it identifies areas for future research to enhance the effectiveness of personas in software development.