I got an email this morning that made my hair stand on end. The subject line was “Regrow Natural Hair”. I don’t know why, but that simply never occurred to me.
Every time I’ve regrown hair, it’s been synthetic. And I’ve fallen into one of the three most predictable traps for this kind of thing. More specifically — and please don’t ask me why — I habitually try to regrow one of these:
- Kanekalon. Can you blame me? It’s natural feeling. It’s lighter and softer than my wiry Irish mop. And it has more natural body to accommodate and complement today’s modern fashionable lifestyle. And as you well know, my lifestyle is nothing if not modern and fashionable.
- Futura: On balance, I actually like this stuff the best. But have you ever tried to curl it? Flat ironing and blow drying? No problem. But to curl it, you have to heat the curling iron to 750º (Fahrenheit), hold the iron on the hair for 24 to 48 hours, and let the hair cool for at least three hours before going out, especially if it’s raining (otherwise your head will be covered with a cloud of steam). You also have to be VERY careful not put the iron down on surfaces prone to melting or combustion.
- Ultima: This is junk. I know it’s supposed to be just like natural hair. I know it’s created from organic collagen protein, which allegedly is akin to the keratin protein in natural hair. But keratin also is the protein found in toenails. If I’m going to all the trouble of regrowing synthetic hair, the last thing I want in it is onychomycosis. And do you really believe this woman would have the same reaction if I groomed my hair with Jublia? Please.
I don’t know regrowing natural hair is more or less work than growing synthetic hair. If it’s less work, it’s a no-brainer. But even if it’s more work, it may be worth considering if for no other reason than to preclude the option anxiety of having to choose which kind of synthetic hair to regrow.
There is, however, one advantage to regrowing synthetic hair: no dandruff.
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Photo by CBS Television, via Wikimedia Commons.