QuoteReplyTopic: The Synth Chronciles: After 8 Days and 4 Washes Posted: February 20 2005 at 10:24pm
Here's my Dome/PlastikHaar extensions after washing, using fabric softener, and blow-drying the ends smooth. At this point, I've washed it four times in the eight days I've had them (I would NOT recommend washing the hair that often, though).
It was pretty rough after air-drying, but after blow-drying the ends, it's quite smooth again. As you can see, it's quite straight now. I'll sleep with it in braids and possibly use steam rollers on it tomorrow and will post more pics after that.
You'll also notice it's a bit piece-y in the back. This is in part because I'm not the best at blow-drying; plus, I've always had some pieceiness with any extensions I've had, so.... :)
It looks completely natural. The piecy look is synonymous with extensions. It's difficult if not completely impossible to get away from.
I am disappointed to see all the wave gone. Even ordering at 22mm, I wonder how it will hold up. I personally don't like straight hair on myself and I don't know if I can compromise on that. I'm anxious to see how it sets in steam rollers and if it's possible to get a soft S wave after a night in braids.
The colors you went with are perfect for your skin tone, btw. Striking.
I CANNOT wear my hair completely straight. I absolutely HATE it! I like it on other people but not on myself! Its a bummer that it straightens out so fast.
It sounds like (from Sara's emails) that the tighter curls with straighten out too. I thought that if I bought a tighter curl they may loosen up to a bigger looser curl but not go completely straight. But she said the curls do not open up to a bigger curl (like human hair does) they just go straight.
Thanks girls. By the way, even though the wave has dropped and I'm figuring out how to handle this hair, I still like it better than human and fully intend to stick with synth.
AMM: Keep in mind that I haven't done the things I should've done to maintain the wave (like not wash it very often, use only cold water, and only finger-comb). That said, my feeling about this hair--at least the Dome Classic and the PH 50mm--is that it'd be nearly impossible to retain the initial wave past three weeks or so (and that would really be the maximum).
Even if you could maintain the wave past that point, the hair would be pretty rough, so you'd really need to smooth it out with the blow-dryer, and once the hair is blown, that's it--it really wants to be straight. I did use the rollers last night and they worked well, so it is possible to reset it, and as I said, I'll post some pics after braiding and curling so you can get an idea.
I do imagine the 28mm and Dome Wave would last a little longer, though. And if the thermofiber works out, that may be the answer.
When are you going up to Seattle, and is Bridget going to use Prostyles, or are you bringing your own hair?
The hair is quite different than human in that it doesn't just loosen after drying; it goes completely straight. After the first time I washed, it just loosened, but I didn't blow it with the brush. When blown with the brush, the wave is history. If you followed all the care guidelines, you could probably maintain that 28mm for a little longer, but again, eventually you're going to have to smooth it out. The more you wash the hair, the rougher it'll get.
I have heard that the Dome Wave is more stubborn, but I'd be surprised if it didn't do the same after blow-drying. :)
One more thing: I feel like the "memory" synth hair has (at least the monofiber used here) is kind of limited to memory between washings. In other words, before I ever washed it, the wave stayed in the hair way better than it would have with human hair if I'd curled it. It got a little damp in the rain, and it still didn't straighten. After one washing, it dropped somewhat but stayed about the same until the third washing, at which point it was straight. Perhaps if it's washed in cold water, it has more memory; I don't know.
So, if someone only washes their hair once a week, the hair is really quite good: You just blow it out and then reset every two weeks or so. That's pretty easy, really. For more frequent washers, it's a bit more challenging.
Perhaps some of the more experienced synth wearers here have some other suggestions. Again, I'm still learning how to work with synth. But after eight days of wear, these are my best guesses.
I generally wear my hair pretty straight anyway, but I do like to have a little wave, at least on the ends, because I think it looks a bit less severe (read: more flattering).
Fortunately, because I have pin-straight hair naturally, I can work with either loose-wave or straight extensions (truly curly hair looks absurd on me actually). My concern would be for people whose hair is naturally curly, wavy, or more textured. To make this synth match their hair, they'd really need to get the curling routine down pat (I'm sure some people have done this successfully, but it's something to consider, depending on their hair type). Or, if they blow out their real hair, I imagine it could work, too. :)
Jenny, it still looks really pretty on you, straight or wavy. The color is beautiful and the length and everything is very striking. It's a great look and you look great.
hen are you going up to Seattle, and is Bridget going to use Prostyles, or are you bringing your own hair? :)
WHO IS GOING TO SEATTLE?! Is this person going to have Bridget do her hair?! WHO WHO WHO?!?!
I am having piecy issues. Having wavy and straight hair doesn't help. Here's Tim and I last night. I got a lot of compliments, but, I knew my hair was looking pretty bad for the potential it had. I had it in six buns all day. To try and have it wavy. Edit: I couldn't get it right, and will NOT do the bun thing again lol
Exactly!!! Your hair looks the same as mine did before I blew it out. You could blow-dry it straight and get rid of the pieciness, but then, bye-bye wave! You'd have to reset it in some way. No amount of brushing will get rid of the "chunkiness." And I've done the bun and the braid thing, too, which can both be good if the hair is new or has been blown-out first, but if it's piece-y, it will remain that way. I'm relieved to see that it's not only me getting these results....
Nevertheless, you look hot anyway. That color combo is killer, and your eyes look beautiful!
Jenny- THANK you for all the details -- it confirms that I need to have a least *some* "curl-able" synth on my head. My own hair is (grrr), well, just plain, um, fuzzy-ish (OK on a good day you could say "wavy") but it just doesn't match well with the straight extensions. . .it just STICKS OUT and looks horrible.
And I agree with everyone. You look amazing and the hair really suits you well!!
UPDATE: After 9 days, 4 washes, and 3 braids (worn overnight)....
OK, here's what the hair looks like after being in three braids worn overnight. (Please keep in mind I'm not the best braider; I never style my hair this way, but I'm sure those of you who do will have more even results. Nevertheless, I think it'll give you an idea as to how the synth picks up the wave).... :)
Generally, I'm not crazy about the wave braiding gives my hair (whether it's human or synth). But as you can see, the hair does respond to it.
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hen are you going up to Seattle, and is Bridget going to use Prostyles, or are you bringing your own hair? 
