In the wake of Selena Gomez's confession that most of the hair on her head was not her own last month, I got to explore the ins and outs of hair extensions. Two of my biggest takeaways were that 1) Good quality is paramount and 2) They *will* cost you.
And while I'm still totally mystified by how 3D printers actually work, when I learned that they're now printing actual, totally real hair through a process called furbrication (Carnegie Mellon University researchers insist this is a real word), I didn't immediately question it.
In fact, I wondered could this be the future of hair extensions? And more importantly, did this technology have the power to make quality hair pieces more affordable?
Alas, it's not that simple. While you can produce hairs of different colors, thickness, and lengths that can be cut, braided, and styled like human hair, these strands are, in fact, plastic—requiring no more than a regular 3D printer and flexible plastic material to be made.
They may look the part for the tiny toy trolls and horses currently donning the sample strands, but what separates these fibers from the synthetic platinum blonde doll hairs on Barbie's head? I'm not exactly sure.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
Zoë Kravitz Is the Latest New Yorker to Break the Flip-Flop RuleShe makes it look so easy.
-
Who Needs a Blow Dryer? Olivia Palermo's Bob Says No ThanksWet hair, don't care.
-
I'm Officially Swapping Baseball Caps for Kendall Jenner's Straw HatIn true Hollywood form, she's not the only one inspiring me.
-
Olivia Palermo’s Glossy Bob Is Proof That Wet Hair Can Be Chic
Wet hair, don't care.
-
Drybar Founder Alli Webb’s Next Venture Is the Solution to Perfectly Rough-Dried HairAlli Webb's new brand to the rescue.
-
Keke Palmer’s Hair Goes From Red Hot to a Blunt BobIt's both blunt and bouncy.
-
Natalie Portman’s Preppy Lob Should Be in Your Euro Summer Starter PackIf I were a hairstyle, I’d be this one.
-
Nicole Ari Parker’s Flyaway-Free Bun Stopped Me Mid-ScrollHair so sleek, I can practically see my reflection.
-
Miley Cyrus’s Micro Bangs Are as Edgy as They Are VersatileThey're not your average baby bangs.
-
Sydney Sweeney’s Hair Channels a Larger-Than-Life ‘90s BlowoutI'm ready for a summer of '90s hair.
-
Carrie Coon Has a New Take on Hollywood’s Bob ObsessionThe sharper, the better.
