Ghana, our beloved country has been long gone on pension and at 68, like some of us, would now be considering having a low haircut and leaving the grey hair, signifying ageing with wisdom, to flourish. 

The other alternative available to us women, in our old age and quite convenient too, is the wearing of wigs or hair extensions. However, one now needs to approach that with some purported caution - “synthetic hair is full of poisonous chemicals with cancer-causing agents in them”, according to a research report

With a dying urge to remain youthful and attractive, a woman’s hair has always been a cause for concern and that is why some will go to the extent of either dyeing, keeping it natural but short, wearing a wig or a stylish scarf or headgear.

Wigs and hair extensions

For some decades now, however, wigs and other hair extensions have tipped the scales and become more patronised to complete a woman’s dressing, featuring then as the complete accessory for beauty.  Looking at some photos of our mothers and watching some 1957 Independence Day celebrations videos lately, I realised wigs have been one fashion accessory that has stayed for long, even to this day.

They have come in different shapes, sizes and lengths, different colours and textures. There is always a new hair extension or wig being advertised and on display at hair shops and salons. It makes one believe that there is a huge business in that line and a lucrative one at that for one to engage in.

It is, however, distressing to read a report purporting to the fact that these synthetic hairs are one critical danger to users and should be considered a health risk and not just a beauty enhancer.

Research

According to research making the rounds on social media, there is a clear linkage between synthetic hairs the poisonous chemical and cancer-causing carcinogens.  The report confirmed that 100 per cent of synthetic braiding hair products tested for the research all had carcinogens in them.                                                                                                                                                   

That sounds quite worrying knowing that for some women these false hairs have become part of them.  Like their clothes, they have them in various kinds all lined up for various occasions. 

But also frightening is how little girls, some at kindergarten school age are exposed so early in their lives to these hair products.  They have become a mother’s pride to have their little girls’ hair braided with these synthetic hairs and adorned with fanciful beads or other accessories. 

Looking back, this research makes sense as to why some schools, starting from Kindergartens, do not, as a policy, allow false hair and the adornments in the braids of the girls.  Their policy is for girls to either wear their hair short or braided with no extensions or accessories. 

Otherwise imagine these poisonous chemicals staying on these girls’ hair from age four or so till their adult lives if not old age.

Natural hair extensions

Are the expensive so-called natural hair wigs on the market the way to go then? Unfortunately, for those women who choose to go the wig way and have got so used to them, there seems to be very little option should they want to change given the health dangers exposed by this circulating report. 

Not long ago, there was a lot of noise about expensive natural hair extensions or wigs on the market. We still have them. They come in soft and truly more of a human hair, said to last longer for its money’s worth. At the time of the hue and cry, these wigs were claimed to have been manufactured in some Asian countries from the natural hairs of dead bodies.

Though they come beautifully packaged and branded as natural hair, one never stops to question who would be cutting their long hair and selling them to wig manufacturers to be shipped for sale in Africa or elsewhere. Incidentally, one has yet to see or read any counters that seem to suggest that those natural long hair extensions or bouncy curly wigs come from living beings and not the dead.

We indeed live in dangerous times where our lives are at a greater risk from what one consumes what one applies to the body and even the medications and supplements one takes to keep well and healthy.  As if all these risks are not enough, here we are with a stark warning on what one even adorns on the head.

The worry is far more to do with the little girls thrown into the risk by their parents either for convenience or thinking they are making their girls look prettier.  

It may be the right time for our gatekeepers, in the name of regulatory authorities and all allied agencies to take another look at what is imported into the country. Yes, we may be crying over the foreign exchange effects of imports on the economy and creating jobs for countries we import from. 

One’s greater worry should be the health and safety consequences of every import that enters through our ports. Consumers may suffer but the national health consequences are also dire. Let us beware.

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The writer can be contacted via email at vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com