Amanda Matthews stared at her reflection, running fingers through her lackluster brown hair. Her ponytail – thin and felt lifeless and she had only limited ways to part her hair as there were only few ways she could style her hair. At thirty-four, she’d tried everything to combat her thinning hair – expensive shampoos, supplements, scalp treatments – but nothing seemed to work. When she heard whispers about Dr. Mikov’s miracle hair growth formula through an online beauty forum, she knew it wasn’t entirely legal, but desperation pushed her to make the purchase anyway. It wasn’t FDA approved and was only available from one online seller who sold it without bills or guarantees.
The small white tablet arrived in an unmarked package from Russia. Amanda’s hands trembled as she swallowed it, half-expecting nothing to happen, and for 2 weeks nothing really happened. But after two weeks, however, she noticed a difference. Her ponytail was feeling thicker, her hair had higher volume, and to her amazement, it was growing at an unprecedented rate. She picked up a stray hair from her desk and tried to pull it apart – it was surprisingly strong to snap. There was less hairfall in the shower, in her towel and on her desk.
What started as excitement quickly turned to concern as she realized her hair was growing nearly a centimeter per day. New baby hairs sprouted along her hairline and, embarrassingly, on her upper lips too. She had to either wax it or thread them out. Within weeks, her previously shoulder-length hair cascaded down her back, thick and unruly. There was now more spend on hair accessories, shampoos and she started taking more time to wash her hair.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” her stylist, Mark, remarked during her first post-treatment haircut appointment. He ran his fingers through her newly dense locks with professional curiosity. “The texture has completely changed.”
Amanda settled into the black leather chair, heart racing with anticipation. She watched in the mirror as Mark reached for his professional scissors, the steel gleaming under the salon lights. The familiar snip-snip sound was somehow more satisfying now that there was so much more hair to work with.
“Let’s try a layered bob,” Mark suggested, sectioning her hair with precision. The sharp teeth of the texturizing shears caught the light as he worked, creating subtle gradations in length. Amanda closed her eyes, savoring the gentle tug of the comb followed by the decisive sound of the scissors. Each cut felt like a small victory, transforming her once-thin hair into something glamorous and full of life. Mark could easily achieve better haircuts as the hair was thick and dense
The final result was everything she’d dreamed of – a shoulder-length bob that swung with healthy movement, layers adding volume and dimension she’d never had before. But her elation was short-lived. Within two days, her hair had already grown noticeably longer, the carefully crafted layers beginning to lose their shape and effects.
A month later, Amanda found herself back in Mark’s chair, this time with hair nearly reaching her waist. “This is impossible,” she muttered, watching the enormous amount of hair that had grown in just four weeks.
“Ready for something more dramatic?” Mark asked, noting her frustrated expression. “We could try an undercut pixie – it might give you more time between appointments.”
Amanda’s stomach churned with nervous energy as she nodded. This would be the shortest she’d ever gone, but with her hair growing at this alarming rate, she needed a more practical solution. She watched, heart pounding, as Mark exchanged his regular scissors for the electric clippers.
The buzz of the machine sent shivers down her spine. Mark started at the nape of her neck, and Amanda gasped at the sensation of the cool metal against her skin. The weight of her hair began to fall away in sections, long brown strands sliding down the cape and collecting on the floor like autumn leaves. The vibration of the clippers against her scalp was both terrifying and oddly satisfying.
Mark worked methodically, switching between different guard sizes to create a graduated effect. He used thinning shears to soften the transition between lengths, the metallic sound of the blades opening and closing becoming almost meditative. Amanda’s eyes welled up – not from sadness, but from the overwhelming sensation of transformation. The short hair at the back of her neck felt very different and exciting, while the slightly longer pieces on top gave her a sense of feminine comfort.
When Mark finished, Amanda barely recognized herself. The pixie cut was edgy yet elegant, with textured layers on top and closely cropped sides and back. But even this extreme solution proved temporary. Within weeks, she was again fighting a losing battle against her rapidly growing hair.
As the three-month mark approached, Amanda faced a decision. The tablet’s effects were wearing off, and she had to choose whether to take another dose. Her bathroom counter was littered with hair accessories and styling products, evidence of her constant struggle to manage her unprecedented growth rate. The expense of frequent salon visits had taken a toll on her budget, and the time spent maintaining her hair had become exhausting.
Looking at her reflection, Amanda ran her fingers through her hair – now back to shoulder length after her most recent cut. It was still thick and healthy, but already showing signs of returning to its natural growth rate. The baby hairs along her hairline were softening, and her upper lip no longer required regular maintenance.
She picked up the remaining tablet, studying its innocent white surface. The promise of perfect hair had come with an unexpected price – not just in money and time, but in the loss of normalcy. With a decisive motion, Amanda dropped the tablet into her storage drawer to postpone the dose. Sometimes, she realized, the cure could be worse than the condition.
As her hair gradually returned to its natural state over the following weeks, Amanda found herself appreciating the simplicity of her regular hair growth. She might not have the thick, luxurious locks that Dr. Mikov’s formula had given her, but she had gained something more valuable – contentment with her natural self, imperfections and all.