Even if you're a Taco Bell lover who has sworn allegiance to their new Nacho Fries, it's hard to deny that there's something special about McDonald's. Is it the sweet allure of a perennially broken ice cream machine or the Big Mac sauce? Maybe it's that McDonald's fries cause hair growth.
If you paused after reading that, yes, it does say what you think it says. A viral story has captured the attention of fast food lovers after it was reported that McDonald's fries can help "cure" baldness. But if it sounds too good to be true, that's because it actually is too good to be true. While your hopes may be dashed for your soon-to-be luscious locks, no one can deny fries are still worth it.
So why exactly was it reported that the french fries could cure all your thin hair woes? Unfortunately, as Bustle previously reported, it's essentially based on only a single chemical that's found in an oil additive used to cook the famous shoestring fry.
According to Refinery29's report, dimethylpolysiloxane is the ingredient in question. It's added to oil as an anti-foaming agent (sounds super delicious, right?). In the study published in Biometrics, dimethylpolysiloxane was shown to help create an environment where follicles could grow on mice, but didn't actually help stimulate the creation of new follicles.
Plus, it's not like the mice were snacking on fries. They were getting super concentrated levels of dimethylpolysiloxane in a sans fry grease form. So the comparison is really misguided to make. In the study, the researchers never, ever said to duck into McDonald's for fries and a healthy mane. Ever.
While that trip to McDonalds may now just be for the burger and fries instead of the beauty benefits, it's still a trip to McDonalds and sometimes you just need a little bit more grease in your life. Just maybe don't put it in your hair as a way to get a J.Lo mane.
While this the theory that fries can make your hair grow is kind of bullshit, it didn't stop people from having some fun with the idea on social media. From cracks about Ronald McDonald's infamous red clown hair to jokes about having fries for meals each day, the story is still fun regardless of whether or not you're about to sprout the most luscious head of hair in your life.
Even without the hair benefits, this is still all of us.
Of course, dear Ronald McDonald has been dragged into the conversation. After all, he does have that serious thick head of hair. Could it be the fries?
Others are using the french fry theory to stan for their favorite singer, and it's kind of hilarious.
Since the fry theory seems to be inconsistent with actual results, there are other ways to help make your hair thicker. There are nutrients that help improve hair health. From fish oil to unsaturated fats (like those found in avocados and coconut oil) and the classic go-to of biotin, there are natural options for you to get your hair game on point.
Then, of course, there are shampoos that help thinning hair recover. Stylist Rebecca Yang recommends examining not just what the bottle says but examining the ingredients inside. You should be looking for sulfate and paraben free shampoos on your next trip to the store.
While your dreams of a McDonald's fry-centric diet may be dashed and the fast-food giant may not be your next healthy hair secret, don't despair too much. There are plenty of ways to help you get the healthiest hair possible. While they're not all quite as fun a trip to the drive through, at least you don't have to coat your hair in fry grease.
