Curl, Interrupted

The girl I'm dating wears hair extensions, and feeling them creeps me out. She's very pretty, and her hair is lovely without the extensions. Can I tell her they make me uncomfortable?

--Mr. Natural

When you're running your hand through your girlfriend's hair and a bunch comes out in your palm, it can be hard to keep straight whether you're making out or snaking the shower drain. Your girlfriend joins an increasing number of women in planting non-native foliage in her hairgarden, probably because men tend to be attracted to long, lush hair. It's actually an evolutionary sign of good health. (Hair suffers when a person eats poorly or has a disease.) Because complaints are most productive when reconstituted as compliments, start by telling your girlfriend she's a natural beauty (as opposed to "If I wanted a girlfriend with interchangeable hair, I'd date Mrs. Potato Head"). Add that you'd love to run your hands through her real hair, and ask whether she'd consider going without the extensions. If she agrees, be sure you effuse when she's hair naturelle so she's inspired to keep it up. All in all, a little mystery is a good thing in a relationship, but it's best if you're wondering whether your girlfriend got her pretty hair from her mother and not suspecting she hired somebody to take a big scissors to Seabiscuit's tail.