The present disclosure provides methods for making synthetic hair compositions. The methods generally comprise providing a plant fiber, degumming the plant fiber, and dyeing the plant fiber. The present disclosure also provides methods of degumming banana fiber. The methods generally comprise providing banana fiber and soaking the banana fiber in a degumming solution comprising a base, magnesium sulfate, and hydrogen peroxide. The present disclosure further provides methods of dyeing banana fibers. The present disclosure further provides synthetic hair compositions comprising banana fibers made by the methods described herein.

A method of treating a sunflower plant stem is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: selecting a sunflower plant, removing the flower head and leaves from the stem and preparing the stem for enzymatic treatment by slitting the stem lengthways, removing the inner core from the stem; a) treating the cut stem with a pectinase containing a first buffer solution, for 24 hours with shaking at a pH of 3.8-8.5, and at a temperature of from 20-60 C.; b) removing the stem and washing with water, c) placing the stems into a second buffer solution containing xylanase, at a pH of from 7.0-8.0 and at a temperature of from 37-50 C. for 24 hours with shaking; d) removing the stems and washing with water e) placing the stems into a third buffer solution containing feruloyl esterase, at a pH of 7.2-8.0 containing 0.01-0.05% feruloyl esterase, at a temperature of from 37-50 C. for up to 24 hours, f) removing the stems and washing with water, g) pressing the stems to remove unwanted plant matter.