Do Not Buy Into These 10 Common Hair Care Beliefs
You may have noticed, we like debunking
myths. In any area, like health or nutrition, there are pervasive
misconceptions that are passed through generations. They are sometimes
so old and common they start to be considered true. However, many of
them are simply false and sometimes even damaging. Haircare is no
different. Today we’ll bust 10 such universal myths regarding what’s
best for your hair. Trimming, shampoo, and grey hair - it’s all in here!
1. Washing your hair less will make it grow
faster
You’ve probably heard this one a lot. The dirtier the hair the faster it
will grow is a common misconception - after all less washing and
styling means fewer chances for breakage right? Well, actually it’s a
total myth. Skipping showers in the hopes your hair will grow faster
will not bring you the desired results, on the contrary. “Hair is at its
healthiest and strongest when it’s clean and conditioned. Not washing
your scalp clogs your follicles, which can stop its growth,” explained
celebrity hairstylist Brenton Kane Diallo.
2. Plucking a gray hair makes more grow
If you’re afraid of plucking your gray hair out of fear that two new
ones will grow in its place, you can rest assured this is a false
theory. Plucking a gray hair may not lead to more gray hair, but it’s
still best to put the tweezers down. That is because plucking hair, in
general, puts stress on the follicle and your scalp, and pulling a hair
out can cause it to grow back with a courser texture and weird growth
pattern.
3. You must shampoo oily hair daily
While the job of shampoo is to get rid of unwanted dirt and oils, it’s
important not to overdo it. If you have naturally oily hair it does not
mean you should shampoo it more often. Doing so would be
counterproductive as your body is likely to react in overproducing sebum
to compensate for what is lost. “Shampooing too much can lead to
brittle hair and itchy scalp —among other things. Instead, take a look
at your diet, and use light, water-based products,” is the advice of
hairstylist De L’isle.
4. Trimming your hair makes it grow faster
Trimming your hair every 4 to 6 weeks does ensure minimal split ends and
keeps the hair healthy, but contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t make
it grow faster. Yet, experts stress that trims are essential for their
other benefits - lightly trimming the ends, also called ‘dusting’ will
improve the texture and elasticity of the hair as well as prevent split
ends from growing up the hair shaft.
5. Shampoos stop working after a while
This myth stems from the idea that after a while your hair will “get
used” to a product and will stop reacting to it. However, there isn’t
really evidence to support this claim. In fact, experts warn that
switching shampoo too often can actually make things worse. Human hair
and scalp oil, sebum, has a pH balance of between 4.5 and 5.5. This
natural hair acidity prevents fungi and bacteria in the hair and scalp
and keeps the cuticle closed and healthy. Constantly trying new products
may disrupt your PH balance and cause problems like a dry scalp and
hair breakage from lack of moisture.
Of course, there are instances when going for a new shampoo or hair
product makes sense. If you recently made a change, like coloring your
hair, or using a hot tool frequently, it might be a good idea to switch
to a more hydrating shampoo.
6. Natural oils are good for your hair
Many people swear by natural substances such as avocado oil, coconut
oil, and honey when it comes to hair health. But the truth is most raw
food ingredients are incapable of penetrating the hair shaft deep enough
to make any lasting improvement.
Not only is the practice ineffective, but it might also leave strands of
hair feeling sticky or greasy. Don’t get us wrong, these products can
be great when used as the emollient (the ingredient which forms a
smooth, even film on the surface of the hair to soften it) within
professional products, but when used on their own they are heavy and
hard to wash out.
Related: 9 Tips to Help You Get Rid of Greasy Hair
7. Split ends can be repaired
The sad truth is, once the end of a hair has split, there is no way to
put it back together. The best way to deal with split ends is to prevent
them in the first place. As we already mentioned, the best way to do so
is by having regular trims every 6 to 8 weeks.
Other ways to prevent split ends is to avoid using hot tools as much as
possible and using a brush rather than a comb. When brushing your hair,
experts advise starting from the ends and working your way up to the
shaft, as opposed to brushing from the roots down to the ends.
8. Stress makes your hair grey
Grey hair is a combination of normally pigmented hairs interspersed with
white ones. Hair turns white when the pigmentation cells responsible
for color (melanin) stop being produced. There is no scientific proof
that worries and stress speed up the process of going gray. It is a
natural part of aging, and when it starts happening is down to genetics.
There are some health conditions that may cause premature greying such
as diabetes, pernicious anemia, or thyroid problems.
9. Ponytails and buns are a good daily hairstyle
Of course, there is nothing wrong with wearing these hairstyles
sometimes, and they are great when you want to escape the heat. However,
it’s important to know that wearing your hair up every day over a long
period of time can cause breakage and hair loss.
Over time, the strands where the elastic meets the hair can get
stressed, especially if you wear your ponytail tight. The constant
friction can cause breakage and frizz, while the consistent pulling can
tress the hair follicles around your hairline and eventually pull out
the hairs.
10. 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner products are as good as separate ones
For the sake of your hair, it’s best to have separate shampoo and
conditioner. These products work in doing completely different things.
The job of shampoo is to clean the dirt and buildup from the scalp
whereas conditioner focuses on smoothing out and locking in nutrients in
the hair. Combining the two may not give you the results you desire in
any area.
Moreover, you have no control over how much conditioner is in 2-in-1
products, so if you have a particular type of hair that needs more or
less conditioning than usual, it’s best to keep the shampoo and
conditioner separate.