Tuesday, April 25, 2023

10 Hair Statements You've Always Believed That Are Actually NOT True


There are many hair myths out there.  And with a lot of people longing for that thick, long, beautiful hair, some women will try just about anything to get it.  I've heard of women doing lots of things to their hair, from making their own products using ingredients in the fridge to not cleaning their hair for months on end all because they "heard" it would help their hair grow.  Here are some common hair myths exposed.



1.  Cutting/Trimming your hair will make it grow- This myth in particular never made sense to me.  If your hair grows from the root, how will cutting it from the ends make it grow?  The fact is that your hair will grow whether you trim your hair or not.  Trimming your ends helps you control your split ends and allows your hair to be healthier.  Not trimming your ends means once the ends begin to split, it will just continue up the hair shaft, resulting in you having to trim more than you would necessarily want to. To cut down on the number of trims you receive, there are some things you can do to prevent your ends from splitting as fast. Apply a small amount of lightweight leave-in conditioner (like this one) and a moisture cream (like this one) to your ends at least 2-3 times a week. This way, you will see more of your length and cut the number of trims you get in half.

2.  You can fix your split ends- Let's finally put this myth to rest! The only way to fix split ends is to cut them off.  There is no product that will magically mend your split ends back together. The best thing to do is have them trimmed on a regular basis or as soon as you notice that they are splitting. To retain your length, you can only take preventative action to prevent your ends from splitting in the first place. The best way to do this is to keep your hair moisturized. Deep condition 1-2 times a month, always use leave-in conditioner, and use heat protectant every time you use heat. Also, if your ends have split an inch from the ends, don't waste your time only cutting half an inch, getting a "baby" trim, or just "dusting" your ends. Your hair may appear even, but you will still have split ends and they will continue to split until you cut them ALL off.  Go ahead and have them all cut the first time and from then on, maintain a regular schedule of 12-14 weeks for your trims.

3.  Stress causes the hair to turn grey- Sorry ladies, but you can't blame your kids, jobs, men, etc for your greys.  In fact, grey hair is hereditary.  If the women in your family got grey hair early, you more than likely will too.

4.  If you pull one grey hair, two will grow back in its place- If you pull your grey hair out, only one will come back in its place (I've tested this theory on myself). You won't see double the number grow back and it won't be any coarser than the first.

5.  Greasing your scalp makes your hair grow- Where do I begin with this one? Grease does NOT, I repeat, does NOT make your hair grow! Greasing your scalp actually clogs the pores making it more difficult for the hair to grow.  It also causes the hair to become super oily and weighs it down.  Leave the grease alone ladies. Instead, apply something lighter to your scalp like a growth oil (this is a great one) that contains essential oils that stimulate growth.



6. Frequent brushing causes your hair to grow- Brushing your hair often does not help it grow. In fact, brushing your hair too often can actually weaken the follicle making it more prone to breakage. Limit brushing your hair to only brushing when styling and never brush vigorously while wet.

7.  Taking vitamins (prenatal, hair & nails, etc) will make the hair grow faster- Pregnant women often see their hair grow faster and longer while they are pregnant due to hormones, not vitamins. There are vitamins that help aid in hair growth when used in combination with proper diet, drinking enough water, and taking care of your hair, but don't start taking vitamins with the false perception that your hair will be 2 inches longer next week. Prenatal vitamins contain enough nutrients for two people, so if you are taking these and are not pregnant, you are receiving more than the recommended dosage which can actually be harmful in some instances. If you want faster growth, try this growth oil and apply it directly to the scalp 3-4 times a week.

8.  If you use the same shampoo over and over, it will be less effective- We've all heard the saying that if you continue to do the same thing you will get the same results.  Using the same shampoo over and over will continue to produce clean hair over and over.  Our hair doesn't get used to one product and then develop a tolerance for it. Sometimes your hair can go through changes, which may require a different hair care routine and if that is the case, what you were doing in the past may not be effective at the moment. For example, if your hair is normally pretty moisturized, then all of a sudden it becomes more dry, you may have to switch the products you are using to include products that contain lots of moisture. Things like changes in the weather, pregnancy, and certain medications can create changes in your hair.

9.  Shampooing your hair too often dries the hair out- This is only partly true.  Shampooing frequently with certain products can cause your hair to become drier. However, if you are using sulfate-free, paraben-free, and moisturizing products (like these) they will not dry your hair out.  On the contrary, if you abuse using clarifying, deep cleansing shampoos or frequently use shampoos that contain sulfates and parabens, you will notice that your hair feels stripped and dried out as these products can be harsh are specifically made to strip the hair. Most ethnic hair can be shampooed weekly because ethnic hair tends to be drier and does not need shampoo on a daily basis. If your hair is very oily, shampooing it more frequently will not hurt it because your hair makes oils so fast that your hair needs extra shampooing. Use your hair as a guide and it will give you clues on what to do.

10.  Dandruff is caused by dry scalp- Dandruff is actually caused by a fungus which feeds off the oils in the hair. Therefore, it is very possible to have oily scalp and still have dandruff.  Cleansing your hair and scalp regularly and using the right products will make (mild cases of) dandruff disappear. Using a deep cleansing shampoo (like this one), a mud mask that also contains clay (like this one), and certain oils (like this one) all get rid of dandruff.

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1 comment

  1. Hi. I don't totally agree with your #3. Stress can cause some grey hair. It is common knowledge that stress interferes with the supply of nutrition, which in turn affects the quality of hair that comes from the root. If people are advised to reduce stress as it causes health problems, why would hair be spared?

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