The Top Hair Concerns Debunked: Truth or Myth?
We all hear various facts about our hair…
“Plucking a gray hair makes more grow.”
“Wash oily hair once a day.”
“The more conditioner, the better.”
All of these are things we are told over time, so it is no wonder why it’s automatically believed to be true.
But, are some of these statements actually true, or are they merely myths?
Here, I am going to debunk the 5 most common hair myths and truths to finally set the record straight…
…Here we go!
- Plucking a gray hair makes more grow
If you are always weary on whether to pluck that one gray hair, out of fear more will follow – well I have news for you…this one is MYTH.
While plucking one gray will not lead to more grays, I still have to advise to not break out the tweezers yet.
This is because plucking a hair from the root will only put stress on the follicle and your scalp, which in turn can cause the stand to grow back in a coarse, abnormal pattern.
If you see an unwanted gray, your best bet is to cut it short, not pluck. This will make sure you aren’t tugging at the follicle.
- Washing hair too often causes dry locks
Worried about drying out your hair by frequent washing?
Well, in this case, you can be!
This is not a myth, it is TRUE – washing hair everyday with shampoo can lead to stripping your hair of its natural oil production, which is needed to maintain growth, shine, and manageability.
To combat this issue, consider giving your hair a few days of “off time” before washing. You can also just use conditioner, without shampoo, on the in-between days and utilize Dry Shampoo to keep hair look revived and fresh.
- You become immune to the same shampoo and conditioner
People say this one a lot. We hear that using the same type of shampoo and conditioner for some time can cause your hair to become “used” to the products, which in turn will lessen how well they work for your hair.
It is a MYTH.
The truth is that all shampoos and conditioners carry varying benefits. One can strengthen, one will clarify, the other will volumize.
If you find a combo that makes your hair feel great and look even better, there is no need to change up your routine every few months.
The longer you use them, the more you’ll see the difference in your hair, as products tend to work the best while being used continuously over time.
- Wearing a hat causes hair to thin out
This one, simply put, is a MYTH!
While you don’t have to worry about your hair thinning or falling out due to frequent hat wearing, sporting a cap that hasn’t been washed can actually potentially lead to a scalp infection, which will accelerate hair loss.
So, make sure all your hats are clean if you wear them often to avoid any damage, but generally speaking, you do not have to worry about your hair thinning hair if you simply enjoy wearing hats!
- Brushing your hair too often is damaging
This one is always on the list, so is it true, or a myth? Well, for this one I will have to say it is TRUE.
Brushing hair several times over, multiple times a day is actually counteractive when it comes to attaining shine and reducing frizz and breakage.
All you have to do is remember to brush moderately, and only until detangled. There is no need to stroke the strands over and over (sorry Marcia Brady)!
CITATIONS:
- Keira Aaron. “16 Hair Myths You Need to Stop Believing”, Health.com, Health Magazine, 2014, https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20810743,00.html?slide=117633#117633
- Lindsey Metrus. “The 17 Biggest Hair Myths of All Time, According to Stylists”, Byrdie.com, Byrdie, Sep. 29, 2017, https://www.byrdie.com/hair-myths
- Hana Hong. “17 Hair Myths We All Still Believe That Are Ruining Our Hair”, Rd.com, Reader’s Digest, https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/hair-myths/