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. If you’d like to prevent gray hair in a natural way, check out our previous article titled 7 Foods to Help Prevent Gray Hair, or simply embrace the gray.
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.
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