We have been taught from childhood that our hair will be bad if we wash it too often and that proper care can work miracles for hair volume. Almost all of us are also ready to spend a bunch of money or follow any advice to make our hair healthy and shiny. However, most of these so-called truths turned out to be no more than myths. Let’s bust these hair myths now!
Myth 1: A cold rinse makes your hair shinier
We have the long-held belief that a blast of cold water at the end of a shower works to ‘lock in the cuticle’, therefore allowing your hair to flatten and be smooth. However, it turns out that there is no difference between rinsing with cold and warm water as the hair consists of dead cells that don’t react to changes in temperature. In fact, rinsing with cold water can constrict the blood capillaries in your scalp. Since these capillaries carry vital nutrients to the hair follicles, it may actually not benefit hair growth.
Myth 2: Haircuts make your hair grow faster
There’s no scientific evidence of this The average strand grows about half an inch a month and no amount of trimming can change that. Cutting hair will not affect in any way the hair follicles that are inside the dermis skin. It is a fact that trimming your strands will make your unhealthy ends disappear, but that is not going to help your hair grow faster.
Myth 3: Grey hairs are caused by stress
Grey hairs are actually caused by a list of predetermined factors which are mostly genetic. The age at which our first grey hair appears is genetically controlled and inherited. If you are inclined to having grey hair, then the stress may exacerbate the situation, leading to premature depigmentation, but it is certainly not the key factor.
Myth 4: You should wash your hair as little as possible
Over-washing is probably the worst thing you can do, as it strips your hair of its natural oils and proteins, drying it out and making it reliant on products. However, washing it too infrequently is also bad. The massaging action when you wash your hair actually stimulates your scalp, boosting blood flow and ensuring the nutrients make their way to the follicles, preventing hair loss and thinning as you age.
Myth 5: Your hair doesn’t need sun protection
Your hair is not made of living cells, so it cannot be damaged by the sun like how your skin can. However, overexposure to the sun can make it weak and dehydrated due to the lack of oxidation and moisture.
Myth 6: If you pluck a grey hair, three will grow back in its place
This is totally untrue. You cannot change the number of follicles you have and plucking the grey hair will not cause the surrounding hairs to turn grey either. The only thing is, ripping a hair from its root will cause trauma to the area, possibly leading to bald patches, or prompts regrowth that refuses to lie flat.
Myth 7: Brushing your hair 100 times a day will make it shiny
Hair tends to break if you tug it too much, so limit it to a few brushes here and there. This works to redistribute the natural oils from your scalp to down the shaft of the strand. Gentle brushing with a natural all-boar brush also stimulates blood flow to the scalp, keeping your follicles well nourished.
Myth 8: Sleeping with wet hair will make you sick
No doubt you’re under the assumption that going to sleep with wet hair can lead to having a cold, but there is no medical evidence to suggest so. Colds are caused by viruses. In fact, the real reason why sleeping with wet hair is bad for you actually comes down to the health of your hair. When your hair is wet, it’s in a ‘compromised’ state. This is why you need to take extra care of your hair straight after you’ve washed it. Just as you shouldn’t tug or pull your hair with a comb or brush while it’s wet, you also shouldn’t be tossing and turning in bed with a head of wet hair. Each time you do, you risk over stretching your hair shaft, which can lead to damage.
Myth 9: Washing your hair with beer will make it softer
The malt and yeast in beer is supposed to react well with the hair proteins, keeping it strong, shiny and bouncy. Unfortunately, the disadvantages prevails. Alcohol dries out your hair more than the proteins repairing it.
Myth 10: Shampoo first, conditioner second
This isn’t always the case. A growing number of brands are promoting ranges that require you do the opposite. Conditioning before you shampoo is great for adding nourishment to fine hair without weighing it down. Using a conditioner first may also promote a longer lasting blow-dry and primes the hair for cleansing, allowing an even distribution of shampoo.