We all want the best hair we can get. So, we’re happy to take the right steps in our hair care routine to ensure our hair is being looked after, including the products we use and our washing and styling methods. But what if we’ve been following the wrong advice? Below, we look into the most common hair care myths and find out what’s true and what’s not.
You should never wash your hair every day
How often you wash your hair will depend on your particular hair type. For some people, washing their hair every day will cause it to dry out – for others, they may need to wash their hair every day to address specific concerns. For example, if you have a scalp condition, you may need to wash your hair every day with a targeted product that helps to manage the problem. Your scalp is skin after all, and you would use a skincare product daily if your skin required it. If you do have to wash your hair every day, you should look carefully at the product you use. Try to avoid anything that’s too harsh or drying, and be gentle with your drying and styling methods to reduce damage to the hair.
Split ends can be repaired
This one might be difficult to hear. Unfortunately, split ends can’t be repaired, regardless of what some products might advertise. Hair splits when the outer layer is damaged, and there’s no way to reseal this layer once it’s split. The best way to banish split ends is to get them cut off – and to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Keeping your hair healthy and nourished is the best way to prevent split ends. Use a hair gloss treatment to deeply condition hair so it’s shiny and strong.
Getting regular trims will help your hair grow quickly
We’ve all heard the hair myth that getting your hair cut regularly will help it grow faster. But this actually goes against how hair growth works. Hair grows from the roots, not the ends of the strands. So, if you want to help your hair grow, it’s best to look after your scalp. You still shouldn’t skip the regular trims, though. Cutting your hair regularly will help to keep it looking healthy and thick, by removing any broken split ends.
Dandruff is caused by a dry scalp
Dandruff is not caused by a dry scalp. Dandruff is actually caused by a type of fungus which thrives on an oily scalp. So, shampooing often with an anti-dandruff shampoo is the best way to combat this, and you don’t have to worry about drying your scalp out and making the problem worse. Similarly, a flaky scalp doesn’t always mean you have dandruff – it could mean that your scalp is dry, and you’ll need to find the right products to add moisture back in. Usually, smaller, dry flakes mean your scalp is dry and larger, oilier flakes will be caused by dandruff.
Plucking one gray hair will cause more to grow
Unlike what you may have heard, plucking out one gray hair will not cause two to grow in its place. Crucially, that’s not how hair growth works – if it was, plucking hair would be a great way of adding more volume for a fuller head of hair! However, it’s still best to avoid plucking your hairs, gray or not. Plucking hairs can damage the hair follicle and also the follicles around it. If the follicle is too severely damaged, it can mean no more hair grows out of it at all. If you’re not ready to embrace your grays, go for coloring your hair to cover them instead.
Dry shampoo works as well as regular shampoo
Dry shampoo is great when you just don’t have time for a full wash but want to freshen up your locks. It works by absorbing excess oil and dirt so it doesn’t sit on your strands, and often it will also add a fragrance to help our hair smell nice. However, it shouldn’t be a replacement for a full wash. Water and shampoo will actually rinse away dirt and oils, rather than keeping it on the head. Using dry shampoo too much instead of a proper wash will result in the product building up on your scalp, which can cause problems. Make sure you find the time to wash your hair when it needs it.
You shouldn’t use conditioner if you have oily hair
If your hair is prone to excess oil, you might think that using conditioner will make it even more oily. However, conditioner is essential to keeping all hair types nourished and hydrated and adds moisture that your hair can’t get from shampoo alone. Not conditioning your hair regularly could result in it getting weak and damaged. If you have oily hair, look for a conditioner that’s made for balancing and controlling oils. You should also only apply conditioner to the ends of your hair, and never on your scalp, to help keep it from looking greasy.
You should regularly switch up your shampoo and conditioner
You may have heard the hair care myth that your hair will become “immune” to the ingredients in your shampoo and conditioner, so you should change your hair care products frequently. However, there is very little evidence to support this. It is usually better to use the same hair products regularly, once you find the ones you like, as you will be able to see more benefits. There are sometimes occasions where you might need to change your hair products, for example, if you move to a different climate or if you start bleaching and coloring your hair. You might need to address different concerns, such as adding more moisture, and so then it would be beneficial to switch up your products.
