25 Hair Myths
1: Cutting Hair Makes It Grow Faster and/or Thicker
False… It’s not grass; it’s hair. Shorter hair often looks and feels thicker but cutting your hair won’t alter its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Hair will not ever grow in response to a haircut.
2: Split Ends Can Be Repaired Without Trimming
False. The only successful treatment for removing split ends is with a scissors. While some hair care products may temporarily merge split ends together, this fix only lasts until your next shampoo.
3: It Is Okay To Trim Your Own Split Ends At Home
True. Although regular visits to your stylist for a professional trim are recommended, if you wish to trim your own split ends at home it is perfectly OK.
4: Split Ends Will Travel
True. Uncut split ends can travel up the hair shaft. Some ends can actually tear multiple times so that your split ends can have splits.
5: Hair Grows Faster On Different Parts Of The Head
True. There is some scientific evidence that the growth rate of hair may vary on different parts of the head for select people. Usually the growth rate differences are very marginal and will not impact the hair appearance in any way.
6: Hair Will Always Remain The Same Texture
False. Although you may be born with straight, curly or wavy locks, there are circumstances under which your hair’s ultimate texture can be permanently altered. Pregnancy, medication, chemotherapy, age and other variables can cause your texture to be temporarily or permanently altered.
7: Shaving A Baby’s Scalp Will Alter Their Natural Hair Texture
False. The hair that a baby is born with may or may not be the hair that they grow up with. Shaving a baby’s head will not alter the texture of their ultimate hair nor will it cause their hair to grow faster or thicker.
8: Colouring Hair During Pregnancy Is Harmful
False. Although some physicians disagree, most believe that colouring the hair during pregnancy will not be dangerous to the baby. When in doubt always get your physician’s permission to colour your hair during pregnancy.
9: Virgin Root Hair Should Be Treated Differently When Colouring
True. The hair that is closest to the roots will react differently to the application of new hair colour and chemical treatments. Hair colour applied to the root area will process faster than colour applied on the rest of hair due to the heat from the scalp.
10: Blow-Drying Hair Can Cause It to Smoke
False. This bizarre myth has been circulating for years in a number of versions. On the rare occasion that hair “smokes” it is due to the evaporation of condensation on the hair from styling products.
11: Smoking Causes Gray Hair
True. According to J. G. Mosley of the Leigh Infirmary in Lancashire, England in an article in Science News (January 11, 1997) smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers. Smoking has been conclusively linked to accelerated hair loss.
12: Gray Hair Can Only Be Covered With Permanent Colour
False. Depending on the percentage of gray hair that you have, you may be able to blend or cover the budding gray with a semi-permanent or demi-permanent.
13: Washing Hair Every Day Dries It Out
False. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will enhance it; not detract from it. The key is to finding the correct shampoo designed for your hair.
14: Rinse Out Conditioners Do Not Provide Benefits Because Its Rinsed Out
False. Rinse out conditioners applied to your hair right after washing will leave a deposit of moisturizing proteins and other ingredients on the hair shaft making hair feel softer, shinier or better conditioned.
15: Wearing Tight Braids, Ponytails Or Buns Causes Baldness
True. Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that may result from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time.
16: Sleeping With a Wet Head or Hair Causes Scalp Fungus
False. Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet hair or a damp scalp. At the same time its also not a good idea to go to bed with your hair wet.
17: Sharing Combs and Brushes Can Spread Scalp Diseases
True. It is a fact that lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools.
18: Hair Develops Immunity to the Same Shampoo over Time
False. Many people swear that their hair will become immune to the benefits of the same shampoo used over time. There is no scientific evidence to prove this myth.
19: Hair Should Be Washed Every Day
False. There is no correct schedule for washing hair. Every person should shampoo according to the specific needs of their hair type and their lifestyle.
20: Lemon Juice Will Bleach Hair Blonde
False.
21: Salon Products Are Identical To Pharmacy & Supermarket Products
False. Salon products are generally manufactured to contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results. The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in pharmacy or supermarket brands.
22: Swimming Pool Chemicals Can Turn Hair Green
True. Frequent swimmers with natural blonde or chemically highlighted hair may experience the development of green tints over time due to copper compounds in the water. This problem can be prevented with regular use of moisturisers before going into the pool and shampooing hair after being in the pool
23: A Sunburnt Scalp Can Lead To Hair loss
True. Sunburn may damage hair follicles at the root level. People with a genetic predisposition towards hair loss may accelerate the onset of hair loss activity if they do not protect their scalp from sunburn. Best protection is to wear a hat.
24: Brushing Thinning Hair Makes It Fall Out Faster
False. Normal daily brushing will not accelerate the normal loss of hair from the scalp. If your hair is suffering from a hair loss condition like alopecia brushing will only cause you to lose hair that is already ready to fall.
25: Hair Care Products Advertised As Natural Are Chemical Free
False. Not all hair care products sold in health food establishments are completely natural and may contain chemicals like SLS. When in doubt read the label.
