When it comes to hair care, there are many misconceptions. Never pluck a gray hair for fear of seeing them multiply, trim your ends to speed up growth, rinse your lengths with cold water for more shine… Let’s sort out the good advice from the bad.
High-tech styling devices to limit breakage, the latest coloring techniques, homemade mask recipes… When it comes to hair care, we’re on top of it! Sporting a healthy mane is one of our (many) beauty goals. For that, we’ve all developed a haircare routine tailored to our needs over time. But sometimes, we put into practice certain tips given by a friend or heard in passing. Misconceptions that aren’t always verified and are hard to break. To help you see more clearly and take the best possible care of your lengths, let’s debunk the myths from the facts.
Trimming your hair regularly makes it grow faster
False
It’s generally recommended to get your hair trimmed every 2-3 months, mainly to prevent split ends and strengthen the hair. While removing damaged ends does give the impression of healthier hair, it doesn’t accelerate the growth process. It’s not the ends that determine the hair’s growth rate, but the scalp follicles. Therefore, your hair will grow at the same rate whether you trim it regularly or not.
Washing your hair every day makes it greasy
True
Shampoo aims to remove all residues accumulated on the hair (dust, pollution, sebum…). It acts like a detergent. However, washing your hair daily can do more harm than good. Sebum is important as it protects the scalp and lengths from drying out, microbes, and external aggressions. If you remove this protection every day, the hair reacts by producing more sebum. The result is increasingly greasy hair, creating a vicious cycle. It’s important to space out shampoos (2-3 times a week is enough) for healthy, beautiful hair.
Plucking one gray hair makes more grow
False
Noticing your first gray hair can be alarming. Instinctively, you might want to pluck it. But an old belief suggests that removing a gray hair will cause more to grow. Rest assured, it’s a myth. However, plucking a hair, whether gray or not, isn’t a good idea as it damages the roots and traumatizes the scalp. So, we deal with this inevitable phenomenon, or camouflage it with coloring.
Gray hair can’t be dyed
False
This belief has persisted for years, suggesting gray hair is too resistant to dye. While the process can be more challenging, it’s not impossible. Melanin helps the dye color adhere to hair. Less melanin means color penetration is harder. Gray hair no longer produces melanin, but modern coloring techniques achieve excellent results in maximizing color fixation, even on gray hair. It’s just about choosing the right products and techniques.
If you have a few gray hairs and a light base, opt for highlights to blend them in with the rest of your hair. If you have many and are more brunette, you’ll need a full color. The advantage is good coverage of gray hairs, but you’ll need to touch up roots more regularly.
Rinsing hair with cold water makes it shinier
True
You’ve probably noticed your hairdresser finishing the rinse with cold water. This activates scalp microcirculation, reducing seasonal hair loss and promoting growth. More importantly, it closes the hair cuticles, resulting in more shine and forming a protective barrier that retains moisture and strengthens the hair fiber.
Read also : THE 5 COMMANDMENTS FOR LONG-LASTING HAIR STRAIGHTENING!
Washing hair too often causes hair loss
False
While over-washing can make hair greasier faster, it doesn’t cause hair loss. Hair loss can result from seasonal changes, stress, pregnancy, or lifestyle. Remember, we lose about 100 hairs a day. However, certain styling habits can damage the hair fiber and lead to premature balding. For instance, the sleek bun, which involves pulling and slicking hair back tightly, can cause significant root tension, leading to follicle inflammation and breakage. Frequent use can cause hair loss. To avoid premature alopecia, reduce tightly pulled hairstyles and wear hair down more often.
Leaving a treatment on overnight is more effective
False
We’re often advised to sleep with a hair mask and rinse it the next morning for better results. However, modern hair treatments can offer the same results in just 20-30 minutes. Some specialists warn against prolonged exposure to active mask ingredients. Prolonged moisture can open cuticles, making hair more sensitive. Excess proteins or keratin can also increase breakage risk. Always follow the product instructions.
Regularly changing your hair care routine is important
True
When we find the right hair care products, we’re tempted to stick with them. However, hair gets used to products, reducing their effectiveness over time. It’s advised to vary your hair care routine occasionally. You might discover a new favorite that better suits your needs!
Read also : SOS DAMAGED HAIR 5 NEW TREATMENTS TO TRY
Applying oil at the beach protects hair
False
Beach days and tanning sessions are approaching, but we know sun, repeated swimming, salt, and chlorine can damage hair. Applying oil to protect lengths before going out seems sensible. Unfortunately, oils like Monoi, coconut, or argan can “cook” under the sun, deeply damaging the fiber. Instead, apply a UV-filtered product before sun exposure and use natural oil at home as a pre-shampoo mask. Also, be cautious with leave-in hair products containing oil, often used before blow-drying. Heat can cause oil to burn the hair. Use such products after styling for softness and shine.
