| 15 Hair Care Myths
by: Michael Barrows
Everyone has a favourite myth about hair care – and
we usually never let the truth get in the way of a good legend!
This article examines some of the most widely known - and
the reality behind the myths.
1. Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss/dryness
FALSE: Frequency of washing doesn’t harm hair. Wash
it as often as you like, although the recommendation is three
times a week. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture
will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair.
2. More shampoo = cleaner hair
FALSE: Don’t waste your shampoo! A dollop of shampoo,
about the size of a quarter is usually enough for long hair.
Very long hair may take a little more.
3. Conditioner helps repair split ends
FALSE: No conditioner can "repair" damaged hair.
What it can do is smooth down the cuticle and make hair seem
in better condition. A good conditioner can also prevent damage
from occurring in the first place.
4. Blow-drying produces hair loss
FALSE: Blow-drying can damage, burn or dry hair, which can
cause it to fall, but the hair will grow back immediately.
This is not permanent hair loss.
5. Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus
FALSE: Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from
sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement
with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools
or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children,
whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections.
6. To get your hair to grow, brush 100 strokes each day
FALSE: Brushing that much can damage the hair cuticle. NOT
recommended! Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than
a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair
breakage.
7. Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases
TRUE: Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp
to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair
care tools.
8. Cutting hair makes it grow faster and/or thicker
FALSE: This common misconception comes from the fact that
hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so shorter
hair appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not
affect its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall
texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker
in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume
enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening
blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.
9. Color treatment causes hair loss
FALSE: Most hair coloring products contain chemicals that
can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used,
but it wont instigate hair loss.
10. Salon products are identical to drugstore products
FALSE: Although there are exceptions, salon products generally
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 drugstore
brands. If in doubt – read the labels.
11. Long sun exposure favors hair loss
FALSE: Your hair acts as a shield against the sun. Hair loss
appears at the follicle level and so the sun would have to
penetrate at this depth to do any damage.
12. Diet is related to hair loss
TRUE: it's important to eat right in order to be generally
healthy. However, no individual food has been proven to be
beneficial or detrimental to hair.
13. Stress causes hair loss
TRUE: Severe stress (e.g. surgery or a death in the family),
can shut down hair production, causing temporary hairloss
(alopecia areata). The scalp usually recuperates, though,
and hair grows back
14. Wearing tight braids, ponytails or buns causes baldness
TRUE: Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition
that is quite common amongst older African American women.
It results from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns
over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage
or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become
permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser
styles that minimize scalp tension.
15. 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. Even worse, smoking has been conclusively
linked to accelerated hair loss.
SUMMARY
Heard another myth about hair? Do your research – ask
an expert! This doesn’t include your grandmother, best
friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser
or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act
on any hair myths – you owe it to your hair.
(With thanks to Daniel Mcullough and Karen M. Shelton)
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About the author:
Michael Barrows is an Internet publisher specialising in
niche markets. Get a free copy of his ebook "(Nearly)
Everything You Should Know about Hairstyles and Hair Care"
from his website www.great-hairstyles.com
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