With so many promises of the secret to long, thick and shiny hair, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.
Haircare Expert, Nicole Petty from Milk + Blush is on hand to shed light on the most common haircare myths and why you shouldn’t believe them.
MYTH: Air-drying hair is better than blow-drying
Everyone knows that air-drying your hair is the best way to keep your hair healthy – right?
Wrong!
It turns out that air-drying your hair can actually be more damaging than a quick blow-dry. This is because hair is weakest when wet and the weight of water in the hair can cause it to stretch. This could even lead to permanent damage to the hair follicles.
To save your hair’s health, it’s best to reduce the amount of time hair stays wet by quickly blow-drying hair on a low heat setting with a heat-protective spray.
MYTH: Your hair gets used to shampoo
You may have heard that you need to change up your shampoo and conditioner regime to prevent hair from going dull, but this is untrue! Your shampoo won’t stop working if you use it for an extended period, so there’s no need to ditch your holy grail hair products.
If you are finding your hair is losing its lustre, consider first whether there are any bodily or climate changes that could be impacting hair health.
MYTH: Cutting hair makes it grow quicker
While cutting hair won’t magically inspire your roots to produce more hair, regularly trimming hair and removing dry split-ends will prevent breakage which will give the appearance of your hair growing quicker.
So, it’s important to avoid skimping on haircuts if you want to achieve healthy long tresses.
MYTH: Blasting your hair with cold water will make it shinier
You’ll be relieved to know that icy water at the end of a shower does not make your hair any shinier.
Studies have found that the difference between washing hair with hot water and cold water is negligible, with warm water actually making hair appear glossier. If shine is what you’re after, you should look to oils or water-soluble, silicone-based products for an immediate shine boost. Although, be cautious about using silicone over an extended period as it can cause build-up, particularly in curly hair.
MYTH: You should brush your hair 100 times before you go to bed
Marsha Brady may have attested her shiny blonde locks to her rigorous brushing routine but doing so in real life will leave you with limp, broken hair. While regular brushing is important for detangling hair and distributing oils from the scalp, excessive brushing can easily make your hair greasy by stimulating the scalp to produce more oils. More alarmingly, brushing vigorously or too often will damage your hair’s cuticles, causing hair to become weaker and damaged. Instead, brush once in the morning and evening and focus on gentle strokes that detangle knots without snapping hair strands.
MYTH: Don’t use oil if you have fine or greasy hair
Fine hair needs moisture to shield it from breakage since it tends to be more delicate, so using oils can work as a protective layer that reduces the risk of damage. And if you’re naturally more prone to greasier hair, this could actually be a sign that your scalp is dry and may be overproducing oils to try to balance this out (much like skin does). Though it might seem counterintuitive, reducing the amount you wash your hair and using scalp oils can help to remedy this. Just be wary to not use oils that are too heavy or thick, as this can weigh down fine hair and cause it to look limp.
MYTH: Vitamin supplements promote hair growth
Unless you have an existing nutrient deficiency, hair vitamins and supplements will do little (if anything) to help the condition of your hair, and they certainly won’t make your hair grow faster.
Unfortunately, hair length is largely down to genetics. But you can help promote healthy hair growth by eating a nutritious diet and making sure your hair care routine is on point.
MYTH: Split ends can be fixed
Unfortunately, this is not true – once hair has split, there’s no way to heal that rift. To prevent hair from continuing to split along the hair shaft and dealing with further severe breakage, the only option is to cut off all split ends. This is why you should regularly trim your ends to keep your hair healthy.
Images: Unsplash
