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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
5:["$","$4",null,{"fallback":[[["$","link","css:/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css",{"rel":"stylesheet","precedence":"vite-rsc/importer-resources","href":"/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css","data-rsc-css-href":"/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css"}],"$undefined"],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex justify-center items-center p-8","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"animate-spin rounded-full h-8 w-8 border-b-2 border-indigo-600"}]}]],"children":["$","div",null,{"className":"bg-white/95 mt-0.5 py-6 sm:py-12","children":["$","article",null,{"className":"mx-auto w-full max-w-2xl format format-sm sm:format-base lg:format-lg format-blue dark:format-invert","children":[["$","header",null,{"className":"mb-4 lg:mb-6 not-format","children":[["$","h1",null,{"className":"mb-4 text-3xl font-extrabold leading-tight text-gray-900 lg:mb-6 lg:text-4xl dark:text-white","children":"15 Hair Care Myths "}],["$","address",null,{"className":"flex items-center mb-6 not-italic","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center text-sm text-gray-900 dark:text-white","children":[["$","img",null,{"className":"mr-3 w-8 h-8 rounded-full","src":"$7","alt":"Rekha"}],["$","a",null,{"href":"/author/rekha_73326298923414","rel":"author","className":"font-bold capitalize hover:underline dark:text-white","children":"Rekha"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center ml-1 text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"4 min read"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"Thu Aug 02 2007","className":"text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"Aug 2, 2007"}],[["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","a","health-and-beauty",{"href":"/t/health-and-beauty","className":"capitalize text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600","children":"health & beauty"}]]]}]}]]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"lead prose mt-4 text-lg leading-8 text-gray-600","children":["$","div",null,{"dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$8"}}]}],"$L9","$La"]}]}]}] b:T63b,M12.315 2c2.43 0 2.784.013 3.808.06 1.064.049 1.791.218 2.427.465a4.902 4.902 0 011.772 1.153 4.902 4.902 0 011.153 1.772c.247.636.416 1.363.465 2.427.048 1.067.06 1.407.06 4.123v.08c0 2.643-.012 2.987-.06 4.043-.049 1.064-.218 1.791-.465 2.427a4.902 4.902 0 01-1.153 1.772 4.902 4.902 0 01-1.772 1.153c-.636.247-1.363.416-2.427.465-1.067.048-1.407.06-4.123.06h-.08c-2.643 0-2.987-.012-4.043-.06-1.064-.049-1.791-.218-2.427-.465a4.902 4.902 0 01-1.772-1.153 4.902 4.902 0 01-1.153-1.772c-.247-.636-.416-1.363-.465-2.427-.047-1.024-.06-1.379-.06-3.808v-.63c0-2.43.013-2.784.06-3.808.049-1.064.218-1.791.465-2.427a4.902 4.902 0 011.153-1.772A4.902 4.902 0 015.45 2.525c.636-.247 1.363-.416 2.427-.465C8.901 2.013 9.256 2 11.685 2h.63zm-.081 1.802h-.468c-2.456 0-2.784.011-3.807.058-.975.045-1.504.207-1.857.344-.467.182-.8.398-1.15.748-.35.35-.566.683-.748 1.15-.137.353-.3.882-.344 1.857-.047 1.023-.058 1.351-.058 3.807v.468c0 2.456.011 2.784.058 3.807.045.975.207 1.504.344 1.857.182.466.399.8.748 1.15.35.35.683.566 1.15.748.353.137.882.3 1.857.344 1.054.048 1.37.058 4.041.058h.08c2.597 0 2.917-.01 3.96-.058.976-.045 1.505-.207 1.858-.344.466-.182.8-.398 1.15-.748.35-.35.566-.683.748-1.15.137-.353.3-.882.344-1.857.048-1.055.058-1.37.058-4.041v-.08c0-2.597-.01-2.917-.058-3.96-.045-.976-.207-1.505-.344-1.858a3.097 3.097 0 00-.748-1.15 3.098 3.098 0 00-1.15-.748c-.353-.137-.882-.3-1.857-.344-1.023-.047-1.351-.058-3.807-.058zM12 6.865a5.135 5.135 0 110 10.27 5.135 5.135 0 010-10.27zm0 1.802a3.333 3.333 0 100 6.666 3.333 3.333 0 000-6.666zm5.338-3.205a1.2 1.2 0 110 2.4 1.2 1.2 0 010-2.4z6:["$","footer",null,{"className":"bg-gray-900 dark:bg-gray-900","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 py-4.5 md:flex md:items-center md:justify-between lg:px-8","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"flex justify-center space-x-6 md:order-2","children":[["$","a","Facebook",{"href":"https://facebook.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"Facebook"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"M22 12c0-5.523-4.477-10-10-10S2 6.477 2 12c0 4.991 3.657 9.128 8.438 9.878v-6.987h-2.54V12h2.54V9.797c0-2.506 1.492-3.89 3.777-3.89 1.094 0 2.238.195 2.238.195v2.46h-1.26c-1.243 0-1.63.771-1.63 1.562V12h2.773l-.443 2.89h-2.33v6.988C18.343 21.128 22 16.991 22 12z","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}],["$","a","Instagram",{"href":"https://instagram.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"Instagram"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"$b","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}],["$","a","X",{"href":"https://x.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"X"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M13.6823 10.6218L20.2391 3H18.6854L12.9921 9.61788L8.44486 3H3.2002L10.0765 13.0074L3.2002 21H4.75404L10.7663 14.0113L15.5685 21H20.8131L13.6819 10.6218H13.6823ZM11.5541 13.0956L10.8574 12.0991L5.31391 4.16971H7.70053L12.1742 10.5689L12.8709 11.5655L18.6861 19.8835H16.2995L11.5541 13.096V13.0956Z"}]}]]}],"$Lc"]}],"$Ld"]}]}] 9:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap gap-2","children":[["$","a","75411941818774",{"href":"/t/skin","className":"inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-50 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium capitalize text-primary-600 inset-ring inset-ring-gray-500/10 hover:bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-900/30 dark:text-primary-300 dark:hover:bg-gray-800/50 transition-colors","children":"skin"}]]}]}] a:["$","$4",null,{"fallback":["$","div",null,{"className":"comments-skeleton","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"h-6 bg-gray-200 rounded w-32 mb-4 animate-pulse"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"space-y-3","children":[["$","div","1",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}],["$","div","2",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}],["$","div","3",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}]]}]]}],"children":"$Le"}] c:["$","a","GitHub",{"href":"https://github.com/gleez","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"GitHub"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"M12 2C6.477 2 2 6.484 2 12.017c0 4.425 2.865 8.18 6.839 9.504.5.092.682-.217.682-.483 0-.237-.008-.868-.013-1.703-2.782.605-3.369-1.343-3.369-1.343-.454-1.158-1.11-1.466-1.11-1.466-.908-.62.069-.608.069-.608 1.003.07 1.531 1.032 1.531 1.032.892 1.53 2.341 1.088 2.91.832.092-.647.35-1.088.636-1.338-2.22-.253-4.555-1.113-4.555-4.951 0-1.093.39-1.988 1.029-2.688-.103-.253-.446-1.272.098-2.65 0 0 .84-.27 2.75 1.026A9.564 9.564 0 0112 6.844c.85.004 1.705.115 2.504.337 1.909-1.296 2.747-1.027 2.747-1.027.546 1.379.202 2.398.1 2.651.64.7 1.028 1.595 1.028 2.688 0 3.848-2.339 4.695-4.566 4.943.359.309.678.92.678 1.855 0 1.338-.012 2.419-.012 2.747 0 .268.18.58.688.482A10.019 10.019 0 0022 12.017C22 6.484 17.522 2 12 2z","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}] d:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8 md:order-1 md:mt-0","children":["$","p",null,{"className":"text-sm leading-5 text-gray-400","children":["© 2005 - ",2026," Gleez Inc. All rights reserved."]}]}] f:T40f,data:image/svg+xml;utf8,%3Csvg%20width%3D%2232%22%20height%3D%2232%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2032%2032%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20role%3D%22img%22%20aria-label%3D%22Avatar%20for%20Guest%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22hsl(280%2C%2080%25%2C%2050%25)%22%20rx%3D%223.2%22%20%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20font-family%3D%22sans-serif%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20font-size%3D%2212.8%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20font-weight%3D%22bold%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20style%3D%22user-select%3A%20none%3B%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20G%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%3C%2Ftext%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fsvg%3Ee:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8","children":[["$","h3",null,{"className":"text-xl font-semibold mb-4","children":["Voices (",1,")"]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"space-y-6","children":[[["$","div","78268682207638",{"className":"border-l-4 border-gray-200 pl-4","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2","children":["$","address",null,{"className":"flex items-center mb-6 not-italic","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center text-sm text-gray-900 dark:text-white","children":[["$","img",null,{"className":"mr-3 w-8 h-8 rounded-full","src":"$f","alt":"Guest"}],["$","a",null,{"href":"/author/guest_73325980156310","rel":"author","className":"font-bold capitalize hover:underline dark:text-white","children":"Guest"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],"$undefined",["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"Thu Oct 16 2008","className":"text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"Oct 16, 2008"}],"$undefined"]}]}]}],["$","p",null,{"className":"text-gray-700","children":"Hair Care: excellent myth on hair care, regularly reading ...here is a site that provide the excellent article on hair care and [Hair Loss Treatment](http://www.hairlosstreatment-s.com/) "}],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center mt-4 space-x-4","children":["$","button",null,{"type":"button","className":"flex items-center font-medium text-sm text-gray-500 hover:underline dark:text-gray-400","children":[["$","svg",null,{"className":"mr-1.5 w-3 h-3","aria-hidden":"true","xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 20 18","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M18 0H2a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v9a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v4a1 1 0 0 0 1.707.707L10.414 13H18a2 2 0 0 0 2-2V2a2 2 0 0 0-2-2Zm-5 4h2a1 1 0 1 1 0 2h-2a1 1 0 1 1 0-2ZM5 4h5a1 1 0 1 1 0 2H5a1 1 0 0 1 0-2Zm2 5H5a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h2a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm9 0h-6a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h6a1 1 0 1 1 0 2Z"}]}],"Reply"]}]}]]}]],false]}]]}]