Whether you’re a complete slave to your locks or barely remember to reach for a brush before leaving the house, there’s a strong possibility you’ve heard a few hair care myths in your time. You don’t have to be a total fanatic to have fallen for these porky pies, as some of them are so widely believed they manage to dupe even the biggest of beauty addicts.
With so many floating around, it’s time we dispelled some of the biggest myths going, so you can rest easy and spend your time focusing on the best possible ways to care for your hair, instead of worrying about things that just aren’t true.
Top 8 Hair Care Myths
As a highly reputable hair salon in Milton Keynes, our clients trust us completely, and regularly ask us for hair care advice – our because of this, our hairdressers have heard it all; from the downright bizarre to the myths that just won’t budge! We’ve compiled a list of 8 of the most common myths that we constantly get asked about, to hopefully banish some of them into the bin where they belong. We’re willing to bet that until now, you’ll have believed some of these for quite some time – have a read through, and get ready to watch the biggest myths be smashed into smithereens.
1. It’s Good To Regularly Switch Shampoo
2. Cutting Hair Makes It Grow Faster
3. Hairdryers Are Evil
4. You Shouldn’t Wash Your Hair Too Often
5. Colour Damages Your Hair
6. Never Use Conditioner Before Shampoo
7. Cold Water Makes Your Hair Shinier
8. Never Pluck Greys
1. It’s Good To Regularly Switch Shampoo
We’re sure you’ll have heard this one before – after a certain amount of time, your hair gets used to your preferred brand of shampoo and becomes resistant to its cleaning effects, right?
Wrong! Hair just isn’t that clever; it’s really that simple! It’s true that your hair may take differently to a brand that you’ve been using forever, but this has nothing to do with having built up an immunity to its formula. It’s more likely that due to a change in the environment or the weather perhaps, your hair may have decided to behave a little differently. There’s actually reason to believe that changing shampoo too regularly can have adverse effects on your scalp, according to Skin Help; so we suggest finding the brand you love the most and stick with it!
2. Cutting Hair Makes It Grow Faster
While many a hairdresser may want you to believe this one is true to get you booking in constantly – it’s a big old myth! While it’s commonly recommended to have your hair cut every 6-8 weeks to get rid of unsightly split ends, one size doesn’t fit all and it can vary based on your hair type and style. If you’re wanting longer locks and are looking at ways to grow them as quickly as possible, take a look at these great tips from Elle.
3. Hairdryers Are Evil
Ok, we may have made this sound a little more dramatic than it actually is, but a common myth that’s regularly banded around is that hairdryers can damage your hair. While we agree that using a hairdryer regularly at a very high heat is less than ideal, if used correctly with the appropriate protection, hair dryers needn’t be the enemy. Many people actually believe that it’s better to blow dry your hair than let it air dry, but nonetheless, a number of rules should be followed to ensure that your hair remains damage free when using a hairdryer. Get yourself some excellent heat protection spray and a hairdryer with a low heat setting, and you’re halfway there!
4. You Shouldn’t Wash Your Hair Too Often
This has got to be one of the most regular myths we hear! Many people believe that daily washing results in dry or greasy hair, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is, if your hair feels like it needs a wash every day, then wash it every day! No two heads of hair are the same and will need washing differently, so it’s a good idea to throw this rule right out the window. Most shampoos are now formulated for daily use for this very reason, but if you’re still worried, look for a natural shampoo specifically designed to be super gentle on hair, such as these from L’Occitane.
5. Colour Damages Your Hair
While some colouring, such as bleaching definitely has a bad effect on your hair; not all colour treatments are bad when done by a professional stylist. If you colour your hair at home, take a look at these fab tips from Instyle to ensure you’re doing everything you can do keep your hair damage free. If you’re new to colouring your hair, we’d definitely recommend talking to your stylist first and getting booked into a salon to ensure that your colour is applied safely and effectively.
6. Never Use Conditioner Before Shampoo
This is an odd one, as it’s actually been suggested that the reverse is true! Using conditioner before shampoo is said to be just as good, if not better if you’re wanting dazzlingly shiny strands of hair. According to Life Hack, by washing your hair with conditioner first, you could be left with much healthier and shinier locks – who doesn’t want that? The important thing to remember is that there’s no scientific fact to suggest that conditioning your hair first is bad, so we’d definitely recommend just ignoring this one and use the two products in whichever order you see fit!
7. Cold Water Makes Your Hair Shinier
To fully debunk this myth, we have to begin with a little science lesson – but it won’t be boring, we promise. The key to making hair lovely and shiny is to keep the outermost layer of each hair strand, also known as a hair cuticle, closed and smooth. By keeping this layer closed, moisture is locked in, and your hair remains strong and healthy.
With this in mind, whatever is responsible for closing the hair cuticles is the hero here – and we can safely say, it is not cold water. The product you need in order to retain closed cuticles and shiny hair is actually conditioner. Take a look at this article from The Natural Haven Bloom explaining the science behind shiny hair in depth and why conditioner is a must if you’re after super shiny locks.
8. Never Pluck Greys
You may not have reached the point of having grey hairs yet, but at some point or another, you will! Chances are that you’ll be told by somebody to never under any circumstances pluck out a strand of grey hair, as two will grow back in its place! This is just factually incorrect, as one hair follicle cannot magically begin to grow more than one strand of hair – so if you do decide to pluck that grey, you can rest safe in the knowledge that only one will grow back. If you find yourself with greys, embrace them or get yourself some grey hair spray to cover them up as soon as you see them appear. If you hate the thought of showing off your greys, you can always book periodically into a local salon to have your roots touched up, ensuring that any pesky greys are kept well and truly hidden at all times.
Banish Those Myths
We hope that you feel much more confident with your hair care routine after banishing the many myths that you may have strongly believed – until now of course! As a successful women’s hairdressers in Milton Keynes, we love nothing more than talking to people about their hair and how to get it looking amazing! The team are more than happy to reassure clients and advise them on the best way to care for their hair – whether it be concerning their hair washing regime, what to do with greys or how to get the perfect shine. We’re on hand to dispell those myths and help everyone formulate a hair care regime that’s right for them. If you have any questions at all, why not give us a call or book in if you live nearby, we’d love to see you and help you get the locks that you deserve.