Light On 10 Hair Myths

Myth 1: Our hair will grow faster and stronger if we cut it often

Fact: Hair does not grow from the tips but from the roots. To increase its vigor and stimulate growth, it is better to use appropriate products. However, eliminating split ends prevents them from splitting and breaking, which often makes hair appear stagnant at the same length. According to specialists, chemically treated hair (perms, straightening, repeated coloring, etc.) should be cut more often, ideally every month or two. If you want to let them grow out, you can wait up to four months, but it is important to moisturize them using a mild shampoo and conditioner and apply a mask once a week.

Myth 2: When washing, you must rub the scalp well to dislodge all impurities

Reality: Delicacy is the keyword! By polishing the scalp, we risk weakening the roots and causing an overproduction of sebum. Not recommended, therefore, especially if you have oily hair. Massages performed gently, on the other hand, help to stimulate regrowth and oxygenate the scalp. For them to be beneficial, make small circular movements with your fingertips, pressing gently.

Myth 3: The best shampoos are those that lather abundantly

Reality: Today’s shampoos are not what they used to be, and the amount of lather produced is neither a guarantee of quality nor a sign that the shampoo is too abrasive. Moreover, many products are enriched with emollient or moisturizing agents, which compensate for the drying effects of washing. They can be a good choice. We can also turn to frequent-use shampoos, which provide gentle washing. If our hair is colored, we opt for products specially designed for this purpose, which delicately treat weakened hair and are more moisturizing than regular shampoos. According to experts, the way you wash your hair is also important. Rinse thoroughly to prevent residue from irritating and dulling the hair,

Myth 4: A good mask is more effective in treating dull hair than a change in diet

Reality: The vitamins and minerals contained in shampoos and other treatment products have a superficial effect on the hair. To treat them in-depth and in the long term, it is preferable to act from the inside by focusing on a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated fats. The latter promotes the formation of toxins that harm blood circulation in the scalp and promote dandruff and itching. To favor on our plate: iron (beef, parsley, mussels, etc.), which oxygenates the roots, vitamins B5 and H (whole grains, green vegetables, wholemeal bread), which participate in the renewal of hair cells, as well as proteins (meats, legumes, nuts, etc.), zinc (shellfish, egg yolk, lentils, etc.) and sulfur (soy, shrimp, brown rice, etc.), which contribute to the synthesis of keratin, the main component of hair. Sleeping well, relaxing, playing sports, and quitting smoking are also guarantees of healthy hair.

Myth 5: My mother had gray hair very early; it will be the same for me

Fact: Hair whitening is partly caused by heredity, and can come from either the mother or the father. However, stress, poor lifestyle, or a nervous shock can also destroy the melanin that colors the hair. There is no point in pulling out our white hair, which will always grow back white, but we can color it. If you have a lot, you opt for permanent dyes, which have great covering power. If they are few in number, highlights and semi-permanent dyes also suit us. Do we like them natural? We use products specifically designed for white hair, which will give it a beautiful shine while preventing it from turning yellow.

Myth 6: You shouldn’t use conditioner if you have oily hair

Fact: Oily hair is the result of abnormal sebum secretion, which clogs the scalp and makes hair roots oily. Since we wash our hair regularly, sebum does not have time to reach the ends. Therefore, the stems need hydration. Regardless of the nature of our hair, restorative treatment is essential to restore the protective scales and protect the hair from external aggressions. If you have oily hair, you can apply a small amount of conditioner to the lengths, avoiding the scalp, and treat it with an anti-seborrheic mask.

Myth 7: Lost hair does not grow back

Reality: Unless you are affected by baldness, which is rather rare in women and usually occurs after menopause, hair that falls out grows back approximately 25 times and its lifespan varies between 4 and 7 years (compared to 2 to 4 years in humans). Hair grows regularly, then dies and falls out to be replaced by new ones. Repeated attacks, poor diet, illness, and stress can, however, jeopardize the hair cycle, hence the importance of taking care of our hair and having a healthy lifestyle.

Myth 8: You should be concerned if you lose more than 20 hairs per day

Fact: Natural hair loss varies from person to person. Some lose around 20 per day, others up to 60. As long as the hair is replaced at an equivalent rate, there is no reason to worry. The fall may be greater. This often occurs at seasonal changes, when our batteries are flat, following a hormonal change (for example, after pregnancy), or during great stress. If the density of our hair decreases over more than three months, it is better to consult our doctor or a dermatologist, who can make a diagnosis and guide us toward the appropriate care.

Myth 9: The 100 brush strokes recommended by our grandmothers are beneficial for the hair

Fact: This may have been true in the days when hair was constantly styled in a bun, washing was less frequent, and conditioning treatments were almost non-existent. Brushing helped oxygenate the scalp and distribute sebum throughout the hair shaft. Today, with more frequent washing, such intensive brushing would irritate the scalp and promote static electricity. Not to mention that we would thus increase the opportunities to break them.

Myth 10: Coloring shampoos are less harmful to hair than dyes

Fact: Any product that has the power to alter hair color contains peroxide or an equivalent ingredient. Applied to the entire hair and scalp, coloring shampoo is more harmful than a dye that is applied only to the regrowth. In addition, the foaming agents contained in these products increase their aggressiveness. Over time, the scales that cover the hair shaft open and the color holds less and less well, forcing us to repeat the operation more often. We thus enter a vicious circle where the stems and the scalp are increasingly irritated. If we want to color our hair, we adopt suitable care products.