5 Myths about Hair Care for Women

When it comes to hair care, women can receive conflicting information from the media, uneducated hairstylists and misinformed friends on a daily basis. While dozens of hair care myths abound, buying into some of these old wives’ tales can be both costly and detrimental to the health of your hair. Learn the truth to put an end to poor hair care.

Daily Washing

Mothers may instruct their daughters to wash their hair daily to keep it clean and beautiful, but all good stylists know that the practice of daily washing has the opposite effect. Washing hair daily is the best way to strip it of its natural oils, damage it to the point of dryness and make it the least manageable. Women who wash daily find themselves purchasing products to remedy the dryness of their hair, costing them money and time while making hair dirty enough to need cleaning again, perpetuating the entire cycle. Hair should only be washed twice per week to maintain the perfect balance of cleanliness and hair health.

Excessive Brushing

An old-fashioned beauty tip that still persists, brushing hair 100 times per day is not a healthy practice. Once believed to make hair shiny and lovely, brushing hair excessively is actually detrimental to the hair, causing split ends over time. Stylists often recommend not brushing at all, and instead using a wide-toothed comb or fingers to combat tangles on a daily basis to avoid pulling hair out and breaking it. Brushing hair when it is wet is also considered unhealthy, since hair is weakest when wet and more susceptible to breakage.

Hair Growth

Among the many myths about hair growth is the idea that cutting hair makes it grow faster. Regular haircuts are very healthy for hair since they help remove split ends, prevent further damage from occurring and help create stronger hair, but they do not make it grow any faster. This myth comes from the fact that cut hair can sometimes appear longer since it is shinier and healthier without the split ends. Most experts recommend a cut every 8 to 12 weeks.

Combing Top to Bottom

Just because a hair care tactic is highly visible in movies and commercials does not mean that it is something to emulate in daily life. Case in point: combing hair top to bottom the way women always seem to do in shampoo commercials. In reality, combing top to bottom is a great way to cause breakage. A good hairstylist will demonstrate the proper way to comb hair from bottom to top, working the ends first to detangle and keep hair from ripping out.

Hair Texture Unchanged

The idea that hair texture cannot change or be affected by any controllable factors is false. The texture of hair can change with any lifestyle changes, from dietary choices to new medications. Even stress can thin the thickest hair. Other factors include hormonal changes, aging and the length of an individual’s hair growth cycle. For women who are chasing the healthiest hair possible, a low-stress lifestyle and good nutrition can make all the difference.

If unsure about a piece of questionable hair care advice, always ask a salon professional for help. A good stylist welcomes all of your questions without judgment and will be happy to help you learn more about keeping your hair healthy and beautiful. Many stylists also love stories and will enjoy laughing with you over the many myths they have heard, too.