We’ve all heard them; whether from our grandparents, aunts or uncles, a hair stylist, or popular media, many “tips” for hair care find their way into the common consciousness. Unfortunately, some of these are so common that people don’t bother looking them up or asking a professional themselves!
This week, we’re going to talk about some of the most wide-spread and potentially damaging myths about hair care so you can be prepared the next time you hear them. Before we get started, though, you should always keep in mind that talking to a hair specialist like Dr. Joseph Williams about any specific concerns you have is your best bet for an expert opinion.
- 1. Your Hair Will Grow Faster If You Cut It
There is no scientific evidence to demonstrate that cutting your hair helps it grow faster. This is an extremely common misconception that tends to get spread among friends chatting over brunch.
Hair growth is dictated by the follicles, which are in the scalp, not by the ends of the hairs, which are not living tissue. While you might need to cut your hair if you have split ends or other hair care needs that demand it, doing so does not make the hair grow faster.
Be especially wary of this information coming from a hair stylist, who depends on repeat business for their profit margins! It might be time to look into a new salon if you get this advice while asking about hair growth.
- 2. Greasy, Fine, or Thin Hair Doesn’t Need Conditioner
You’ve seen or heard the macho folks talking about washing their hair with a bar of soap and not needing conditioner. The reality is that hair and scalps all need conditioner in some form!
People who are experiencing hair loss might think that since their hair is thinning they don’t need to worry about conditioner, or might even be worried that it will harm their hair. The worst thing you can do is avoid talking to a hair loss specialist in those cases. Besides Hair Transplantation, such as Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transfer (FUT), a trained specialist can work with you to maintain healthy hair and scalp or help you prepare for your best option.
When a surgeon transplants hair, the hair used in the process will be healthier and better able to support the transition if it was cared for beforehand, and that includes conditioner to maintain moisture and vitamins in the scalp and hair follicles as well as in the hair itself.
- 3. Make Sure You Brush 100 Strokes A Day
Don’t do this! Brushing your hair is important for many reasons, including distributing oils and to detangle hair, preventing damage to the hair and scalp overall. However, it should be done gently and only as much as needed.
This is most commonly passed down as a tip from grandparents who learned it a long time ago, and is often just accepted as fact. Excessive brushing can cause extra hair loss and damage to the hair and scalp as well.
In order to get the best brushing results, make sure you have a brush appropriate for your hair type, and avoid brushes with hard, spiky bristles that can damage your scalp. Brushes with round, plastic beads on the ends of the bristles help protect your scalp, and can be found on detangling brushes as well as brushes for curly and straight hair.
- 4 If You Pluck A Gray Hair, 2 More Will Grow Back
Gray hair can be caused by many factors, including stress, age, lack of melanin in your hair, and so on. The most important thing to note here is that a hair follicle produces a single hair – so if you remove one hair from one follicle, it will not cause another extra hair to grow back.
But let’s talk about the most common one – age.
As you get older, your hair follicles age with you, and this includes the cells that make up the follicles. One type of cell in hair follicles is called a pigment cell, which dictates hair color, and as you age, this type of cell tends to gradually die, which leads to a loss of color in those specific follicles’ hairs.
So, those of you who are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair especially, please do not pluck your gray hair expecting more to grow back!
If you have already been doing this or are concerned about hair loss or thinning, make sure to contact a scientifically-backed specialist, like Dr. Joseph Williams, to schedule a consultation and find out what treatment options are available to you.
- 5. Don’t Wet Shampoo and Condition Your Hair Every Day
This one is a bit tricky, but it deserves some attention.
The truth is that you should wash your hair as often as you need to, but that might not be every day. Then again, it might! Everyone’s hair is different, and it is important to talk to a specialist if you are concerned about damage or the specific products you are using in your hair.
The process of washing your hair includes several steps that benefit your hair and scalp – wet shampooing helps clean out dead cells and products since your last wash. Moreover, you should be massaging your scalp during the shampooing process to stimulate your follicles and remove as much of the debris as possible.
Conditioning is similar in that it helps restore and retain vitamins and nutrients to both your scalp and your hair. It is important to make sure you use a conditioner that meets your hair’s needs, so talk to a professional salon or stylist, or, if you have undergone hair transplantation or restoration treatments, follow the advice of your doctor.
So how often should you wet shampoo and condition your hair? At least every couple of days! Try not to go longer than 2 or 3 days between wet washes and conditioning. This will make sure you clean out the gunk and dead cells regularly, and keep your scalp and hair healthy and shiny as long as possible!
Conclusion
There you have it! Five common myths about hair care that you can now avoid.
We all want to look our best, and maintaining healthy hair is a great way to make sure we do that. If you are concerned that you might have damage to your scalp or hair because of bad hair care practice, or because you have noticed patterns of loss in your hair, make sure you reach out today to get a consultation with a Hair Loss Specialist like Dr. Williams.
If you are concerned that your hair is thinning or you are experiencing hair loss, you deserve peace of mind on top of looking great. A specialist in Hair Loss can show you many options that range from Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) to transplantations such as FUE and FUT. If you are concerned or have worries, it’s best to reach out sooner than later. So contact Dr. Williams today for a consultation!
