Is shampoo your friend, or foe? Can you trust your conditioner? And must you really brush 100 strokes a day to get healthy, touchable tresses? These and many more questions have tousled the minds and hair of women everywhere, so here, we lay bare the truth about five of the most popular hair care myths:
Myth No.1: You shouldn’t use shampoo every day.
This myth has caused many a scalp to itch in ways it shouldn’t. The basis of this myth makes it quite believable – because shampoo can strip hair of its natural oils, it can lead to a dry scalp and brittle ends, and the scalp will produce more oil to compensate for the dryness. The truth behind it is this: shampoo is only harmful if you use too much; your scalp produces the same amount of oil (as dictated by your genes and hormones) no matter how often you shampoo; and really, how often you shampoo or wash your hair depends on the needs of your hair and scalp, and your own preference. The important thing to remember here is to choose a shampoo that’s ideal for your hair type, and to use your judgment. If you feel that the daily exposure to dirt and dust requires you to shampoo daily, go ahead. And when shampooing, focus on the scalp, where most of the dirt and oil accumulate.
Myth No.2: You need to switch shampoos constantly or else they’ll stop working.
When women observed that their hair became less than great after using the same shampoo for quite some time, many of them figured it was because their hair “got used to” their usual shampoo and therefore need new ones, hence the constant shampoo switching. The truth behind this myth is that hair doesn’t “get used to” anything. There are other reasons why a shampoo would seem to stop working: the shampoo may have too many surfactants that dry out your hair; the shampoo may not be effective in handling daily damage from hair straighteners and other styling products; or there may be a build-up of residue left by the shampoo or conditioner you are using. Whichever the reason may be the solution is the same, and it’s not to keep switching shampoos but to choose another shampoo for good. Try ones without sulphates or silicone. If your hair is constantly in contact with ghd hair straighteners, hairdryers and other heat styling products, consider using a moisturising shampoo. If you really don’t want to switch but want to see results again, try using a clarifying shampoo every couple of weeks to clear away residue build-up.
Myth No.3: Brushing your hair with 100 strokes will make it healthier.
A myth that began before shampoo was even invented, this actually produces the opposite of its intended effect. While brushing may help distribute natural oils from the scalp and stimulate blood flow, excessive brushing (and 100 strokes is definitely excessive) can lead to excessive friction, which results in breakage, cuticle damage and frizziness. So brush moderately or as needed using a good brush like ghd’s ball-tipped paddle brush.
Myth No.4: Trimming your hair will make it grow faster.
How to make your hair grow faster : Contrary to what this myth insinuates, hair growth is not affected by how many times you trim it. Trimming will not make your hair grow faster, but it can make it appear longer. Split ends can cause breakage that make hair appear thinner and shorter, so cutting split ends off will make your hair appear longer and healthier. But there’s really no need to snip if you apply a hydrating cream or split end treatment to the ends of your hair.
Myth No.5: Don’t use conditioner if you have oily hair.
Oily or greasy hair is caused by none other than sebum, the oily substance that comes out of your scalp, not by conditioner. So not using conditioner will not help an oily head of hair. A better solution would be to use a clarifying shampoo.
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About the author: Debra Wright blogs about a plethora of topics including hair styling in Sydney and other fields. Wright considers Sydney Salon Supplies as one of the leading stockist of ghd hair straighters.
