Hair care myths- BUSTED!

Published Date: 2019-05-22

If you grew up believing in superstitions such as ‘a black cat crossing your path brings you bad luck’ or that ‘an itchy hand means you’ll lose money’, you my friend truly grew up in an ultimate Nepali manner. One super intriguing belief that I was forced to comply with as per my grandmas’ belief was that ‘you should not comb your hair at night’. However, as ridiculous as they might sound there is a logical reason and explanation as to why these beliefs came into existence. Instead of criticizing myths such as these it’s time we rethink everything we’ve come to believe and educate our minds.

Below are 6 common hair myths that are widely believed and the actual truth behind it.

Cutting hair regularly makes it grow faster

Nope and nope. Hair grows from the follicles on your scalp and as hair grows from the roots and not from the ends, a haircut doesn’t affect growth speed in any way. However, split ends can leave your hair looking thin and sparse and so trimming your hair can make your hair seem thicker, healthier and shinier.

You can repair split ends

Well, sorry girls but you can’t! A split end is damaged hair at the bottom of the hair strand that has split and gone rough. But it’s not all bad news. You can’ fully repair a damaged hair strand or a split end but you can temporarily mend the strand. If the thought of getting your hair trimmed makes you cringe with dismay you can always opt to mend it. But remember you cannot repair hair to its original undamaged condition. With continued care and maintenance, you can keep your damaged hair looking and feeling quite healthy, but the products only temporarily bind the ends together and make it appear healthy. The ultimate means to remove a split end is to cut it off. The only real cure for split ends is trimming them off.

Natural oils are good for your hair

We have all heard our mothers raving about the benefits of using ‘tori ko tel’ (mustard oil) for healthier hair. However, most natural food grade ingredients are not capable of penetrating the hair shaft deep enough to make any lasting improvement. They can help your scalp remain moisturized but its effect on hair is minuscule. When a professional hair-care product lists a natural ingredient, it’s not the same as what we use at home. High-quality hair-care products are formulated with processed forms of the ingredients.

Hair fall is problematic

We lose around 100-200 hair strands daily. It is natural and completely normal. Losing a few hair strands is not a major problem. Also, every once in a while, our hair goes through a process called telogen where our hair doesn’t grow and simply remains on our heads. During this time, we might find our hair to be falling unusually. Also, longer hairs give you an illusion of more hair fall as the longer strands collect together to look more. So, hair fall is not always a problem.

Dandruff is always a sign of dry scalp

Dandruff is not always caused by a dry scalp. The white flakes could be due to an overload of styling product or a skin condition such as psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis or eczema. Similarly, white flaky skin that itches is not always dandruff either. It can be due to weather changes, stress and even because of over-consumption of sugar or a reaction to hair color. In fact, even an oily scalp can cause dandruff due to buildup too. Visit your dermatologist for a diagnosis as a whole list of skin conditions can cause flakiness and itchy scalp.

If you regularly use the same shampoo it will stop working

Different shampoos are formulated to deliver different results. But you don't need to practice shampoo rotation to keep your hair clean. Switching shampoo comes down to personal preference and your hair’s current state.  For example: if you've recently colored your hair, it might be a good idea to switch to a more moisturizing shampoo that is targeted for colored hair. Otherwise, stick with your favorite as long as you love it.

Tell us about a myth you grew up believing. The craziest myth will win exciting gift hampers from Lisap Milano Nepal.

***The lucky winners of every blog will be announced on the next blog. Stay tuned! Happy reading and good luck.***