Debunking Common Haircare Myths

This blog post may contain affiliate links.

There is no shortage of advice out there for hair care. Unfortunately, lots of misinformation and myths get mixed in. Some of these myths get repeated so often that they become established as true without any evidence to back them. While some have a grain of truth, many are incorrect or can produce the opposite result. In this article, I want to debunk some of the most common haircare myths and shed some light on the real facts behind their claims. 

Myth 1: Cutting Your Hair Makes It Grow Faster 

I’ve found this to be the most common hair myth I hear from friends. People believe cutting their hair more often stimulates hair growth. I think this is probably because hair often looks healthier and most lustrous on the days after a trim. 

Truth 
Hair grows from the scalp level, at the hair follicle, not from the ends. Cutting the ends of your hair has no effect on your hair’s follicles and thus no effect on your hair’s growth. 

Regular trims are important to maintain healthy-looking hair. Trims prevent split ends and breakage, both of which can make hair look thin and damaged. This means that while a trim or a haircut won’t stimulate growth, it will make your hair look healthier and fuller. 

Myth 2: Washing Your Hair Every Day Is Bad

Another widespread hair myth I hear is that you shouldn’t wash your hair every day because it can strip your hair of its natural oils, thus leading to dryness, dullness, or damage. 

Truth 
How often you should wash your hair entirely depends on your hair type, the condition of your scalp, and the environment you live in. 

If you have an oily scalp or exercise frequently, you might need to wash your hair every day, while others are lucky enough to only have to wash their hair once a week. 

Those with dry or curly hair often don’t have to wash their hair as often as they will want to give their hair a chance to retain natural moisture. 

Your environment also has a big impact on how often you need to wash your hair. When I used to go clubbing with friends, we would spend a lot of time in the smoking area (even though I didn’t smoke) and so when I got home, I could always smell cigarette smoke on my hair. I would always wash it right away, even if I’d washed it earlier that day! 

The most important thing is to use a gentle, suitable shampoo and to listen to your hair’s needs. 

Myth 3: Brushing Your Hair 100 Times a Day Makes It Healthier 

This is an old wives’ tale. This myth suggests that brushing excessively will lead to healthier, shinier hair. 

Truth 
Gentle brushing is certainly beneficial as it helps to distribute natural oils from your scalp along the shafts of your strand of hair, which promotes shine and smoothness. However, excessive brushing can cause more harm than good. Brushing your hair 100 times a day is likely to lead to breakage, split ends, and scalp irritation. 

Myth 4: You Can Repair Split Ends

Many haircare products make the claim that they can repair split ends. 

Truth 
Once a hair splits, it cannot be repaired. Products claiming to repair split ends are sealing them temporarily, which makes hair appear smoother but does not fix the split ends. 

The only definitive way to get rid of split ends is to have your hair trimmed. However, effective haircare can prevent split ends occurring in the first place by keeping your hair moisturized and protected. 

Myth 5: Plucking Gray Hairs Causes More to Grow 

This myth suggests that if you pluck a gray hair, several more will grow back in its place. 

Truth 
Your hair follicles all work independently, so plucking a single hair will not influence the hairs around it. However, plucking hair strands can damage their follicles. Which would lead to thinner hair, or even a small bald spot. This is why I never recommend plucking hairs. 

Eventually, all your hair will turn grey, so either learn to embrace it, or learn to color your hair. 

Myth 6: You Should Always Use the Same Shampoo and Conditioner 

I’ve heard from lots of people that they think you shouldn’t change products often as it can cause damage to your hair. 

Truth 
As you can imagine, I try out a lot of different shampoos and conditioners when I’m writing reviews or guides for this website. So, if switching products damaged you hair, I’d probably be bald by now!  

Switching your hair products can be a great way to reinvigorate your hair as I find that hair can become accustomed to the same products, leading to them being less effective. 

Your hair’s needs might also change due to factors like the weather, your health, your age, and your current hairstyle. 

Myth 7: Rinsing Your Hair with Cold Water Makes It Shinier

I’ve no idea where this myth started, but it’s a commonly held belief that using cold water for the final rinse will seal your cuticles and make your hair shinier. 

Truth 
While there is some truth that in the very short term cold water can make hair appear slightly smoother by laying the cuticles flat, it has no lasting effect on your hair’s shine. 

Your hair’s shine is mainly determined by its overall condition and the products that you use. Using a good quality conditioner and serum can help to boost shine much more effectively than a cold-water rinse. Maintaining overall hair health is the key to sustained and lasting shine. Plus, nobody enjoys a cold rinse! 

Stick With The Facts 

Listening to myths about haircare can lead you to misguided practices which may actually cause your hair more harm than good. By understanding the truth behind these widespread myths, you can make more well-informed choices about your haircare decisions.  If you have any haircare myths you want fact-checked, let me know and I’ll be happy to do another list of them.