Myth #1: Slather on mayonnaise and olive oil to deep condition hair.
This is not true for all hair types. If you have fine or limp hair, doing this will cause your hair to become greasy and heavy. Both mayonnaise and olive oil contain moisturizing ingredients that can benefit thick, course, or extra-dry hair- so for that kind of hair it's true but don't slather it on! Just use one tablespoon of whatever one you'd like to use and work into hair concentrating on ends. Leave on for up to 30 minutes and then rinse and shampoo with a gentle cleansing formula. To avoid greasy hair, only use this as an occasional deep conditioning treatment if your hair needs it.
Myth #2: You have to change up your shampoo/ conditioner for it to work.
Many people believe that their hair becomes "immune" to products so they won't work as well if used long-term. This is not true, if a product works great for you, you don't have to ever switch brands for it to keep working. If your hair starts to look dull but your products usually work for you, they're not to blame. The problem is usually build-up from residue. Using a clarifying shampoo once every 2 weeks to remove excess build-up will make your hair more vibrant. If you haven't found a good product line, try Aquage as it doesn't leave residue behind so you won't run into that problem.
Myth #3: Cutting hair makes it grow faster.
Regular trims are good for your hair's overall health, but it won't make it grow faster. Hair growth happens at the scalp, so trimming the ends won't make a difference in the rate of growth. However, if you are trying to grow out your hair, you can accomplish this quicker by regularly trimming split ends. Your hair will grow the same speed either way, but trimming the split ends will prevent your hair from breaking off, so you can keep the length you grow. If you ignore split ends, you won't see much length even though your hair is continuing to grow.
Myth #4: You can't dye your hair while you're pregnant.
There are no studies that prove hair dye to be dangerous to a developing baby. It is still best to chose as natural of products as possible just to be safe. If you want to be extra-cautious, avoid dying your hair during the first trimester which is when the baby's basic neurological development happens.
Myth #5: Don't use conditioner if your hair is greasy.
Greasy hair is caused by an over-production of sebum- the natural oils that come from the scalp. The ends of your hair still need conditioner. So use a clarifying shampoo at the roots and condition the middle to ends of hair, avoiding the scalp. You can also use dry shampoo in between washes if needed and a light conditioner instead of a heavy one.
Myth #6: Always comb hair from top to bottom.
You can actually cause breakage by doing this- especially on wet hair. Comb from bottom to top instead to work through any tangles as you go. Start by combing downwards at the ends and work your way up in the same motion. If combing wet hair, make sure you're using a wide-toothed comb.
Myth #7: All hair grows at the same rate.
Hair grows at different rates on every part of the body, including the scalp. It goes through 3 phases of growth with each part having different phase times. So your hair can end up looking uneven. To keep it looking right, stick to regular trims about every 6-8 weeks.
Myth #8: Nothing will ever change the natural texture of your hair.
Hair texture has to do with the length of its growth cycle, nutrition, and medications. The hair that is already grown is basically dead cells, so it will stay the same. Some medications affect the hair root where the cells are still alive and growing and can cause straight hair to become curly, natural color to change, etc. Stress, age, and hormones can also affect hair texture.
Myth #9: Coloring hair causes major damage.
It is always best to get hair colored professionally, but most products are gentle enough to not cause a lot of damage. Excessive coloring- like changing your color every week or two will obviously damage your hair and sometimes to the point of being irreparable- especially if you are using cheap at home products. But you can have healthy hair while changing the color occasionally and doing regular root touch-ups, especially when done professionally.
Myth #10: You can fix split ends with products.
Once your ends are split, there's no cure except for a trim. There are some products that temporarily seal the split ends together, making them less noticeable and preventing them from splitting more, but it won't make them go away. Get regular trims to fix your split ends, and you can use those products in between trims so your split ends don't get worse.
