Who doesn’t love the drama of the word “myth”? It sounds super important and secretive, and when it comes to your haircare, that’s a pretty appropriate use of the word!

Sometimes, taking care of your hair and knowing what products to use and styles to try can feel like a list of ambiguous shoulds and shouldn’ts. To make things even more difficult, plenty of people from outside the hair and beauty space have given their thoughts and personal experience on what works for their hair. But what will work for yours?

As a stylist, I know of 10 more common hair myths that we can discuss today, get comfy, grab a notepad (or open up some notes on that phone of yours), and let’s simplify your hair care regimen!

Myth 1: Hair Grows Faster When Trimmed Regularly

False (with some truth)

Cutting the ends of your hair will do nothing to actually stimulate your scalp and hair follicle, which is where your hair grows from. That being said, small trims or “dustings” of your split ends will help protect your hair from breakage. When left to their own devices, split ends can travel up the hair shaft, causing breakage and an overall shortening of your hair from the bottom up making it appear as though it’s not growing.

Myth 2: Shampoo Stops Working After a Few Months

False

No, your shampoo actually doesn’t stop working, and your hair does not get “used to it.” However, your products do have a shelf life, which can ultimately make a huge impact on the efficacy of your products. To check your product’s shelf life, sneak a peek at the little “open container” symbol on the back of your bottle. That should tell you how long the product lasts, once it has been opened.

Your hair needs do change over time - you might use a moisturizing product during the dry winter months, but notice that it doesn’t have the same effect come spring. Your product didn’t stop working - your hair needs just changed!

A good rule of thumb? Swap your products every quarter or season, and choose ones that suit your hair’s needs during that climate and weather. You might need more moisture in summer and winter, and more texture in spring and fall. Ultimately, your stylist will know exactly what to recommend to you!

Myth 3: Split Ends Can Be Repaired

False

While product can be used to temporarily mend split ends (aka, throw a bandaid on them), once your hair shaft is split, the only cure is to trim the split end off. This’ll keep those split ends from traveling up your hair shaft, and causing further breakage.

Myth 4: Hair Oil is Not Okay For Oily Hair

False

Sure, if you have oily hair, I never recommend using styling oils at or near your scalp - but all hair types benefit from the use of additional moisture and hydration through hair oils.

If oils are making your hair feel greasy, you’re likely not using the right type or amount. Feel free to reach out for a personalized product and usage recommendation, according to your hair type!

My personal favorite styling oil for fine hair? Blonda oil by Unite. It’s light, and it provides anti frizz benefits while hydrating your hair, but doesn’t weigh it down much.

Myth 5: You Need to Cut Your Hair Shorter as you Age

False

This is, quite easily, one of my least favorite hair myths. Shorter hair can appear fuller, which is typically why women do decide to cut their hair shorter when they age. However, there are absolutely no rules about styles or hair length, no matter how old you are!

Do what makes you feel the most beautiful, and confident. How’s that for a myth buster?

Myth 6: Flakes are Always Due to Dry Scalp/Dandruff

False

Dandruff can be the cause for those little white flakes in your hair, but not always. Oftentimes, dry flakes are due to product build up in your hair! Clarifying shampoos and products, when used in moderation, can make a huge difference. Check out my tips for dry, flakey scalps here!

Myth 7: Hats Cause Hair Loss

True/False

While it’s super uncommon to lose hair due to wearing hats every now and then, wearing hats daily can potentially lead to traction alopecia, which is caused by regular pulling on the hair. However, it’s far more likely to experience genetically or medically caused hair loss.

Some common best practices? Avoid wearing tight or the same hats regularly. Switch things up, and give your scalp room to breathe! Additionally, try changing up your hairstyle to help avoid traction hair loss.

Myth 8: Stress Causes Hair Loss

True

The bad news? This one’s true. So, if you’ve been extra stressed out and are noticing some additional hair loss - you’re not imagining things.

The good news? Stress-induced hair loss is almost always reversible! By decreasing your day to day stress, you’ll start to see more retention. If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to step back, and take a breather.

Myth 9: Hair Grows Faster in the Summer

True

Crazy, right? You may notice you need more frequent touch ups and trims during the summer months. I have a handful of guests on my schedule that come in for retouches 1 week earlier than usual during the summer months, so as to keep up with more rapid hair growth!

Myth 10: The More Protein, the Better (For Damaged Hair)

False

You need a balance of protein, and moisture. Without enough protein, your hair won’t have the correct structure to absorb and hold necessary moisture. Without enough moisture, your hair will become rigid from adding far too much protein, which can actually lead to more breakage due to the strands becoming “over-proteinized,” and less flexible.

It’s always a balancing act, isn’t it?

Are you ready to give your hair the attention it deserves? Schedule an appointment with me, or grab my must-have products!