Hair myths. Here's a few you've probably heard, and maybe even believe:
- Your hair gets used to your shampoo so you need to change it up.
- Regular trims help your hair grow;
- A cold rinse make your hair shiny.
Even your hairdresser has probably told you them - but there is one glaring hair FACT that makes these tips ridiculous.
Are you ready?
Your hair is effectively dead from the root down.
Let's look at those common facts again with this fact in mind.
1. Your hair gets used to your shampoo
Your hair is effectively dead from the root down - it doesn't feel and it certainly doesn't know if you're using the same brand day after day, month after month. If you've found a product that works for you, don't feel the need to change it up every month. The products will perform in the same manner every time you use it.
If your hair is oil-prone or you feel a build up of product just use a clarifying shampoo every so often to remove residue and product build up.
2. Regular trims help your hair grow.
Your hair is effectively dead from the root down. Why would removing some of the dead part of something encourage the live root to grow? Madness. Regular trims will remove split ends making your hair look healthy and lay flat, but it won't have any impact on the rate of growth.
To encourage hair growth looks for treatments and masks that focus on delivering key nutrients to the scalp, or try a Hair, Skin and Nails supplement
3. A cold rinse will make your hair sleeker and shinier*
We don't mean to sound repetitive, or morbid but...your hair is effectively dead from the root down It cannot feel hot from cold. And therefore it can't react differently to them.
It's hair swell, which is caused by water in the shaft and/or pH levels that contribute (minimally) to shine/lack of shine. The more processed your hair is, the more porous it is. The more water/product it absorbs the more it swells and the more your pH levels change, meaning the less shiny your hair will be. Temperature has no effect on this.
Look for shine inducing products and oils instead.
There you go, three common hair myths busted with just one simple fact!
*This one is likely to prove contentious, but here's some further reading with interviews from experts, scientists and trichologists.
- Does Cold Water Make My Hair Shiny?
- MythBusters: Rinsing Your Hair In Cold Water
- Sorry — A Cold Water Rinse Will NOT Make Your Hair Shinier
I knew about your hair being dead, but admit I have used a cold rinse to try and make my hair shiny.