There are so many myths about hair styling and care that it is sometimes difficult to determine which things are true and which are not. Some classic fables that have often been debunked are, oddly enough, still believed by many men. Unbelievable what a monkey sandwich story can do. We list the 8 biggest myths to settle them once and for all.
1. Hair grows faster if you cut it more often
This fable is a true classic. To our surprise, there are still men who believe it. This is also often thought of when shaving. But it's a real myth. Our hair grows from the root. That means that the dots we cut off are nothing more than dead material. No matter how often you cut them, your hair will continue to grow about 1.5 cm per month. That's the average. Only hormones, diet or your genes can affect how fast your hair grows.
2. You have to wash your hair daily to keep it clean
Daily wash your where with shampoo . It's counterproductive. It makes your hair dry, dull and brittle. This will make your hair dirty much faster. Your scalp will produce much more body oils. Let your hair get used to washing 3 to 4 times a week and you will notice that your hair will look healthy.
3. Stress causes gray hair
Okay, to be honest, we've been thinking this ourselves for a while. It's really a fable. The graying of hair is determined by the genes. It arises with ageing. Your body produces less melanin, which is responsible for the color of your hair. This causes new hairs to turn gray. Stress can accelerate the aging of the body but has no direct effect on your hair. There is no scientific evidence for this.
4. Letting your hair dry naturally is better than blow-drying your hair
It's kinda true and not true. It is not good to dry your hair with hot air every day. But letting your hair air dry every day isn't either. Research has shown that the hot air from the hair dryer can damage the surface of the hair, but letting it dry in the natural air can damage the hair in the hair strands themselves. That's even worse. That's because your hair swells up from water and puts pressure on the proteins that keep your hair intact over time.
It is best to use the least hot setting of your hair dryer. Don't hold your hair dryer too close to your hair and don't aim at one spot for too long. You can also protect your hair from heat by using a pre-styler that has heat protection.
5. Gel causes hair loss
Although it dries out your hair and makes it look thinner, it does not cause hair loss. It's all optical. The products you use and how you treat your hair affect how your hair looks. But no hair styling product causes hair loss.
6. Shampoo should lather
Pretty logical to start from here. While a foaming shampoo is nice, it doesn't have to lather to get your hair clean. In almost all shampoos, sulphates provide the foaming effect of the shampoo. But sulphates can even cause color in your hair to fade after you've dyed it. There are also several discussions about the potentially harmful effect that sulfates can have on your hair. So it's a myth. In fact, many high-quality shampoos don't lather at all.
7. You should not use conditioner if you have oily hair
If you suffer from oily hair, it is not because you make it oily yourself or because you put conditioner in your hair. It occurs when your body produces too much fat on its own. A conditioner is also suitable for people with oily hair. It protects the hair and ensures a good moisture balance. Reducing shampooing would have a better effect. There are also conditioners that are specifically for men with oilier hair.
8. Men don't have to use conditioner
This is of course nonsense. Taking care of yourself, and therefore your hair, is not just for women. A good conditioner does more than just make your hair soft and shiny. It makes your hair. It makes your hair healthier, stronger and more elastic. In short, it definitely helps you create a nicer hairstyle in the long run.