5 Hair Care Myths

When it comes to hair, we've all faced that confusing situation: dry hair on top of an oily scalp. It's like our hair can't make up its mind! But what if I told you that the secret to fixing this might be as simple as laying off the shampoo for a while? Here are 5 shampoo and haircare myths to consider.

 

Myth #1 - everybody must shampoo. In my practice, I’ve asked plenty of patients who suffered from dry and itchy scalp — which is distinguished from dandruff— to take a break from shampooing for a few weeks. Their hair improved dramatically. The scalp became less sensitive as scalp oiliness gradually decreased, and the dryness and flakiness markedly improved or disappeared. Their scalp and hair seem to have found their balance.

 

Myth #2 - Shampooing = less oil. Why is it so challenging for people to give up shampooing? Skincare industry promotion or propaganda. We think we need to wash our hair frequently to get rid of “dirt”, “bacteria” and “oil.” Turns out, that's not entirely true. While shampoo gets rid or at least temporarily decreases those elements, this comes at a price - undermining the skin barrier. For those with weakened skin barrier - this may tip things over the edge resulting in dry skin and irritation which can manifest flakiness, redness, itch and burning as well as hair breakage. Oil production is not an issue when you stop shampooing and will even itself out.

 

Myth #3 - everybody must condition. Conditioning is yet another often misunderstood concept and is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you've got normal or oily hair, you might not need it at all. Conditioning is more like a repair job for dry hair, especially after shampooing has stripped it of elements making up the skin barrier.

 

Myth #4 - hair care prevents hair loss. Then there's the myth that following a strict hair care routine can stop hair loss. Hate to break it to you, but that's just not true. Hair loss is a complicated issue with lots of factors involved, like genetics and nutrition with every case of hair loss having its own unique set of problems to solve. Shampooing, conditioning or other forms of hair care usually have little to no effect on hair loss.

 

Myth #5 - hair dye causes hair loss. And let's talk about dyeing our hair. Some folks worry it'll make their hair fall out. But that's usually not the case. Dye might change the way your hair feels - thickening the shaft and making your hair drier but it won't make it fall out. If your hair feels dry after dyeing, just use a good conditioner to give it some extra love.

So, here's the bottom line: don't believe everything the shampoo commercials tell you. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your hair is to keep it simple. Give it a break from all the washing and conditioning, and let it find its natural balance again. Treat your hair intentionally with a clear goal for each practice, product or treatment. Your hair will thank you for it!

Thanks for reading and God bless.

 

Yuval Bibi, MD/PhD - Board Certified Dermatologist

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