Your precious mane deserves more than tall tales.
Myth: Frequent trims makes hair grow faster.
Truth: "Hair grows a half-inch per month, whether you cut it or not," says John Barrett, owner of the John Barrett Salon in New York City. Hair may grow slightly faster in the summer, but that has nothing to do with the stylist's scissors and everything to do with hormones, which do speed growth a little. One thing getting regular trims will do: Eliminate split ends, making hair look better and preventing breakage.
Myth: To get really clean hair, you must lather, rinse, and repeat.
Truth: One thorough washing will do the trick — and too much shampooing could strip your hair color and leave your locks feeling dry.
Myth: You can mend split ends with the right products.
Truth: Once they're split, then that's it. The only thing you can do then is cut them off. Celebrity stylist Jimmy Paul suggests making split ends less noticeable by applying a product containing silicone or beeswax. It will temporarily seal ends together, making hair softer and more manageable.
Myth: Switching shampoos can make hair look healthier.
Truth: It may seem so, but experts scoff. "Hair can't tell the difference between brands or build up tolerance to any product," says London-based hair and scalp expert Philip Kingsley. "Your favorite shampoo will work the same every time you lather up, week after week, month after month." If you have very oily hair or favor a particularly sticky styling product that contains wax, it does pay to use a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks to wash away residue.
Myth: If you pluck out one gray hair, two more will sprout in its place.
Truth: While this isn't true, plucking out those gray strands is nevertheless a bad habit. You can damage the roots, causing infection or leaving a scar. Keep your hair healthy by treating it gently — not yanking on it.
Myth: You can't make flat, fine hair look full of body.
Truth: Having naturally thin hair doesn't mean you need to resign yourself to flat, dull locks. Five minutes with a set of large hot rollers plus a little teasing will add life to straight hair.
Myth: Rinsing with ice-cold water will give you shinier hair.
Truth: It might wake you up, but a dousing of cold water will have no effect on the shininess of your tresses.
Myth: Coloring your hair causes major damage.
Truth: Products today — both at home and in the salon — are gentle enough not to weaken hair when used correctly. In fact, some contain extra conditioners that may leave hair even more manageable than before. Of course, if you're feeling a little apprehensive, "it can't hurt to consult a professional stylist the first time you do anything permanent to your hair or scalp," Kingsley counsels.
Myth: You should brush your hair 100 strokes every day.
Truth: This old adage isn't just useless, it could actually harm your hair. "Brush only to style it, because brushing pulls hairs out of their follicles and possibly weakens individual strands," says Kingsley.
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