Hair Myths...BUSTED

Take a quick glance in the mirror. Go ahead, we’ll wait. How’s that head of lettuce looking? Maybe a little dull? Scalp feeling a bit dry and itchy? Fact of the matter is, there’s a ton of misinformation out there, especially when it comes to the truth about proper hair care. Can you handle the truth? Prepare to have your mind blow as we bust the top 3 hair myths and break down the real deal.

Myth #1: You need to shampoo your hair every day.

We’ve mentioned this tip before and it bears repeating. Contrary to popular belief, you actually shouldn’t wash your hair every single day. Over-washing on any hair type will over-strip its natural oils from your hair and scalp, your hair feeling dry and brittle. Other signs of over-washing include extreme frizziness and a flaky, dry scalp. In reality, you really only need to wash your hair with shampoo 2-3 times per week. You can use conditioner more often as it can help keep your hair moisturized and manageable.

Myth #2: Men don’t need to use conditioner.

Speaking of conditioner, this one is common, but, you guessed it, incorrect. Conditioner is a crucial part of a good hair care routine, no matter how long or short your hair really is. In short, conditioner is sort of like lotion for your hair. Maybe that seems weird, but stick with us here. Let’s look at shampoo and conditioner like we would soap and moisturizer. Just like soap, shampoo serves the cleaning function for your hair and in the process of removing dirt and excess oil, it can strip some of the important natural elements from your hair and scalp. As a defense, hopefully you’re using natural shampoo that doesn’t contain any of the harsh chemicals that can be particularly drying and damaging to your hair. But even so, your hair requires extra moisture and revitalization after it’s been cleaned, just like your skin. That’s where conditioner comes in. It’s a rejuvenating tag team partner that helps to replace what’s lost and elevate what’s there. We’ve got a whole breakdown on the importance of conditioner right over here.

Myth #3: Your hair care routine should be the same no matter what type of hair you have.

Despite what you may think, hair is not just hair. Sure the basics apply across the board, but the individual factors that make your hair look and behave the way it does - long, curly, straight, thick, thin, etc - also should influence how you care for it. Most specifically, in terms of curly vs straight, there are some additional nuances for how to best care for your type of hair.

Because of the way it grows out of the follicles and lays flat, straight hair (especially fine, straight hair) tends to become greasier more quickly. Since it can be subject to extra build up, washing it every other day is a safe bet. Just keep an eye out for how your hair is looking and feeling and adjust accordingly. Just like with straight hair, you don’t want to shampoo curly (or thick) but as opposed to straight hair, instead of getting greasy, curly hair tends to get really dry. You want to let those natural oils from your hair do their thing, so a good starting place is to wash your hair every 2-3 days. Because it’s prone to dryness more easily, curly hair can also be prone to frizziness, so definitely consider harnessing the moisturizing power of your conditioner at least every other day, even if you’re not shampooing.