There are many common ideas about hair, derived from popular wisdom, that are
widespread among the general population, and if we believe them, we can make
major mistakes when it comes to hair care.
Considering the level of concern our hair represents, it’s curious that such crazy
ideas circulate about its care and treatment. It’s also surprising that people are
willing to try treatments, hair trims, cosmetic procedures, and other experiments
without the slightest idea of whether it will have any positive effects or, on the
contrary, permanently damage it.
Wearing caps, hats, or helmets often causes hair loss.
This misconception is based on the idea that these garments suffocate the scalp,
causing hair to fall out. Well, scalp oxygenation is a much more complex process
than all of this, and it’s certainly not hindered by wearing caps, scarves, or hats,
which, regardless of fashion, are usually necessary to protect us from ultraviolet
radiation. So, if you’ve ever considered turning a blind eye to wearing a helmet
when riding a bicycle or motorcycle for fear of alopecia, forget it.
Dyes, flat irons, and hair dryers promote alopecia
The thermal damage caused by frequent use of flat irons, curling irons, or hair
dryers—if used on the hottest setting—can damage the outer part of the hair fiber,
but not the follicle, which is where hair is produced.
In other words, with these devices, we can burn our hair, but we won’t go bald.
When we stop using them, our hair will return to its usual good appearance.
The same goes for hair dye, whose most feared negative effect is that it can cause
an allergic reaction on the scalp, causing irritation, flaking, intense itching, etc.
Frequent use, especially if it involves formulations containing ammonia or harsh
bleaching, damages the hair fiber and cosmetically worsens hair, but it doesn’t
cause more hair loss.
A good cut, letting time pass, and going a while without dyeing is enough to see
less damaged hair.
Shaving your head makes hair grow more
This is another widespread hair myth. If we apply the same reasoning that
everything that happens inside in the scalp doesn’t affect what happens on the
outside of the scalp, it does not go without saying that trimming the ends doesn’t
increase hair density, nor does the more drastic option, shaving the scalp
completely.
As much as we’ve coined the term “sanitizing” to refer to using scissors to
eliminate split ends, faded hair dye, or hair damaged by chlorine, salt, or the sun,
the truth is that the effect is only cosmetic.
Braids, ponytails, and hairpieces promote baldness
Well, yes and no, they do sometimes. In other words, tying your hair back or
adorning it with bobby pins and barrettes doesn’t cause more hair loss, unlike the
other external factors we’ve mentioned. However, these external factors do play a
role in what is known as traction alopecia.
Traction alopecia is caused by twisting, stretching, rubbing, or constant pressure
from hairstyles in which the hair is held very taut, such as dreadlocks, braids with
beads hanging from them, buns like those worn by ballerinas or flight attendants of
yesteryear, and tightly pulled ponytails.
If this tension is constant and prolonged, hair falls out in the area where it is pulled
because it grows under excessive tension, which ends up damaging the internal
structure of the hair and the follicular root.
Here’s another reminder of how important it is to get the right information from us to
take care of your hair. If you know of any popular hair care ideas in your city or
country, please write to us so we can learn about and research them.
