Busting 10 Common Beauty Myths
Standing behind the chair doing color for many more years than I care to admit, I have heard about hundreds of hair myths. Most myths were handed down through the generations from grandmother to mother to daughter. Some of these are based on fact, others contain half-truths and many are total fiction. Many rational people hold these hair myths to be true even if they make absolutely no sense. I wrote a previous blog entry addressing some of the most common hair myths. Today we will examine 10 common beauty myths and determine whether they're fact or fiction.
MYTH: Never shampoo your hair right before you have it colored.
FACT: When your hair is dirty it is harder for the colorist to determine the exact color of your hair, whether it has oxidized, and if subtle changes might have occurred during the course of the touch-up. Clean hair enables your colorist to have a clearer picture of the proper adjustments that need to occur to keep your color perfect. Hair color also takes better on clean hair. If you do have a sensitive scalp and are worried about a reaction to the coloring process, gently wash your hair. Do not scrub your scalp.
MYTH: Your hair can get used to shampoos and conditioners.
FACT: Shampoos and conditioners tend either to either be light and clean or heavy and conditioning. If you use one product line exclusively, your hair can become overly clean and fly away or excessively conditioned and weighted down. It is best to have a couple of different hair care lines in your shower so you will always be prepared for your hair needs.
MYTH: Lemons lighten your hair.
FACT: Lemon juice will minimally lighten your hair, but only if you go out in the sun. Lemons will lighten fine hair best. If your hair is a light brown shade or darker, lemons can turn your hair orange. Instead of lemons, it is best to use over-the-counter hair color. Hair color contains toners and conditioners that will consistently keep your color in check and hair in great condition.
MYTH: Beer adds body and shine.
FACT: Warm flat beer in a spray bottle is a great setting lotion that adds shine. The scent of beer dissipates as the hair dries, leaving you with a smooth and glossy finish.
MYTH: Never shampoo your hair right before you have it colored.
FACT: When your hair is dirty it is harder for the colorist to determine the exact color of your hair, whether it has oxidized, and if subtle changes might have occurred during the course of the touch-up. Clean hair enables your colorist to have a clearer picture of the proper adjustments that need to occur to keep your color perfect. Hair color also takes better on clean hair. If you do have a sensitive scalp and are worried about a reaction to the coloring process, gently wash your hair. Do not scrub your scalp.
MYTH: Your hair can get used to shampoos and conditioners.
FACT: Shampoos and conditioners tend either to either be light and clean or heavy and conditioning. If you use one product line exclusively, your hair can become overly clean and fly away or excessively conditioned and weighted down. It is best to have a couple of different hair care lines in your shower so you will always be prepared for your hair needs.
MYTH: Lemons lighten your hair.
FACT: Lemon juice will minimally lighten your hair, but only if you go out in the sun. Lemons will lighten fine hair best. If your hair is a light brown shade or darker, lemons can turn your hair orange. Instead of lemons, it is best to use over-the-counter hair color. Hair color contains toners and conditioners that will consistently keep your color in check and hair in great condition.
MYTH: Beer adds body and shine.
FACT: Warm flat beer in a spray bottle is a great setting lotion that adds shine. The scent of beer dissipates as the hair dries, leaving you with a smooth and glossy finish.
MYTH: Mayonnaise and olive oil are easy to use as at-home conditioners.
FACT: Mayonnaise and olive oil do have conditioning properties, but they are almost impossible to wash out of your hair. Both of these at-home treatments may require multiple shampoos to remove the excess oil from your hair, often making it end up drier after your conditioning treatment than before you started. Use a commercial conditioner. They are made to moisture your hair, keep it pliable, and easily rinse out.
MYTH: Anti-static fabric softener sheets eliminate fly away hair.
FACT: Fly away hair is a huge problem, especially in the winter. Delicately rubbing an anti-static fabric softener sheet over your hair will help to calm fly away hairs instantly. These sheets can be used more than once.
MYTH: Satin pillow sheets will help your blow dry last longer.
FACT: Satin material won't absorb your hair's natural oils and will not mat your hair while you sleep. This minimizes breakage and helps hold on to your hair's body and style.
MYTH: Mascara covers grey hair.
FACT: Mascara can cover the first few grey hairs that start to show around the hairline. The tip here is to use the mascara very lightly so it doesn't look thick and artificial. This grey coverage will last from shampoo to shampoo, but it's a color technique that should be used only as an emergency touch-up, not as a means to extend your color schedule.
MYTH: Once you start to color your hair, you must color it forever.
FACT: Roots are in! Many fashionable women like Giselle, Sara Jessica Parker and Madonna made roots chic. Women who prefer not to show roots can easily color their hair back to their natural shade using a semi-permanent color. Your previously tinted hair will slowly blend away as it grows out and is eventually cut off. People with more than 25% grey will experience a more difficult transition.
MYTH: Brushing your hair 100 times is good for your hair.
FACT: Excessive brushing hair can easily rough up the cuticles of your hair and make it look duller. Brushing can also cause split ends. Brush your hair gently in place and leave it alone. It is vital to use natural bristle brushes. These are designed to be gentle on your hair and will help to avoid breakage.
I hope this blog entry helped you separate fact from fiction about hair care. Remember the old adage: "If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is!"
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FACT: Mayonnaise and olive oil do have conditioning properties, but they are almost impossible to wash out of your hair. Both of these at-home treatments may require multiple shampoos to remove the excess oil from your hair, often making it end up drier after your conditioning treatment than before you started. Use a commercial conditioner. They are made to moisture your hair, keep it pliable, and easily rinse out.
MYTH: Anti-static fabric softener sheets eliminate fly away hair.
FACT: Fly away hair is a huge problem, especially in the winter. Delicately rubbing an anti-static fabric softener sheet over your hair will help to calm fly away hairs instantly. These sheets can be used more than once.
MYTH: Satin pillow sheets will help your blow dry last longer.
FACT: Satin material won't absorb your hair's natural oils and will not mat your hair while you sleep. This minimizes breakage and helps hold on to your hair's body and style.
MYTH: Mascara covers grey hair.
FACT: Mascara can cover the first few grey hairs that start to show around the hairline. The tip here is to use the mascara very lightly so it doesn't look thick and artificial. This grey coverage will last from shampoo to shampoo, but it's a color technique that should be used only as an emergency touch-up, not as a means to extend your color schedule.
MYTH: Once you start to color your hair, you must color it forever.
FACT: Roots are in! Many fashionable women like Giselle, Sara Jessica Parker and Madonna made roots chic. Women who prefer not to show roots can easily color their hair back to their natural shade using a semi-permanent color. Your previously tinted hair will slowly blend away as it grows out and is eventually cut off. People with more than 25% grey will experience a more difficult transition.
MYTH: Brushing your hair 100 times is good for your hair.
FACT: Excessive brushing hair can easily rough up the cuticles of your hair and make it look duller. Brushing can also cause split ends. Brush your hair gently in place and leave it alone. It is vital to use natural bristle brushes. These are designed to be gentle on your hair and will help to avoid breakage.
I hope this blog entry helped you separate fact from fiction about hair care. Remember the old adage: "If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is!"
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I didn't think the beer thing would really work!