Hair Myths: Busted

There are a lot of hair myths out there. Does cutting your hair make your hair grow faster? Should I come to hair appointment with dirty hair? And more! Read on for our top hair myths, busted.

1. Does cutting your hair make it grow faster? Unfortunately, no. Hair growth starts from the scalp. However, regular trims keep your hair healthy by cutting off split ends and reducing potential for further breakage. This keeps your hair looking full and healthy--and probably why it seems to be growing faster.

2. Should I come to my appointment with dirty hair? No--the myth that says "dirty hair dyes better" isn't true. It's actually the opposite: hair that has been freshly washed (at least in the past day or two) and is free of product allows the dye to penetrate the hair follicle the best, because there's nothing in the way. This gives you a consistent all-over color and prevents the dye from interacting with any products that might interfere with the final result.

3. Is washing your hair every day bad for it? This one really depends on your hair type and lifestyle. It's true that washing your hair every day can strip your hair of its natural oils, which makes your hair dry and brittle. This also upsets the natural oil production in your scalp, leading to increased greasiness. Washing more frequently can fade color more quickly, too. On the other hand, if you're really active or use a lot of styling products, washing every day can remove sweat, grime, and product buildup. Straight hair generally benefits from more frequent washing, while curly and wavy hair can usually skip a few days.

4. Is it okay to go to bed with wet hair? Not really! Hair is most susceptible to damage when it's wet, and your pillowcase (unless you're using a silk one) can ruin the fiber of your hair. Also consider that wet hair plus a damp pillowcase creates a good condition for yeast and bacteria to grow, and you definitely don't want that near your head. Try to go to bed with slightly damp hair, and regularly change out your pillowcases.

5. Does plucking gray hair cause more to grow back? No! When you pluck a strand of hair, you're only plucking the hair from one follicle, which is responsible for that one strand of hair. If it seems like a whole bunch of gray hair has sprouted up since you plucked that pesky hair, it's probably just because you're more aware of them now.

At Salon Patrice, we take haircare seriously and use the best products to make your hair healthy, shiny, and happy. Check out our list of hair services here, and give us a call at (815) 223-8643 to schedule an appointment with Patrice or Emma.