Hair myths are something that keeps the hair industry alive. Without these notions that certain tricks or certain practices will enhance your hair, many products would not be as popular as they are today. It also helps social media influencers and famous YouTube stars continue to remain relevant, since they provide these quick tips and tricks to fixing insecurities many people have with their hair. In this blog post, I will help you to sift through the hullabaloo that is promoted, and to know the truth about your hair.
Myth #1 – Trimming Hair Makes It Grow Faster
Trimming your hair does not directly affect the hair follicle which determines how fast your hair grows. Regular trims can help the hair appear longer, since it makes it appear more full, but does not make it grow faster. Split ends are common when hair is not regularly trimmed. These split hair strands split into two and go straight up the shaft of the hair to the root. These split ends can make hair appear frizzy or brittle. Regular trims can help avoid split ends, so keeping up with it regularly would help reduce the amount of hair that you have to cut during your hair routine hair appointments.
Myth #2 – Natural Hair Doesn’t Grow As Fast As Straight Hair
The rate of growth for hair is based on someone’s genetics, not the type of hair. Natural hair may look like it does not grow long or grow fast because of the way the hair grows from the hair follicle. This is because natural/curly hair grows from an asymmetrical hair follicle, which makes the strand an oval shape. This then produces a curly strand of hair. Since curly hair grows in a spiral, it takes longer to equate length in comparison to straight hair, which does not have to spiral, so it appears longer.
Myth #3 – Black Hair Is the Strongest Type of Hair
Black hair is actually very fragile due to its’ dryness. The strands are more porous than straight hair, meaning it can hold more water and moisture. So due to its’ porous nature, textured hair is most vulnerable when wet and can be damaged easily in this state.
Myth #4 – Braids and Other Protective Styles Make Hair Grow Longer
Braids and other protective styles are rumored to help your hair grow longer at a faster rate. In reality, theses styles only keep hair healthier, since the hair is no longer exposed to harmful elements like the sun and humidity. In these styles, hair grows at the same rate as it would normally. Hair grows at an average rate of a half an inch per month, and this does not change, even with attachments added to it.
In conclusion, these myths are not necessarily going to ruin your hair or make any major affects whether you follow or do not follow these myths. Myths are merely from word of mouth, and sometimes have even been passed down from generation to generation. So, whether you believe in these myths or not, they are present in popular culture and will always be because of commercial reasons. Hopefully, with this new information, you will be able to decide for yourself what you want to believe in.