Over the years many myths or misconceptions have formed around the topic of hair. Some are obvious and humorous where others require a bit of research and thought. I have come across many and have divided them into 8 categories:
Part 1: Hair Growth
Part 2: Split Ends and Brushing/Combing
Part 3: Baldness/Hairloss and Gray Hair
Part 4: Texture, Dandruff, and Scalp Problems
Part 5: Short Hair and Coloring Your Hair
Part 6: Thin/Thinning Hair and Summer Hair
Part 7: Hair Products
Part 8: Shampooing and Misc.
Thin/Thinning Hair
People with thin or fine hair can wear their hair any way that they want.
Unfortunately, long, thin, fine hair tends to hang limp and look straggly. If you have thin, fine hair, discuss it with your stylist or research it yourself to see which shorter cut would compliment your face. Shorter cuts make your hair seem fuller. If you have a great cut and maintain your hair well, you can look terrific. Don't let the density of your hair hold you back from looking beautiful. Utilize the tricks of the trade.
Growing your hair longer helps to cover up thinning hair.
Men especially like to use this to cover up their thinning scalps with the comb-over. Unfortunately, doing this just accents the situation. Why? Because as the hair gets longer, the length adds weight, making the hair lie flatter against the scalp. Then you need to add gel or hairspray to keep that extra long hair lying just right, making the thin, flat hair look clumpy or greasy with hair product.
A more attractive way to deal with thinning hair is to keep it short and shampoo it often. It will look much fluffier and fuller than having long, stringy strands of hair combed over a balding pate. Have you ever seen someone out in the wind who has a comb-over? It can look quite silly.
Summer Hair
Chlorinated swimming pools don't damage your hair too much. Just give a rinse and you'll be fine.
Chlorine is a cleaning agent, but it is also a chemical. It can be downright nasty for you if you have fine, thin hair. It will weaken your hair and cause a lot of breakage. Also, if you have blonde or hilighted hair, your hair is very porous and will actually begin to turn green from the chlorine. Do your best to avoid both the breakage and the green tint by frequently using moisutrizing shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair as protected from the chemical damage as possible.
Hair covers my scalp, so I don't need to worry about sunburn on my head.
Areas where your hair is thinner than others (e.g. along the hairline at the front or sides or along the length of a center or side part) can burn very quickly in the sun. If the burn is severe enough or if you burn that same area often enough, you can actually damage the hair follicles near the root. Combine that with the genetic map for early hairloss and you have a bad combination. Wear a hat and you'll be fine.
Hair grows faster in the summer and slower in the winter.
The rate that your hair grows remains constant all year long and is genetically determined. The reason it may seem to grow faster in the summer is that some people prefer their hair shorter in the summer (because it's cooler) and longer in the winter (because it's warmer). You will notice your 1/2 inch of hair growth per month more with a short haircut than with longer hair. Your hair will grow 1/2 inch every month, you just notice it more if it is shorter.
