Can shampoo really repair damaged hair?

Does shampoo really repair damaged hair as advertised? This article will give you the answer and clear up misconceptions about hair care.

 

Most people want healthy-looking hair, whether it's bouncy curls or silky strands. However, beautiful hair doesn't depend entirely on shampoo.

The truth is that healthy hair isn't about spending a lot of money or following complicated routines, it's about doing the simple things right.

Hair experts: Eva Proudman from UK Hair Consultants and Tracey Walker from Hair and Scalp Clinic debunk four common hair care myths.

Cold water does not make your hair shinier.

Have you ever shivered in cold showers just to get shinier hair?

 

You can stop doing that and enjoy the feeling of a warm, comfortable shampoo because Proudman says cold water doesn't make your hair shinier.

' There's no need to wash your hair in freezing cold water because it doesn't do anything ,' she says. 'What's much more important is how you protect your hair from chemicals, heat, and the environment.'

Also, you should not wash your hair with water that is too hot because it can dehydrate your hair and burn your scalp.

No product can restore damaged hair.

If you were hoping to fix split ends without a trip to the salon, you'll be disappointed to learn that a haircut is the only solution.

" If you look at a broken hair under a microscope, it almost looks like it has two or three extra strands," says Walker. "There are products on the market that act like a glue to help the hair come together to look better. "

However, these are only temporary solutions and don't be tempted to spend too much money on products that promise to fix damaged hair.

Proudman also says claims that cutting your hair can help it grow faster are untrue:

"It is impossible to make hair grow faster, so any product that claims to do so is a lie. "

Hair does not have a self-cleaning mechanism.

You may have met someone who swears they've trained their hair to "self-clean" by washing it little or not at all. But Proudman says this isn't good for your hair at all.

 

" Your scalp has 180,000 oil glands and it will accumulate dirt and debris if it is not washed regularly ."

Not washing your hair regularly can cause odor as well as aggravate scalp conditions like dandruff, because " leaving hair oilier can create conditions for yeast and bacteria to build up, making an itchy scalp worse ."

Proudman recommends washing your hair every other day if your hair is very oily or you use a lot of hair care products .

Dry shampoo is not a substitute for shampooing.

Taking the time to wash, dry, and style your hair isn't always feasible, so between work, workouts, and social plans, many of us turn to dry shampoo as a quick solution to tame greasy roots and refresh our hair without having to shower.

Dry shampoo is " totally fine ," Proudman says , but should only be used once between washes. The problem arises when you use it for multiple days in a row without rinsing it out.

" Your scalp's natural oils will seep into the shampoo, and yeast will grow on this buildup of oil," says Proudman . "If you're not careful, you'll end up with an itchy, flaky scalp."

The final piece of advice from the two hair care experts above is to focus on caring for your scalp the same way you care for your face. This is the key and don't trust shampoo to repair damaged hair.