False beliefs regarding caring for natural hair

Before we get into how to obtain a healthy hair and scalp let's talk about some misconceptions.

There are many fallacies regarding how to best take care of hair some include the following:

X - FALSE: Washing your hair too much will strip it of its natural oils and dry out the hair.

Since our natural oils come from below the epidermis (top layer of the skin) it is not possible for water alone to strip the hair of its natural oils.
In order for oil to dissolve or be carried away by water the oil would have to break through the waters hydrogen bonds or mix with the water.
The type of shampoo we use can remove excess oil from the scalp. One type of shampoo that helps remove excess oil and debris from the scalp is clarifying shampoo.
Clarifying shampoo is a deep cleanser and has heavier ingredients designed to help carry away excess oil and debris. If you are washing your hair every week use the clarifying shampoo every other week. Follow the clarifying shampoo with a nutrition rich shampoo.

X - FALSE: Leaving your hair dirty will help your hair to grow.

A dirty scalp does not encourage hair growth. In fact a dirty scalp becomes a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria and yeast.
These entities will slow down circulation and blood flow and decrease oxygen levels in the scalp. Which will slow down hair growth and minimize hair retention.

X - FALSE: Oiling your scalp every day will help it to stay moisturized.

While some thinner oils can penetrate the cuticle and add moisture to the hair - oil is mostly used to provide nutrients to the hair, to condition the hair and to seal in moisture from water.
Its best to add a light rose water to your scalp and oil your hair strands on wash day to lock in the moisture from the water.
Oiling your scalp every day can actually clog your pores and create build up.

You need to be sure to wash your hair at least once a week if you are using a daily growth oil.

April Diane | Posted on May 07 2024