Stylist comes clean about hair myths
Paul Cucinello, creative director of the Chris Chase Salon in New York City, hears the same myths from his clients all the time. You know the ones — don’t wash your hair every day, drug store products are just as good as salon products, etc. Here’s what Cucinello says:
1. “100 strokes a day makes hair healthier and shinier.” TRUE!
Well, maybe not 100! But, gently brushing your hair before bed with a really good brush (like a Mason Pearson) will evenly distribute the oils from your roots down to the ends and protect them from over drying. It will also exfoliate your scalp and prepare your hair for effective cleansing and conditioning the next day.
2. “Don’t wash your hair before you get it colored. The color will take better.” FALSE.
Hair color is always best absorbed on clean hair. A buildup of oils and styling products may protect your scalp from being irritated by chemicals, but a dirty head of hair will only turn off your stylist. Try washing your hair the night before you color it for perfect results.
3. “You should trim your hair regularly if you want to grow it out.” FALSE.
If you keep cutting it, your hair will only get shorter. During the awkward stage, try pinning it back, getting bangs or wearing some cute hats or headbands.
4. “Short hair just isn’t sexy/Guys don’t like short hair.” FALSE.
Confidence is sexy. Short hair is sexy on confident women… Look at all the hot women in Hollywood with short hair and HOT guys like Rihanna, Victoria Beckham & Katie Holmes.
5. “Spraying lemon juice in your hair while you’re at the beach will bring out natural highlights.” TRUE.
But at what cost? Lemon juice will actually burn tiny holes into the hair that will allow light to pass through it (an effect similar to bleach) and severely dry your hair out. If you want highlights, go to the salon.
6. “Burning the ends of your hair will seal split ends.” FALSE.
Burning your hair is probably the most dangerous, terrible thing you could ever do to your luscious locks! Trimming your hair is the ONLY way to alleviate split ends.
7. “Coloring hair during pregnancy can be harmful to your baby.” FALSE.
There has never been one documented complication directly related to coloring hair during pregnancy, but talk to your doctor if you are worried. Since your body temperature is higher when you’re pregnant, roots might take too much or get too light. Cucinello recommends sitting in a well ventilated area of the salon to avoid inhalation of strong chemical odors.
8. ”You have to wash your hair everyday if your roots get oily quickly.” FALSE.
It’s kind of the other way around. Roots get oily because you wash your hair everyday. Your body works on supply and demand. Every time you wash your hair you are removing the protective oils from your scalp. What’s worse is that most people who tend to have oily scalps also forgo conditioner all together, making their scalp drier, forcing it to produce more oil.
Here’s the fix: Before washing, bush your hair to pull the oils down to the ends. Then, shampoo your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and a volumizing conditioner. Shampoo every other day. On day two, skip the shampoo and just rinse and condition. Use your conditioner the same way you would a shampoo and make sure to really massage your scalp. This way, your scalp will be moisturized and gradually your roots will become less oily.
9. “Salon products are just overpriced versions of the drugstore brands.” FALSE.
Salon products have much higher quality ingredients. Salon products also come with a recommendation from your stylist based on the haircut or chemical service your just received and your hair type. Some drugstore brands tend to be glorified versions of a detergent and a wax and can strip the oils out and put them right back in. Some high-end salon products (like Kerastase,) actually chemically alter the hair texture and always seem to do what they actually claim to do.
10. “Your hair gets used to shampoos and styling products” TRUE.
All products can build up over time causing your hair to stop responding to their active ingredients. You should always keep two different types of shampoo and conditioner in your shower and select each one based on how you choose to wear your hair that day. Ask your stylist for an alternative to your current roster of products.
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[...] Stylist comes clean about hair myths [...]