Whether you’ve got luscious long waves or a stylish short cut, there is so much information out there when it comes to maintaining your locks. Knowing the difference between fact and fiction can limit any potential damage and really help you get the best from your hair. From cold rinsing to how many times you should use a detangling brush, take a look at some of the most common hair care myths and facts.

Regular trims make hair grow faster: MYTH

This has been kicking around for years; the old myth that the more often you cut your hair, the faster it will grow. The truth is that it will have no effect on growth at all; neither will changing shampoo, conditioner or hair styling products.

FACT: The type of regular trimming that will keep your hair healthy is getting rid of straggly ends. The better condition your hair is in, the thicker and fuller it will look, so pay close attention to your haircare regime rather than heading to the hairdresser every other week.

Brush 100 times a day for healthy hair: MYTH

It’s been said that a lot of daily brushing can help move oil from the scalp around your hair and make it shinier. Or, that it can help promote growth. In actual fact, neither is true! Too much brushing can damage cuticles and cause breakage, leaving the hair frizzy and dull. FACT: Brushing should be done purely to detangle and style, so invest in a quality detangling brush and go easy if you’ve been over-brushing your hair.

Rinsing with cold water makes hair shiny: MYTH

There is some scientific logic behind this one. The rationale is that cold water will cause the hair follicle to shrink and effectively close up. This would flatten the hair and make it appear to shine more, as flatter strands reflect light better. This theory falls down though, as hair doesn’t actually have any living cells. Therefore, it doesn’t react to water temperature, whether hot or cold.

Styling products cause dry hair: MYTH

The myth is that styling products can cause dryness, when in reality all hair responds differently. Therefore, specific products may cause damage yes, but others absolutely will not.

FACT: Whether you’re slicking your hair back, pumping up the curls, or using a little spray to secure your hairstyle, experiment first to see which products your hair responds to best.

Split ends can be repaired: MYTH

There are no ways to repair split ends, even though there is a myth floating around that there can be. Once a hair has split you need to trim it to maintain the overall health of your hair.

FACT: The one thing you can do is apply a little beeswax to split ends to temporarily mask it until you can clip it.

Shampoo less to help your scalp produce more oil: MYTH

It’s long been said that over-washing hair can strip it of oils, and that if you leave it alone more oil will be produced. However, this is not the case, as the production of oil is actually down to individual hormones.

FACT: The reality is that if you don’t shampoo often enough there will be a build-up of grease (not oil) and grime. The key is to wash your hair when it needs it; more often when it’s dirty, and less when it’s not.

There you have it, some of the oldest and most popular hair myths debunked and unpicked. Now that you’ve got a better idea about some of the truths about haircare you can start implementing them into your own routine.