Haircare myths debunked

MANILA, Philippines - Wanna know one of the most overlooked hair tips in this climate? Clean hair. As the weather gets warmer, sun and sweat will demand greater care to protect our hair and keep it free of dirt and sebum. Though it sounds basic, it must be revisited due to the popularity of the myth that one should not shampoo daily. If your scalp gets greasy, you need to shampoo every day.

In a recent dialogue with Dr. Steve Shiel, P&G beauty and grooming scientific director, journalists got a quick back-to-basics session on haircare. Shiel has been working on demystifying “the science within the bottle,” bringing to life the research findings on hair health. He shares some information to debunk popular hair myths.

1. You can repair damaged hair.

Unlike skin, hair cannot repair itself as it is a dead follicle when it grows out from the scalp. “When the damage is done, the damage is done.” says Shiel matter of factly.

“Oil is considered as a panacea for a lot of things. But excess oil clogs the pores and causes more problems,” he says.

Tip: Shiele shared the most common causes of hair damage as 1) improper haircare products, 2) poor nutrition, 3) styling and perming without knowing how to protect your hair, and lastly, 4) climate.

2. You don’t need hair protection.

Managing hair can be challenging in places like the Philippines where humidity affects the hair. This changes hair surface so even after hours of blow drying, once you step out of your house, your hair goes awry. “Hair is a bit of a sponge, it absorbs moisture in the air,” says Shiel. To protect the hair he suggests to always use a conditioner so the hair is lubricated and has ingredients that work on the surface.

Tip: Use conditioner. Comb it through your hair, starting in the middle of head down to the ends. “Conditioner starts acting only when you rinse,” says Shiel. So rinse thoroughly. You can also use a leave-on conditioner in-between shampoos.

3. You don’t need to towel dry when you blow dry.

Hair supply: Celeb hairdresser Joey Scandizzo demonstrates how shiny and lustrous styles start with clean hair

Make sure to towel dry first. If there’s too much moisture in the hair, it will “fry” when subjected to heat of the blow dry. “You can do the most damage when hair is wet,” says Shiel.

4. Scalp is not part of hair health.

Scalp health is an overlooked area of haircare. A normally healthy scalp has a skin cell turnover of approximately 28 days, so it’s easy to repair scalp irritation (such as dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis) with the right shampoos. According to P&G, scalp health is crucial not only for the general wellbeing, but is also in some cases linked to hair quality. A healthy scalp is there for the best prerequisite for the growth of beautiful and strong hair.  

5. What you eat does not show on your hair.

Poor nutrition affects the state of your hair. Healthy hair is hair that is strong, shiny, and doesn’t break easily. In a hair damage test demo by Pantene, damaged hair was defined by friction— the force required to comb it. Higher friction could mean the hair is swollen, cuticles are damaged, so more force is required to comb it. Shiel’s advice is to have a diet rich in protein, iron and zinc to promote lustrous strands.