10 Hair Loss Myths – Debunked
There are plenty of myths floating around out there when it comes to hair care and hair loss.
Your grandmother heard from her grandmother that rinsing your hair with cold water prevents female hair loss, or your best friend’s aunt has told you to make a mixture of egg yolks and apply it weekly for increased hair growth.
Herbal tips and tricks to habits that cause male and female hair loss, we have heard them all.
However, of the 100s of myths pertaining to hair loss, which ones actually speak to truth? We have identified for you the 10 most common myths about hair loss.
We’ll debunk these 10 “absolute truths”.
Hair Loss Myth #1: Wearing hats makes your hair fall out:
While 19% of people blame hair loss on wearing hats, this is absolutely FALSE. Hats are not the cause for male or female hair loss. While they may cause hat hair and flatten your hair out, it’s nothing that can cause any permanent damage.
The reason many people have this misconception is because when you take the hat off, you often see the amount of hair stuck to the hat. However, losing this amount of hair is common.
According to WebMD, it is natural to lose up to 100 strands of hair a day. So when you see those suckers on your hat, don’t start blaming it.
Most people who associate wearing a hat to balding are thinking of an actual condition: traction alopecia. This is when something damages your hair follicles and dermal papilla to result in hair shedding. However, wearing hats doesn’t actually damage your hair follicles.
Unless you’re wearing a tight hat that cuts off blood circulation to the hair follicles, your balding is not because of the hat you’re attached to and wear 7 days a week.
However, if your hats aren’t clean and there is an unreasonable amount of sweat, dirt or filth inside the rim this could cause a scalp infection. But there is no chance that wearing a hat alone will cause your hair to fall out. No need to toss out your hat collection just yet since there is no medical evidence to link male pattern baldness with hats.
Hair Loss Myth #2: Too much sun exposure can cause hair loss:
Ultraviolet radiation does not cause hair loss so this myth is also FALSE. UV radiation can result in skin problems but it does not disrupt hair follicle function. Overexposure to the sun can weaken the fibers, yes but this does not cause your hair to fall out.
The disruption caused to the cuticle by too much sun exposure can make your hair dry, dull and frizzy if you don’t take proper care of it in summer months, but it does not lead to female or male hair loss.
Hair Loss Myth #3: Hair loss is inherited from your maternal side:
While different hair loss conditions can be inherited, the belief that they’re all inherited from your mother’s side is FALSE.
Hair loss can be passed down through the X chromosome, which is a gene you get from your mother. However, you can inherit male hair loss from your father’s side as well.
Recent studies have identified a number of hair loss genes that can be inherited from both the X and Y chromosomes. Therefore, it’s safe to conclude that male pattern hair loss can be inherited from either parent. In fact, 1 in 7 men have genetic variants that increase their risks of balding.
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However, other types of hair loss aren’t necessarily hereditary, such as traction alopecia or trichotillomania.
Rather, these develop as a result of damage caused to the hair follicles or permanent hair loss resulting from the constant extraction of hair from the root so don’t blame other types of hair loss on genetics.
This age-old myth has been proven wrong by doctors now that they have a deeper understanding of the genetics behind hair loss for men and women.
Hair Loss Myth #4: Too much shampoo makes your hair fall out:
Regardless of how much you scrub that scalp, the myth that shampooing causes your hair loss is FALSE. According to a recent study, 10% of people believe that over shampooing your hair results in hair loss.
Noticing added hair strands in your bathtub drain after you shower or naturally pulling out strands of hair as you rinse out your shampoo is common. Again, a certain amount of hair loss is your body’s way of shedding the extra, older strands so don’t panic.
While you shouldn’t shampoo too often, shampooing a few times a week is alright and will not cause you to shed excessively.
Hair Loss Myth #5: Balding only happens to older men.
While male and female hair loss is increasingly common as we age, it is a FALSE assumption to make that this is the only reason for hair loss.
Some adults in their 60’s often have more hair left on their head than people much younger than them. Male pattern baldness occasionally begins as early as 21.
The amount of hair you lose as you age is based on multiple factors including your lifestyle, stress levels, genetics and your diet.
Conditions such as alopecia areata can cause hair loss among young adults and children alike. This often results in complete balding. So hair loss often has nothing to do with your age but can be a result of a condition or an unhealthy lifestyle among youngsters as well.
Hair Loss Myth #6: Hair products cause hair loss:
The belief that using hair products such as hairspray, serums, hair gel result in balding is among the myths about hair loss.
This baldness myth sprung up mainly in the 90’s when men were using excessive amounts of hair gel. Chemicals in hair products were made the scapegoat for men who were suffering from different hair loss conditions.
While gel or hairspray won’t cause your hair to fall out, it’s important to wash these products out to avoid an excessive buildup of sebum, a natural oil present on your scalp.
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Certain hair products or chemicals may not suit your scalp, so it’s also important to ensure you’re purchasing products according to your hair and scalp type.
If you have an oily scalp, excessive use of heavy or oil-based products can result in a buildup of natural oils. This can pollute your scalp and result in buildup at the root, harming your hair follicles.
Using certain products that don’t suit your scalp can result in an unhealthy environment that can cause your hair to shed. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you stop using products that don’t work for you and your hair type.
Hair Loss Myth #7: Over-brushing your hair causes it to fall out:
Even though 13% of individuals believe that over-brushing your hair results in hair loss, this is also completely FALSE. Brushing your locks is actually healthy for your scalp and doctors advise you to brush daily.
To help blood circulation in your head, nearly 100 strokes a day or brushing your hair for up to 3 minutes is advised by most doctors. Brushing your hair is the best way to get it clean and get rid of dust and keeps your scalp moist and healthy.
Hair Loss Myth #8: There is no cure to hair loss and balding
There may not be a miraculous, instant cure to hair loss or balding but there are multiple options for men and women suffering from hair loss. Nearly 80% of women experience noticeable hair loss by the age of 60. The percentage for men experiencing hair loss by 60 may be 15% less than women, but it is still an issue for the majority of men and women in this demographic.
Hair Loss Myth #9: Hair loss is only genetic
False: It’s not all genetics.
Depending on the pattern of your hair loss, hormonal or nutritional deficiencies such as thyroid issues, low iron or protein can also be the cause of your hair loss, explains M.D. Carolyn Jacob.
While these causes are usually associated with hair loss all over the scalp, a well-balanced diet can go a long way to promoting a healthy scalp and reducing male pattern baldness.
Medical research has also connected excessive smoking, at least 20 cigarettes a day, to an increased risk of balding in men. This is because researchers conclude that smoking may destroy hair follicles or damage cells at the roots that circulate blood and hormones.
Apart from genes, here are some common causes of hair loss:
⦁ Iron-deficiency anaemia
⦁ Underactive thyroid
⦁ Fungal scalp infection
⦁ Some prescribed medicines
⦁ Stress
⦁ Excessive smoking
⦁ Autoimmune diseases
⦁ Vitamin deficiency
While there may not be a cure to male pattern baldness, hair loss isn’t entirely controlled by your genes. You can take charge of the situation by making changes to your diet and lifestyle to help slow the process before you consider hair replacement systems in Toronto.
Hair Loss Myth #10: Cutting your hair makes it grow back thicker
Many people believe that shaving your head or cutting your hair makes it grow back thicker but this is far from the truth.
While it is advisable for men to get a haircut every 4 to 6 weeks to get rid of split ends and unhealthy hair, cutting your hair does not change the thickness of the individual strands of hair.
How did this myth become so widely believed? Well, it actually results from the appearance of thicker hair, the shorter it is. Your hair strands are thicker in circumference at the root, closer to your scalp, and getting a buzz cut gives the illusion of thicker hair.
As your hair grows out, however, it’s actually the same texture or thickness as it was before you cut it. Haircuts cannot change the texture of your hair or result in the growth of thicker hair.
There are many solutions to counter hair loss, one of the safest and most affordable being hair replacement systems for men and women. Our professionals at 3rd Dimension are available to consult with clients who are experiencing an unhealthy amount of hair loss.
Call or email us to discuss your new look. We offer consultations via Skype and Facetime to help you discover what you’re looking for with your women’s replacement hair systems.
