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Something that never ceases to amaze me — especially when it comes to this information age that we are currently in — is how much a myth can strut around as if it is indeed a fact. I won’t lie, it took me a while to get my hair’s health on track because there were certain things that I had heard for so long that I took them to be the gospel truth when they were really not much more than an old wives’ tale or even just a really popular lie.
A couple of them are actually in this article that you’re about to check out. Since temps are dropping and the winter season isn’t too far away, as you’re (hopefully”> in the process of putting your winter hair care regimen together, here are some winter-themed myths that you should totally toss out of the window.
Wet hair doesn’t give you a cold; a virus does
If it wasn’t your mother, I’m pretty sure it was your grandma who told you that you should never go outdoors while your hair is wet (especially when it’s cold outside”> because, if you do, you might catch a cold. It’s a popular myth but definitely an inaccurate one. While it doesn’t actually feel the best to be out in the chilly winter air with wet or even damp hair, the reality is that colds (and the flu and COVID”> come from a virus. Now what you can get from having sweaty hair is a fungal infection because fungus likes to thrive in warm and wet environments, but that’s something that we’ll have to touch on in a different piece (do take note of it, though”>.
Dry shampoo is better during the colder seasons
If you’re someone who prefers to blow dry your hair fully after washing (and conditioning”> it but there are days when you just don’t have the time or energy to do that, an alternative can be to go with dry shampoo. It saves time. It absorbs oil. It helps to increase hair volume and it can also neutralize an odor that your hair may have. Just make sure that you don’t “trick” yourself into thinking that dry shampoo should be a constant replacement for regular shampoo during the winter season. Even when there’s a lot of snow and rain outdoors, that doesn’t mean that your hair doesn’t need the direct moisture that comes from shampooing and conditioning it the old-fashioned way. In fact, hair can oftentimes become pretty dry when it’s cold because the harsh winds can zap moisture outdoors and central air can do the same inside. So again, dry shampoo can help you in a clutch, but it should never replace shampooing (with non-sulfate shampoo“> and deep conditioning, even during the winter season.
Your immune system doesn’t really affect your hair
Getting 6-8 hours of rest. Eating fresh produce. Drinking herbal tea. Exercising. Taking a Vitamin C supplement and a probiotic. Keeping stress levels down to a minimum. All of these are things that can help to keep your immune system strong which can prevent you from getting sick. And since it’s more likely that you will catch a cold during the wintertime, it’s important to be intentional about keeping your immunity in good condition. However, it’s not just for the sake of your health but the health of your hair too. The reality is that healthy immune cells play a pivotal role in hair rejuvenation while unhealthy cells can lead to hair loss. Just something to think about as you’re making some homemade vegetable soup or sipping on some chamomile tea.
Using hot water on wash day is best during the wintertime
Nothing feels better than hot water on your body after coming in from the cold air. I get it. But if you want to retain moisture in your skin as well as in your hair and scalp, hot water is an absolute no-no. Not only does it have the ability to strip your hair of its natural oils, hot water can also dry out your scalp which can lead to an itchy scalp as well as dry, brittle hair that could result in breakage. Another challenge that comes with hot water use is it can irritate your scalp and no one wants that. So, definitely stick to lukewarm. It’s the ideal temperature to stimulate blood flow to your scalp which can help to increase hair growth.
Focusing on moisture isn’t as much of a priority when it’s cold outside
The combination of extremely cold weather outside and the intensely warm (and dry”> heat indoors make for the kind of combination where your hair can end up drier and more brittle than ever. That’s why it’s a huge misconception that you can let up on your conditioning routine during the fall and winter seasons. You should still deep condition your hair at least twice a month. You also should sleep with a humidifier. Not only will it help to keep moisture in your hair as you rest but there are studies which reveal that it plays a pivotal role in reducing the spread of viruses including COVID.
Hat wear is the “protective style” of winter
You may have heard somewhere that the two main things that qualify a hairstyle as being “protective” is if it requires minimal manipulation and it keeps the ends — the oldest parts of your hair — covered. This is true which is why a lot of people think that wearing hats, beanies, scarves, etc. is the best (and easiest”> route to take during the wintertime. Yes and no. While there is certainly nothing wrong with wearing hat accessories, what you have to be careful of is making sure that the inside of your hat wear is lined with satin; that way, the fabric from your hats won’t dry your hair out. Oh, and that you do let your hair breathe from time to time. Again, a sweaty scalp can trigger fungal growth and that’s certainly not ideal if you’re looking to gain some length retention in time for spring. There you have it, y’all — myths debunked.
