[EDITOR'S NOTE: Part of a series devoted to Mamiverse attending Festival People en Español Presented by Target in San Antonio on September 1-2. The inaugural festival promises to celebrate Latino contribution to art, music, lifestyle and culture. Join our Twitter parties for a chance to win fabulous prizes! RSVP here.]
Oh, the old wives’ tales: You need to switch shampoos every three months. Avoid coloring your hair when you’re pregnant… and the list goes on. Sound familiar? Our well-intentioned abuelas had us believe these and many other cuentos. Well, it’s time to bust the top 10 hair myths and start taking good care of our tresses.
1. BRUSHING YOUR HAIR 100 TIMES WILL MAKE IT SHINE
False: Over-brushing can, in fact, damage your hair, especially if you’re using a cheap tool. This won’t add shine to your hair either. In fact it will make it duller and more prone to split ends and flyaways. Brush your hair when it’s 80% dry to avoid tangled locks.
2. COLORING YOUR HAIR DURING PREGNANCY CAN HARM THE BABY
Unconfirmed: There is still no scientific evidence to prove this right or wrong. People often say you should color your hair only after the second trimester, when the baby is fully formed. To play it safe, better check with your doctor.
3. HAIR CAN “GET USED TO” A CERTAIN SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
False: No need to throw away your favorite brand, ladies. Depending on your hair’s needs, your regular shampoo and conditioner should work just fine. On the other hand, your hair can become duller or frizzier if you’re not using the right products, so assess your locks. Switch brands if you need different results and stick to your tried and true if it delivers what you need.
Read Related: 5 Ways to Style Wet Hair Under 10 Minutes
4. YOU CAN MEND SPLIT ENDS WITH SPECIAL TREATMENTS
False: Many brands claim to mend your ends, as if by magic. Truth is these restorative treatments seal split ends only temporarily. The solution? Trim off a few inches. If you wait too long between trims, your hair will inevitably split and look stringy.
5. AVOID USING CONDITIONER FOR A FULLER LOOK
It depends: Yes, conditioners can flatten your hair if you apply them to your scalp, but that doesn’t mean you have to steer clear. Conditioners are, in fact, a must. They contain fewer chemicals than shampoos and provide extra hydration. Just make sure they don´t come in contact with your scalp and that you apply them only to your strands.
6. NEVER, EVER COLOR YOUR HAIR AT HOME
It depends: The rule here—choose a tone based on your natural hair color. According to stylists, you can color at home only if you’re darkening or lightening one or two tones or retouching your roots. Leave any drastic changes to the professionals. No time or money to go to the salon? Keep an eye on purple/silver shampoos to tone down any brassiness or try using “glosses” every three weeks.
7. IF YOU PLUCK A GRAY HAIR, YOU’LL GROW BACK FIVE
False: No matter how old you are, gray hairs are a natural occurrence. A gray hair has no pigment but has a normal hair growth cycle. So if you pluck it out, one—not three or five—will grow back in its place in a few months. Do keep in mind that yanking gray hairs can damage the follicle.
8. YOUR HAIR’S TEXTURE CAN CHANGE OVER TIME
True: Hormones, the kind of water you wash it with, the weather, coloring or perming treatments and even your emotions cause changes to your hair. There’s nothing you can do; although—on the upside—sometimes it happens for the better. My own hair has changed a lot in the last few years (after I moved to New York) going from frizzy, straight and thick to wavy, thin and soft.
9. HOMEMADE TREATMENTS DON’T WORK
False: Sticky mayonnaise, smelly eggs and runny olive oil can do wonders as long as you rinse them out properly. Natural remedies, or even a nice blast of cold water after washing your locks, help to improve your overall hair health.
10. YOU SHOULDN’T CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT
True: If you cut your hair, you’re cutting your child’s health… Have you heard that one? Well, relax. It’s not true. The main reason to avoid getting a haircut during your pregnancy is because you’re going through many—emotional and physical—changes. Keep in mind that your pregnancy-induced thick, shiny hair will go back to its natural state months after you’ve given birth. So enjoy your thick mane while it lasts!
PRODUCTS FOR BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY HAIR
- Goody Wave Creator Curling Iron ($29.99) and Quick Style Paddle Brush ($11.99)
- Davines Melu Conditioner ($26)
- Matrix Total Results Color Care So Silver Shampoo ($18)
- Not Your Mother’s Miss Freeze ($5.99)
- ColorProof Evolved Color Care SuperRich Moisture Shampoo ($77)
Mamiverse is thrilled to attend Festival People en Español presented by Target, an event celebrating Hispanic entertainment, culture and community. We are hosting three Twitter parties this week and Tweeting Festival related content with the hashtag #TargetAtFestival. The participant who tweets and retweets the most using the hashtag #TargetAtFestival including a link to our Twitter party events on FB, or a link to one of our People en Español-related articles from today through the end of the Festival by midnight September 2 will receive a $100 giftcard. Join in our Twitter Extravaganza! Click here to RSVP.
