Here are some of my favorites…
Myth #1:
“There is no color in my hair, it’s all washed out/grown out.”
Well this isn’t exactly a myth but its not often true either. It is quite often followed up with “Yes I’ve colored my hair but only with a semi permanent” or the “box said it was only a semi permanent”.
Well, where do I start! There aren’t many true semi permanent colors on the market. Most that are only last a few washes so they aren’t very popular. Most hair salons call anything that’s not permanent a semi. Tecchnically they are usually a demi (this means that they are not going to come out completely but are less ‘sticky’ than the permanent ones). Because of this, there will always be SOME color left in your hair, even if you can’t see it. Hence it will NEVER wash out completely.
It is quite obvious when we start to bleach your hair and it takes longer than usual or goes a funny color.
Temporary hair colors like Fudge & Paintbox are notorious for this. I've had clients color over their blue hair to black, with other box colors and when you bleach it, it still comes out blue….even though the blue had all “washed out” before they put the black over it. I've also had blondes in that had colored their hair blue and purple months ago, you can’t see ANY of the color left in there but when you bleach it, it draws it out to a nice light blue, or mint green…quite handy if you want to be mint green but not so much it you want platinum hair!
Growing out your color takes years if you have long hair. Quite often there is still a good bit left in the ends. The best thing to do is just be honest, and tell me when you colored it last. It doesn’t mean I am going to throw you out of the salon, it just means I need to do things differently and change the products I use.
Myth #2:
“I don’t use products in my hair or conditioner because its too oily”
Supermarket shampoo, whether it’s cheap or expensive, will leave your hair feeling greasier than a KFC Double Down. Supermarket shampoo’s are formulated for everyone…hence they are not very good for anyone. The shampoo strips your hair causing the roots to flood back oil because its feels dried out, the conditioner is too watered down.
Light but moisturising products are our weapon of choice. Always shampoo twice, the first removes big stuff, the second cleanses properly without stripping. Condition the mid-lengths and ends, NEVER the roots. This will mean you give the ends that moisture it needs without greasing up the roots. Each client has different issues thus I recommend products specific to each individual needs.
Myth #3:
“I’m hair for my hair-up/hair to be curled for my night out/special event…it curls better when its dirty so I haven’t washed it for a few days.”
This is one that’s come from a little bit of truth that’s been blown out of all proportion. Hair that hasn’t been washed for more than 2 days is usually getting pretty oily, especially if in those 2 days you’ve gone out to a party, done a bit of work and gotten a little sweaty or basically lived your life outside of a bubble. Oil is heavy, it weighs down hair. Heavy hair weighs down curls. So there we go….now we have to get out hands in your nice oily hair that smells slightly of last nights dinner or someone else’s cigarettes, we have to use our hot tools like our irons or curlers and its going to BURN off the oil….see that smoke? That’s not product burning off there.
Its best to wash the night before and make sure its dry when you come in. If you HAVE to wash it in the morning, that’s totally fine, just make sure its dry when you come in so we don’t have to do twice the work. I have products that can add the texture we need to get a good style going.
Myth #4:
“Professional products don’t do anything for my hair, it feels the same.”
This is quite common, but also not true. They might not feel like they are doing anything instantly, but quite a lot of professional products work over a longer period of time. Especially if it’s a repairing product.
Quite often products work from the inside of the hair. This is a lot of the difference between professional and supermarket products, which mainly work cosmetically, meaning they work on making the outside of the hair look good instantly but aren’t doing anything long term. It’s like painting a rotting house…its still going to crumble down underneath the shiny paint.
Myth #5:
“My products stopped working” or “My hair has got used to my shampoo.”
This is usually because your product has done its job. If it’s a repair shampoo…its repaired your hair and maybe now you need a different one for more normal hair instead of damaged.
It’s like using antibiotics to fix a medical problem. You don’t just keep using it. Once its done its job, you start using something else. Products with lots of protein (which strengthens damaged hair), once used for a while can make the hair brittle and hard feeling. This is normal….you need a moisture one after this to soften it back down.
Myth #6
“Don’t wash your hair for a while and it starts to self clean”
Well this was an interesting one. The thing with this is, what do you think it's going to self clean with? Your natural oils are there to protect your hair and scalp….if your hair gets too oily, oil isn’t going to clean oil.
I think this one came from the fact that once hair is at its oiliest, it's not going to get any oiler, therefore not getting any dirtier. But its never going to self clean. Also with the smells and factors from the natural environment sticking to the oil in your hair, its going to get worse, start growing bacteria and various fungal diseases and your scalp is going to be pretty unhealthy. Also with long hair, the dead skin cells are not going to be washed out causing flakes…..not nice.
Myth #7
“I’m going natural so I’m going to use baking soda and apple cider vinegar.”
Newsflash!! Baking soda is a chemical (sodium bicarbonate) which is made using a chemical process. Apple Cider vinegar is made from fermented crushed apples but studies have shown that the store bought Apple Cider vinegar can be made up of a bunch of different chemicals and not contain actual apple cider vinegar at all.
Also, not everything that is natural is actually good for you. I can name a whole bunch of illegal drugs that you wouldn’t want to use, even though they are made from natural ingredients.
Just because its natural, doesn’t mean you can use it for anything. It has its uses and it may not contain chemicals, but that doesn’t mean its good for what you’re using it for.
The basic idea is that baking soda is an alkaline (like shampoo) that opens the hair cuticles allowing the dirt out. Apple cider vinegar is acidic (like conditioner is slightly acidic) which closes the cuticles on the hair shaft down tight, making it look shiny. This may work for a little while but longterm…..
HOWEVER….baking soda is too alkaline which in turn strips the hair (why would you use something that can also be used to clean your dishes and your fridge on your much more fragile hair?). It will also remove your pretty hair color, all your natural oils and anything else that you want to keep in there. Apple cider vinegar is great in small quantities but is too acidic.
This was a great remedy in the old days where shampoo was made up of harsh soaps and conditioner didn’t exist. These days, everyone is more aware of what they are using on themselves and the product companies have responded by taking out all the nasty ingredients (like SLS, TEA and all the suphates) and replacing with lovely, nourishing fruit and plant oils.
Well I hope this has enlightened some of you and even given you a giggle. There are lots more myths but far too many to post in this blog…….I might have to do a part 2!
Myth #1:
“There is no color in my hair, it’s all washed out/grown out.”
Well this isn’t exactly a myth but its not often true either. It is quite often followed up with “Yes I’ve colored my hair but only with a semi permanent” or the “box said it was only a semi permanent”.
Well, where do I start! There aren’t many true semi permanent colors on the market. Most that are only last a few washes so they aren’t very popular. Most hair salons call anything that’s not permanent a semi. Tecchnically they are usually a demi (this means that they are not going to come out completely but are less ‘sticky’ than the permanent ones). Because of this, there will always be SOME color left in your hair, even if you can’t see it. Hence it will NEVER wash out completely.
It is quite obvious when we start to bleach your hair and it takes longer than usual or goes a funny color.
Temporary hair colors like Fudge & Paintbox are notorious for this. I've had clients color over their blue hair to black, with other box colors and when you bleach it, it still comes out blue….even though the blue had all “washed out” before they put the black over it. I've also had blondes in that had colored their hair blue and purple months ago, you can’t see ANY of the color left in there but when you bleach it, it draws it out to a nice light blue, or mint green…quite handy if you want to be mint green but not so much it you want platinum hair!
Growing out your color takes years if you have long hair. Quite often there is still a good bit left in the ends. The best thing to do is just be honest, and tell me when you colored it last. It doesn’t mean I am going to throw you out of the salon, it just means I need to do things differently and change the products I use.
Myth #2:
“I don’t use products in my hair or conditioner because its too oily”
Supermarket shampoo, whether it’s cheap or expensive, will leave your hair feeling greasier than a KFC Double Down. Supermarket shampoo’s are formulated for everyone…hence they are not very good for anyone. The shampoo strips your hair causing the roots to flood back oil because its feels dried out, the conditioner is too watered down.
Light but moisturising products are our weapon of choice. Always shampoo twice, the first removes big stuff, the second cleanses properly without stripping. Condition the mid-lengths and ends, NEVER the roots. This will mean you give the ends that moisture it needs without greasing up the roots. Each client has different issues thus I recommend products specific to each individual needs.
Myth #3:
“I’m hair for my hair-up/hair to be curled for my night out/special event…it curls better when its dirty so I haven’t washed it for a few days.”
This is one that’s come from a little bit of truth that’s been blown out of all proportion. Hair that hasn’t been washed for more than 2 days is usually getting pretty oily, especially if in those 2 days you’ve gone out to a party, done a bit of work and gotten a little sweaty or basically lived your life outside of a bubble. Oil is heavy, it weighs down hair. Heavy hair weighs down curls. So there we go….now we have to get out hands in your nice oily hair that smells slightly of last nights dinner or someone else’s cigarettes, we have to use our hot tools like our irons or curlers and its going to BURN off the oil….see that smoke? That’s not product burning off there.
Its best to wash the night before and make sure its dry when you come in. If you HAVE to wash it in the morning, that’s totally fine, just make sure its dry when you come in so we don’t have to do twice the work. I have products that can add the texture we need to get a good style going.
Myth #4:
“Professional products don’t do anything for my hair, it feels the same.”
This is quite common, but also not true. They might not feel like they are doing anything instantly, but quite a lot of professional products work over a longer period of time. Especially if it’s a repairing product.
Quite often products work from the inside of the hair. This is a lot of the difference between professional and supermarket products, which mainly work cosmetically, meaning they work on making the outside of the hair look good instantly but aren’t doing anything long term. It’s like painting a rotting house…its still going to crumble down underneath the shiny paint.
Myth #5:
“My products stopped working” or “My hair has got used to my shampoo.”
This is usually because your product has done its job. If it’s a repair shampoo…its repaired your hair and maybe now you need a different one for more normal hair instead of damaged.
It’s like using antibiotics to fix a medical problem. You don’t just keep using it. Once its done its job, you start using something else. Products with lots of protein (which strengthens damaged hair), once used for a while can make the hair brittle and hard feeling. This is normal….you need a moisture one after this to soften it back down.
Myth #6
“Don’t wash your hair for a while and it starts to self clean”
Well this was an interesting one. The thing with this is, what do you think it's going to self clean with? Your natural oils are there to protect your hair and scalp….if your hair gets too oily, oil isn’t going to clean oil.
I think this one came from the fact that once hair is at its oiliest, it's not going to get any oiler, therefore not getting any dirtier. But its never going to self clean. Also with the smells and factors from the natural environment sticking to the oil in your hair, its going to get worse, start growing bacteria and various fungal diseases and your scalp is going to be pretty unhealthy. Also with long hair, the dead skin cells are not going to be washed out causing flakes…..not nice.
Myth #7
“I’m going natural so I’m going to use baking soda and apple cider vinegar.”
Newsflash!! Baking soda is a chemical (sodium bicarbonate) which is made using a chemical process. Apple Cider vinegar is made from fermented crushed apples but studies have shown that the store bought Apple Cider vinegar can be made up of a bunch of different chemicals and not contain actual apple cider vinegar at all.
Also, not everything that is natural is actually good for you. I can name a whole bunch of illegal drugs that you wouldn’t want to use, even though they are made from natural ingredients.
Just because its natural, doesn’t mean you can use it for anything. It has its uses and it may not contain chemicals, but that doesn’t mean its good for what you’re using it for.
The basic idea is that baking soda is an alkaline (like shampoo) that opens the hair cuticles allowing the dirt out. Apple cider vinegar is acidic (like conditioner is slightly acidic) which closes the cuticles on the hair shaft down tight, making it look shiny. This may work for a little while but longterm…..
HOWEVER….baking soda is too alkaline which in turn strips the hair (why would you use something that can also be used to clean your dishes and your fridge on your much more fragile hair?). It will also remove your pretty hair color, all your natural oils and anything else that you want to keep in there. Apple cider vinegar is great in small quantities but is too acidic.
This was a great remedy in the old days where shampoo was made up of harsh soaps and conditioner didn’t exist. These days, everyone is more aware of what they are using on themselves and the product companies have responded by taking out all the nasty ingredients (like SLS, TEA and all the suphates) and replacing with lovely, nourishing fruit and plant oils.
Well I hope this has enlightened some of you and even given you a giggle. There are lots more myths but far too many to post in this blog…….I might have to do a part 2!
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