10 Hair Myths Your Hairdresser Wants You to Stop Believing
There are a lot of hair rules out there.
Don't wash your hair every day.
Never cut your hair if you're trying to grow it.
Cold water makes it shinier.
Plucking one grey hair means three more will grow back.
Your hair gets "used to" your shampoo.
And then there's the classic:
"My hairdresser said..."
Some of these bits of advice have been passed down for generations. Others have appeared on TikTok, Instagram or somewhere in the depths of a Reddit thread at 1am.
The problem is that hair advice often gets repeated so many times that it starts to sound like fact.
So we thought we'd separate the genuinely useful advice from the stuff that needs to be put firmly in the bin.
Here are 10 hair myths we'd love to retire.
Myth #1: Cutting your hair makes it grow faster
This is probably one of the oldest hair myths around.
And unfortunately, your haircut has absolutely no effect on the rate at which your hair grows from the scalp.
Hair growth happens inside the follicle beneath the skin. Cutting the ends doesn't change what's happening at the root.
So why does your hair sometimes seem to grow better when you start getting regular trims?
Because you're protecting the length you've already grown.
When ends become split, dry and damaged, the damage can travel further up the hair shaft. Regular trims remove those damaged ends before they become a bigger problem.
So if you're growing your hair:
You don't need to stop cutting it.
You just need to stop cutting off more than you're growing.
A small, regular trim can help your hair look healthier and make it easier to retain length over time.
The bit of truth behind the myth:
Cutting doesn't make hair grow faster.
It can help you keep more of the hair you're growing.
Myth #2: Plucking one grey hair makes two grow back
If this were true, we'd have a rather serious grey hair problem on our hands.
Thankfully, it isn't.
Plucking a grey hair doesn't cause neighbouring follicles to suddenly decide they want to join in.
Each hair grows from its own follicle, so removing one hair doesn't affect the follicles around it.
However, repeatedly plucking hairs isn't a particularly good habit.
The follicle can become irritated or damaged, and eventually you may stop getting a hair growing from it altogether.
So if you're not ready to embrace the grey, colour it rather than repeatedly pulling it out.
And if you're curious about why hair goes grey in the first place, that's a much more interesting story...
As we age, the pigment-producing cells responsible for giving hair its colour gradually become less active. Eventually, the hair grows with little or no pigment.
It isn't your hair suddenly "turning" grey overnight.
The new hair growing through is simply no longer producing the same amount of pigment.
Myth #3: You shouldn't wash your hair every day
This one is more complicated.
There isn't a magic number of days that everyone should leave between washes.
Some people can comfortably go several days without washing their hair.
Others have a scalp that becomes oily quickly and genuinely feels better when washed daily.
And that's okay.
Your scalp produces sebum — an oily substance that helps protect the skin and hair. How much you produce varies considerably from person to person.
Your hair texture matters too.
Fine, straight hair can show oil much more quickly than thick, curly hair.
So rather than asking:
"How often should I wash my hair?"
A better question is:
"How often does my scalp need washing?"
If your scalp feels oily, uncomfortable or heavily coated with product, there's no prize for forcing yourself to wait another three days.
And if you have dry, curly or textured hair that doesn't need frequent washing, you don't need to wash it simply because someone on TikTok told you that you should.
Your scalp is allowed to have its own routine.
Myth #4: Your hair gets "used to" your shampoo
This is one we hear all the time.
"My shampoo worked brilliantly for months and now it doesn't seem to do anything."
Your hair hasn't necessarily become immune to your shampoo.
What's more likely is that your hair's needs have changed.
Maybe you've coloured it.
Maybe you've started using more styling products.
Maybe you've moved somewhere with harder water.
Maybe you've been swimming.
Maybe your scalp is oilier than usual.
Maybe your hair has become drier.
Or perhaps you've simply accumulated product buildup.
That's why it can be useful to have more than one type of shampoo in your routine when appropriate — for example, a regular shampoo alongside a clarifying product.
But you don't need to change products every few weeks because your hair has supposedly "adapted".
A good shampoo doesn't stop working because your hair has figured it out.
Myth #5: Cold water makes your hair dramatically shinier
We're sorry to anyone who has spent years standing freezing under the shower for this one.
Cold water can feel refreshing and may temporarily affect how the hair feels, but the idea that finishing every wash with freezing cold water will dramatically "close your cuticles" and transform your hair isn't quite accurate.
Hair's cuticle isn't a door that simply opens and closes depending on whether you're using hot or cold water.
Water temperature can affect the hair and scalp, but how you cleanse, condition and treat your hair is far more important to its overall appearance.
If you enjoy a cool rinse, go for it.
But you don't need to torture yourself in the name of shine.
Myth #6: Brushing your hair 100 times a day makes it healthier
This myth dates back a long way.
The idea was that repeated brushing would distribute natural oils from the scalp through the lengths, making the hair shinier and healthier.
There is a little logic behind the original advice.
But 100 brush strokes?
Absolutely not necessary.
Over-brushing can cause friction and mechanical damage, particularly if your hair is already fragile, bleached or tangled.
And brushing aggressively when hair is wet can make things worse.
Instead, use the right brush or comb for your hair type and detangle gently.
Start at the ends and work upwards rather than dragging a knot from the root all the way down.
Your hair doesn't need a military-grade brushing schedule.
Myth #7: Split ends can be permanently repaired
This one is particularly important if you're trying to grow your hair.
Once a hair has physically split, you can't permanently fuse it back together.
There are products that can temporarily smooth and bind damaged fibres, making hair look and feel significantly better.
Professional treatments can also improve the condition and resilience of compromised hair.
But a split end is a physical separation of the hair fibre.
The permanent solution is to remove it.
This doesn't mean you need a dramatic haircut.
A small trim can remove damaged ends while preserving as much healthy length as possible.
The goal isn't to cut your hair because it's "bad".
It's to stop a small problem becoming a bigger one.
Myth #8: Hair products are only as good as their price tag
Expensive doesn't automatically mean better.
And cheap doesn't automatically mean bad.
What matters is whether a product is formulated for your hair and what you're asking it to do.
A £30 product that isn't right for your hair is money wasted.
A £10 product that suits your needs might be perfectly adequate.
However, professional products can contain different concentrations, formulations or technologies designed for particular hair concerns, which is why your stylist may recommend them.
The best approach isn't:
"What's the most expensive thing you sell?"
It's:
"What does my hair actually need?"
Your stylist should be able to explain why they're recommending something.
Myth #9: If you have damaged hair, you should stop colouring it completely
Sometimes, yes — hair needs a break.
But "damaged hair" isn't automatically a synonym for "never colour your hair again."
The answer depends on what kind of colour you're having, how compromised the hair is and what you're trying to achieve.
A full bleach transformation is very different from a gentle gloss.
A carefully placed balayage is different from repeatedly lightening every strand from root to tip.
And professional colourists can adjust formulations and techniques depending on the condition of the hair.
This is why your stylist may sometimes recommend changing how you colour your hair rather than stopping completely.
And sometimes they'll tell you that a particular service isn't advisable right now.
That's not them being difficult.
It's them protecting your hair.
Myth #10: You can train your hair to need less washing
This one has exploded online.
The theory is that if you gradually wash your hair less often, your scalp will eventually realise it doesn't need to produce as much oil.
Unfortunately, your scalp doesn't work quite like that.
Sebum production is influenced by factors including genetics, hormones and other biological processes. Simply washing less frequently doesn't necessarily "reprogram" your sebaceous glands.
What can happen is that you become more accustomed to the way your hair looks between washes.
And you may find products or styling techniques that help you extend the time between washes.
That's perfectly fine.
But you don't need to endure an increasingly oily scalp because you've been told you're "training" it.
So what should you actually believe?
The frustrating answer is that haircare isn't one-size-fits-all.
The best routine depends on:
Your natural hair texture
Your density
Your scalp
Your colour history
How often you heat-style
Your lifestyle
Your age
Your environment
What you're trying to achieve
That's why two people can use completely different routines and both have beautiful hair.
Your friend's miracle product may be completely wrong for you.
And the haircut that transformed your sister's hair might make yours much harder to manage.
The best hair advice is usually much less complicated
Look after your scalp.
Don't ignore damaged ends.
Protect your hair from unnecessary heat and environmental damage.
Use products that suit your hair rather than whatever happens to be trending.
Don't be afraid of washing your hair when it actually needs washing.
And, perhaps most importantly, get professional advice when you're making a major change.
A good hairdresser isn't there simply to make your hair look good for the next six weeks.
They're looking at the bigger picture — what your hair has been through, what condition it's in and what will help you achieve what you want without compromising it.
And sometimes the best advice you'll get is:
"Yes, we can absolutely do that."
And sometimes it's:
"Not quite yet — but here's how we'll get you there."
Both are good answers.
Want personalised advice for your hair?
The Raire Hairdressing Company teams in Wick, Littlehampton and Rustington work with all hair types, colours and textures and can help you find the right cut, colour and care routine for your hair.
Book your next appointment online or contact your local salon.