5 Hair Care Myths You Need to Stop Believing

If you’ve been following me for a minute, you know that there are few things I love more than myth busting facts about skin and hair care. Why, you might ask? Well there’s nothing that grinds my gears quite like skin and hair misinformation being spread on social media. Don’t get me wrong—I love a good TikTok hair tutorial, and plenty of creators share tips that are genuinely backed by research. But unfortunately, there’s also a ton of “tips” we need to ditch! In honor of this, I am breaking down five common haircare myths that need to be left behind for good. Let’s discuss!

Myth #1: You Should Go as Long as Possible Without Washing Your Hair

This is such an interesting one to me. It felt like growing up (for me), it was encouraged to wash your hair everyday. Then somewhere around 2010, it was discovered that’s not actually all that wise for your scalp and hair, so we overcompensated by saying “let’s go as long as possible.” 

It’s this idea that you can “train” your scalp to produce less oil by stretching out the time between washes. I hate to break it to you, but you can’t “train” our scalp. Your scalp is skin (an extension of your face, really), and just like your face, it needs regular cleansing to remove oil, sweat, and product buildup. Going too long without washing can lead to an overgrowth of Malassezia (a natural yeast found on the scalp), which can cause dandruff, irritation, and other scalp issues.

The key is to find a wash schedule that works for your hair type and lifestyle. It’s going to be different for everyone, so I highly encourage you to do a little trial and error on your end, to discover what supports you best. For me, washing every 4-5 days is the sweet spot. 

Pro Tip: If you also go 4-5 days and are using dry shampoo and hair oils in that “in between” time, give your scalp a proper cleanse with a detox shampoo as your “first wash.” Just to make sure you prevent any product buildup!

Myth #2: Oily Hair Doesn’t Need Conditioner

I hear this one all the time, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. To me, it’s the same argument as “I have oily skin, therefore I never need a moisturizer.” The truth of the matter is for almost everyone, conditioner is a vital step! Conditioners hydrate hair and coat the cuticle! Not to mention, balancing hair and scalp pH. If you are questioning whether to use a conditioner (because you aren’t loving how your hair looks/feels following the one you are using), you are probably just using the wrong conditioner!

Here are a few of my favorites for oily hair types:

Myth #3: Dandruff Means Your Scalp Is Dry

This is a big and tricky one, and it’s a common misconception. Dandruff isn’t necessarily this simple. It can be caused by a mild skin condition (seborrheic dermatitis), fungal infections, oily scalp and product buildup (yup, you heard that right, not a “dry scalp”), or certain hair care habits. 

I go into more specific dandruff treatment options in my haircare guide, but to name a few, look for shampoos  with ingredients like zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, sulfur, or coal tar. I also consider doing a double cleanse with your shampoo, to make sure you remove all buildup! 

Here are a couple of the dandruff shampoos I recommend:

Myth #4: Rosemary Oil is a Miracle Cure for Hair Growth

For starters, I discuss this with Dr Michelle Wong in a podcast episode, and I absolutely love how she explained it! Essentially rosemary oil is unfortunately not the magic bullet for hair growth that social media often makes it out to be. Yes, it’s trending everywhere, but let’s look at the evidence—or rather, the lack of it.

The buzz largely stems from one 2015 study that compared rosemary oil to minoxidil, a proven hair growth treatment. However, this study has some serious flaws. The methodology and reporting were questionable, and there’s no strong data to support the claims made. While rosemary oil does have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its efficacy as a hair growth treatment is, at best, anecdotal. Plus, essential oils like rosemary can be irritating, and scalp irritation can actually contribute to hair loss rather than prevent it.This is why I feel so passionate about busting myths! Not only do these “trends” often not work, they can occasionally make things worse!

To conclude this, if you’re dealing with hair loss, I strongly recommend consulting with your dermatologist who can pinpoint the cause and suggest treatments. Hair loss is a progressive condition for many, and delaying effective treatment in favor of unproven remedies can lead to permanent damage.

Myth #5: Rinsing Your Hair With Cold Water Makes It Shinier

After that, I say we end on a lighter note! While rinsing your hair with cold water can temporarily flatten the hair cuticle (which might make it appear shinier), it doesn’t actually improve the health of your hair. Shine is a result of healthy, hydrated scalp and hair—not freezing cold rinses (tbh I wish it was that easy).

Instead of torturing yourself with icy showers, focus on what really matters: products that support your hair type and lifestyle,, committing to a sustainable “hair schedule," and protecting your hair from environmental stressors.

I want to start this conclusion with this: if you are currently partaking in any of these myths, you are not alone! We (myself included) have absolutely partaken in trends that have probably done more harm than good. My hope with these blogs and podcast episodes is to get the info out there, so we can make changes! I also hope this empowers you to look into the science behind some of the hair habits you have made. Also, have any other hair myths you want me to bust? Drop them in the comments or send me a message! I’ll do a part 2!

P.S. If you’re looking to dive deeper into scalp and hair care, don’t forget to check out my comprehensive haircare guide! It’s packed with tips, product recommendations, and quizzes to help you create a routine that works for you.

**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and may contain products gifted in PR. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase via these links at no additional cost to you (thank you! It helps me keep things up and running)… As always I ONLY recommend products, goods and services that I stand behind and personally love and use.