5 Most Common Shampoo Myths – Debunked!
Suds up! Our expects end all the confusion by tackling the most common shampoo myths out there

October 11, 2016

A bottle of shampoo

Is washing your hair too much really that bad for you? 

Suds up! We’re ending all the confusion by tackling the most common hair-washing myths out there.

“You need foam to know it’s really working.”

MYTH The more bubbles, the cleaner your hair’s getting, right? Umm, not exactly. You may love working up a good lather, but that foam is mostly created for psychological effect (Oooh, it’s cleaning!). Suds occurs when surfactant molecules in the shampoo mix with air and create tons of tiny bubbles. Ideally, when you shampoo hair, your head should have only enough lather to lubricate the hair and scalp, so a quarter-size blob of shampoo is usually enough to for a good hair wash. No need to empty half the bottle onto your crown.

“You should use a clarifying formula to get rid of buildup.”

PARTLY FACT Unless you’re extremely heavy-handed with serious hair products, hairspray, mousse, or gel, your regular ‘ol shampoo will prevent styling-product build-up from clogging your strands. However, if you do need a clarifier to de-gunk those tresses, don’t use it more than once a week. They’re detergent-heavy and while they do a great job of removing residue, they’ll also do a great job of weakening and damaging your hair.

“Washing every day can be bad for your hair.”

MOSTLY MYTH Don’t fret… daily washing is safe and healthy. If you have oily hair, it’s fine to suds up every day, but even oily hair types should use a gentle formula (i.e: one with moisturising ingredients, like silicones or shea butter). People with coarse or dry hair might want to go easy on the suds and wash every other day. No matter what kind of hair you have, as long as you stay away from harsh formulas that strip natural oils and treat your strands with conditioner, regular shampooing won’t do any harm.

“For best results, follow with a hair conditioner.”

FACT No, this isn’t a scam to sell you two products. Chemists can pack only so many ingredients into each bottle. And shampoo chemicals can’t clean properly and deposit enough conditioner to moisturise your locks. Using a separate conditioner will coat strands with ingredients that hydrate and protect. BTW: If your hair’s super-oily, apply the thick stuff only from the ears to the ends.

“After a while, your hair gets used to your shampoo. That’s why you need to switch to a new brand occasionally.”

MYTH Honestly, where do people come up with this stuff? FYI… you’re hair is dead, period. So it can’t ‘get used to’ anything. It’s just your perception of how your hair responds to a new formula. So if you love your brand, there’s no reason to switch.

Looking for more on shampoo? Here’s why you’re using shampoo incorrectly this whole time, and the secret to DIY dry shampoo.