Hair Loss Myths Debunked: What You Need to Know

Hair loss is a topic that garners a lot of attention and concern, but it’s also surrounded by myriad myths and misconceptions. Understanding the truth behind these myths can help you make informed decisions about your hair care and overall wellness. In this blog post, we’ll debunk some of the most common hair loss myths with scientific information to set the record straight.

Myth 1: If Your Mom’s Dad Has Great Hair, You Will Too

Myth: Hair loss is inherited solely from your maternal grandfather.

Truth: While genetics play a significant role in hair loss, it is not limited to your maternal grandfather. Hair loss can be inherited from either side of your family. Both maternal and paternal genes contribute to the likelihood of experiencing hair loss.

Scientific studies have shown that multiple genes are involved in hair loss, and they can come from both parents. So, looking at just your mom’s dad won’t give you the full picture of your genetic predisposition. This is one of those hair loss myths that has a grain of truth, but is not quite accurate.  

Myth 2: Wearing a Ball Cap Suffocates the Scalp and Causes Hair Loss

Myth: Regularly wearing a ball cap can suffocate your scalp, leading to hair loss.

Truth: Hair follicles receive their oxygen supply from the bloodstream, not the air. Therefore, wearing a cap does not suffocate your scalp.

However, it’s essential to keep your scalp clean! For this reason, excessive wearing of tight caps could cause damage to hair follicles. But rest assured, wearing your favorite cap generally won’t cause hair loss. To ensure that the scalp stays clean and exfoliated, consider our DeeplyRooted Shampoo. It was specifically designed to support this!

Myth 3: Washing Your Hair Too Often Causes Hair Loss

Myth: Frequent hair washing leads to hair loss.

Truth: Ehhhh, this one is a little tricky. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Here’s the thing: washing your hair regularly does not directly cause hair loss. In fact, keeping your scalp clean and exfoliated can promote healthy hair growth, as we mentioned above.  

The heart of these hair loss myths is the idea that when you wash your hair, you increase its shedding. But actually, we lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day as part of the normal hair growth cycle. Proper hair hygiene, including using a gently exfoliating formula like our shampoo, can maintain a healthy scalp environment.

But we did say this one is a little complicated, and here’s why: if you wash excessively (think, multiple times per day when experts usually recommend once every two or three days), it can throw off that scalp environment. This is because any product, no matter how gentle, will contribute to stripping good natural oils if used in excess.

So, what is the answer for this myth? Regularly washing doesn’t cause hair loss, but if you want your healthiest scalp ever, “regular” should mean that you wash once every two or so days.

Myth 4: Stress Causes Permanent Hair Loss

Myth: High levels of stress will cause you to lose your hair permanently.

Truth: While stress can contribute to hair loss conditions such as telogen effluvium, it is typically temporary. This is one of those hair loss myths that is partially true but often inflated. Once the stressor is removed or managed, hair growth usually resumes.

Chronic stress, however, can have long-term effects on overall health, including hair health. Practicing stress management techniques can help mitigate this risk and promote better hair health. Might we suggest a meditation on our partner LifeTime Fitness's app. It could be a great place to start! There are also tons of other stress management techniques specific to the most common causes, so it can’t hurt to take some time researching for yourself.

Myth 5: Cutting Your Hair Makes It Grow Faster

Myth: Regular haircuts stimulate faster hair growth.

Truth: Hair grows from the roots, not the ends. Cutting your hair does not impact the growth rate of your hair follicles.

Regular trims can help maintain healthy hair by preventing split ends and breakage. This will often give the appearance of thicker and healthier hair. But it doesn’t actually speed up the hair growth!

Myth 6: Hair Loss Only Affects Men

Myth: Hair loss is a problem only men face.

Truth: Hair loss affects both men and women.

Women can experience hair loss due to various factors, including hormonal changes, genetics, and health conditions. It’s crucial for women experiencing hair loss to seek appropriate treatments and care, just like men.

One major (but temporary) hair loss moment for women often comes after giving birth. If you are dealing with this, be sure to check out our post on postpartum hair loss!

Myth 7: Dandruff Causes Hair Loss

Myth: Having dandruff will cause you to lose your hair.

Truth: Dandruff itself does not cause hair loss.

However, severe dandruff can lead to excessive scratching, which might damage hair follicles and cause some hair loss. Using effective treatments for dandruff can help keep your scalp healthy and reduce the risk of hair damage.

Conclusion

Understanding the truth behind these hair loss myths is essential for making informed decisions about your haircare routine. By debunking these myths, we hope to provide you with a clearer picture of how to maintain healthy hair!