HAIR MYTHS #2

Many of us will go to great lengths to keep our hair healthy and looking great. But there are a few odd stories we keep telling ourselves about or crowning glory.... Hairprint has separated follicular fact from fiction:

MYTH # 1 BLACK HAIR IS STRONGER THAN BLONDE HAIR 

Despite this widespread belief, particularly among African Americans, black hair is one of the most fragile. Nor is it true that braiding and beading the hair makes it grow more quickly. Tight braids and beads can damage the hair.

TRUTH # 1 BEING STRESSED CAN MAKE YOUR HAIR FALL OUT 

Severe stress can take a toll on your hair. All hair follicles normally undergo periodic “rest” periods; sudden stress can cause them to enter this resting phase prematurely, making the hair fall out in the three months following the stressful event. Normally hair growth restores naturally, but it’s important to deal with stress and seek medical advice to rule out any underlying illness, hormonal imbalance, or drug side effects.

TRUTH # 2 WORRY BRINGS GREY HAIR

It seems that the stress hormone adrenaline may damage DNA in the genes responsible for the production of melanin, the pigment that gives hair its colour.

MYTH # 2 HAIR CAN TURN WHITE WITH FRIGHT 

You can’t lose pigment in your hair because hair is dead when it leaves the scalp. But a severe shock could trigger alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes pigmented hair (black, brown, red, or blonde) to drop out, leaving only grey and white hair behind.