Fact or Fiction? #4 - Curly hair myths, debunked!

Hello everyone!

I have not published a Fact or Fiction? post in such a long time, but this is, actually, my fourth beauty myths post. These posts are meant to debunk common beauty myths and misconceptions. For this fourth (4th) post, I chose to focus on curly hair. 

I have a loose curl pattern (2c/3a) and, I have been wearing my hair naturally, on and off, for over a decade. I haven't straightened my hair in almost two and a half years! Needless to say, I learned quite a few tips and tricks along this journey. I found a lot of helpful information online, but also a lot of misinformation such as:

1. Do not wash your hair more than once a week.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction.

There is no one golden rule when it comes to hair cleansing. If you don’t wash your hair enough, it will become flat and greasy. If you wash it too often, it will be dry and frizzy. You should wash your hair when it needs to be cleansed.

2. You only have curly hair if you don’t have to scrunch it.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction.

Some people believe that if your hair is not curly while wet, you don’t have curly hair. Wet hair is elongated and weighed down with water. Thus, the curl or wave pattern is hidden. This is why shrinkage happens, where curly hair often looks shorter when dry.

3. You can use high heat to diffuse your hair without causing damage.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction.

Many believe that since the diffuser attachment diffuses the heat, it will not cause damage. Unfortunately, the truth is that heat always leads to some damage. If you must use heat, use it as little as possible, and always protect your hair with a heat protectant.

4. Wash your hair with conditioner only.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction.

Applying conditioner on wet hair and rinsing it out is moisturising hair, not washing it. If you want to cleanse your hair, you need to use a shampoo, cleansing conditioner or a co-wash. These products contain ingredients that help remove dirt, impurities and product buildup. 

5. Silicones and sulphates damage your hair.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction.

This is a core rule of the Curly Girl Method (CGM) and a huge misconception:

Silicones coat the hair and cover up the damage. As they build up, the most efficient way to remove them is by using sulphate shampoo. However, sulphates strip natural oils, causing dryness, frizz and damage. Thus, creating a vicious cycle. According to the CGM, you should never ever use them.

Silicones are not inherently bad for hair; water-insoluble silicones do build up on the hair shaft and are difficult to remove, however, water-soluble ones are easily removed with gentle shampoos, including sulfate-free shampoos.

Sulphates can be damaging to your hair. But they can also have some benefits; without cleansing sulphates, sebum quickly builds up on the scalp. This buildup will lead to a lot of itchiness, flakes, and over time this can lead to hair loss. Sulfate-free shampoos are an excellent option for most curlies, but if you feel the need to use a shampoo that contains sulphates, you can do so. The secret is to dilute it with water, only apply it to the hair roots and, alternate its use with a more moisturising shampoo. 

6. You must follow the Curly Girl Method.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction.

I think the Curly Girl Method is a good starting point for learning how to take care of curly hair, but it’s not the end-all-be-all of curly hair care. The truth is, it takes a lot of trial and error to find what works for your hair.

Curly hair is stunning, unique and sometimes hard to manage. Which one of these curl myths surprised you the most?

Related post:

Fact or Fiction? - Beauty myths, debunked!

Fact or Fiction? - Beauty myths, debunked! #2

Fact or Fiction? - Beauty myths, debunked! #3