Fact-check - Does Thyme Oil Help Growth? Six Hair Myths Debunked
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Human beings have between 80,000 and 120,000 hairs on their head. The number depends on the color - blond people lead the race in this regard. In summer, hair mainly protect the scalp from sun rays. However, they are also prone to damage themselves. Some recommend special household remedies. The Fact Check clarifies some myths.
Claim: Washing hair daily makes it greasy.
False! This mainly depends on genes. Nutrition and hormones also have an influence, explains dermatologist Alice Martin. The sebaceous glands responsible for fat production cannot be turned on or off. Instead, one develops a feeling of whether the hair is greasy or not: "One gets used to it primarily optically."
However, one should be aware that with each washing, the so-called acid protection layer of the scalp is washed off. This stimulates the sebum production again. According to Antonio Weinitschke from the Central Association of the German Hairdressing Trade, some people can slow down the re-oiling by increasing the intervals between hair washings. "But that really depends on how much fat a person produces," says Weinitschke.
Claim: Saltwater and chlorinated water damage hair.
Partly correct. The danger lies mainly in the fact that saltwater and chlorinated water make hair coarser and more prone to friction, making them more susceptible to rubbing against each other or against brushes or pillows. Salt crystals can also intensify the sun's rays like a magnifying glass.
Blondes beware! "The strength of the chlorine in pools can cause a greenish discoloration in blonde hair," warns master hairdresser Weinitschke. A high copper content in chlorinated water can cause such discoloration. This affects blondes, but also naturally light blondes.
Claim: Hair masks work like sunscreen.
Only to a certain extent. "It makes sense to protect the hair from UV radiation, because this causes a chemical reaction in the hair keratin, which weakens the structure," explains Finner. Then the hair becomes more susceptible to mechanical or chemical influences and the risk of split ends and breakage increases. In addition, UV radiation from the sun can lighten the hair.
Hair masks with sunscreen protection, however, do not offer the same level of protection as a sunscreen with a factor of 50, says Weinitschke. But of course, the old-fashioned protection through a sun hat is still effective.
Claim: Products made from cabbage or thyme promote growth.
Little researched. On TikTok and similar platforms, videos circulate where cabbage-parsley smoothies for drinking or thyme oil for application to the hair for more growth are recommended.
Expert Martin, who specializes in educational work in the social media, evaluates such videos differently: On the one hand, there are no large-scale studies that confirm a positive effect. Only in smaller tests, positive trends were observed. "Medically, one cannot say that it definitively works, but there are individual reports where it is rated positively."
Claim: Shaving makes it grow more.
False! "That's nonsense", says Martin. Hair grows independently of whether it is shaved or not. "What happens up top has no influence or feedback on genetics.", explains he. Friseurmeister Weinitschke also classifies this claim as false: "Hair grows in a hair follicle under the skin, and you can't catch it with any razor", he states.
Claim: It's better not to get it wet.
Partly true! Dermatologist Martin explains: "The open scaly layer of wet hair can make them break faster". However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "It's not a disease. Hair is like dead material", she says. Of course, one would rather avoid it. According to Frisör Weinitschke, hair can be stretched to almost half their original length in a wet state. That's why they can also withstand combing well in this condition. However, with too much pulling, it can eventually rip.
- During the summer season, it's important to protect your hair from the sun's harmful rays to prevent damage.
- If you're planning a vacation in Berlin, Germany, don't forget to pack your suncreme for your hair as well as for your skin.
- After a day of leisure activities, you might want to fact-check some common hair care myths before trying out any DIY hair treatments.
- Some people believe that washing hair daily makes it greasy, but this claim has been proven false.
- If you're a blonde swimming in a chlorinated pool in Germany, you may want to be extra cautious as chlorine can cause a greenish discoloration in your hair.
