Urban Beauty Myths

As we grow up our mothers teach us a lot of things, especially when it comes to hair, makeup and skin care. Now, if our mothers ever ask we will completely deny saying this, but not everything they have taught us is true. Much of the knowledge that our mothers pass down to us, was passed down to them from their mothers, and so on. Where some of these tips originated we will never know. However, after working in the salon industry for many years and training for many before that, one thing we can say for certain is that some of which has been taught to us is not based on fact, but rather myth.

1. If you pluck one grey hair, more will grow back.

FALSE. Grey hair forms when a hair follicle losses pigment, the oil around it depletes and in turn the hair grows in dry and wirey. Plucking one hair won’t make more grow in, but it also is not the answer to ridding yourself of stubborn strands. If you find that you’re noticing more and more grey hairs, stop by your salon and consult with your hairdresser. They can maintain your colour in a natural looking way, touch up your crown and help the process along more gradually.

2. Toothpaste makes a great spot treatment for blemishes!

FALSE. Yes, toothpaste has a drying effect, but why would you waste what is meant for your teeth on your face, when there are far superior products on the market? Moreover, most toothpastes contain ingredients like mint or fluoride which irritates the skin. Instead, look for products that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

3. Rimming your eyes with black liner makes your eyes appear larger.

FALSE. Dark shades on your eyes make them appear smaller because they define the shape of your eye whereas light shades will open up your eyes. A few protips for you? For an eye opening effect try dabbing a tiny bit of an illuminator or a white eyeshadow at the inner corners of the eye and along the bottom, inside lash line. Curling your lashes and using a lengthening mascara are also great ways to make your eyes pop.

4. 100 brush strokes a day will help you hair grow and appear shiner.

FALSE. To all you aspiring Rapunzel’s out there, we’re sorry but this one could not be more wrong. In fact, brushing your hair that much can actually do more harm than good. If you have dry, or damaged hair, repeated brushing can cause breakage and make your hair appear shorter. As far as shiney hair goes, we recommend using a product like our Element Hair Spray Shine which gives a natural looking shine and works well with all hair types.

5. Your hair gets used to your shampoo and no longer has the same effects.

FALSE. Although we definitely think it is fantastic to switch it up and try new products, it is not necessary to do so for the health of your hair! If you notice your shampoo not performing quite as well as it used to, it could be due to a build up from oils, hairspray and other various products. Our advice – once a week wash your hair with a good clarifying shampoo to rinse away that build up and keep enjoying your favourite products.  

Want more urban beauty myths debunked? Tweet us your questions at @ElementHair – we’d be happy to set the record straight!