Certain unexpected practices are good for your hair, such as only washing it 1-2 times a week, since it’s a better way to help preserve Black hair’s natural moisture. But other hair care behaviors and treatments aren’t necessarily as great for the health of your hair.
So which hair habits are better to just avoid?
RELATED: Autumn Ready: 4 DIY Conditioners For Softer, Healthier Natural Hair
1. True or False: Use mayonnaise and olive oil to deep condition your hair.
Depends on your hair type. While kitchen staples like mayo and olive oil do contain moisturizing properties, not everyone should use them on their hair.
You May Also Like
“The success of this treatment depends on the type and texture of your hair,” says Doug DiCanio, a stylist at Blow in New York City. “If your hair is fine, limp or sparse, you’ll see a greasy or heavy result. But if you have thick, coarse and extremely dry hair, mayo and olive oil can be a low-cost alternative to deep conditioning treatments, so long as you apply them correctly.”
He suggests distributing one tablespoon of either ingredient into clean, damp hair, concentrating on the ends. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes and then thoroughly rinse with a gentle cleansing shampoo.
RELATED: 5 Things That Stop Your Hair From Breaking Ever Again
2. True or False: Don’t dye your hair if you’re pregnant.
Depends on the hair dye ingredients. According to Amy Burkett, MD, ob-gyn residency director at Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio, no studies have conclusively proven hair dye is dangerous to a developing fetus.
You May Also Like
“In general, pregnant women need to be concerned with what they’re exposing their body to. The big concern for me is that some hair products contain formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen that I’d recommend any woman, pregnant or not, steer clear of.”
Formaldehyde will be noted on a product’s ingredients list, so to be safe, choose a dye that doesn’t contain it, opting instead for one that has as many natural ingredients as possible, such as henna-based dyes. If you go to the salon for color, ask your stylist what ingredients are in your hair dye, and see if there’s a more natural option to pursue.
Dr. Burkett also recommends avoiding all hair dye during the first trimester of pregnancy, since that is when
