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MANE ATTRACTION
Forget 6 haircare myths, says a pro – a ‘dirty’ salon mistake isn’t helping and you’re approaching split-ends all wrong
He shares his tips for saving time and money on your haircare routine
IT'S time to put the brakes on breakage and find a way to end to split ends with tips from one hair pro.
He debunked the six biggest myths that lead to hair damage while sharing tricks to help you maintain your mane.
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MYTH-TAKEN ABOUT WASH DAY
Eric Delapenha is the founder of The Hair Lab by Strands, which creates custom haircare products — and he is here to set the strand record straight.
The first myth that's totally not try? When people think, "I am going to get my hair washed at the salon so I can show up with dirty hair."
"Stylists will always prefer you show up with clean hair unless told otherwise," he told The U.S. Sun.
"Clean hair is easier to comb through, resulting in an easier time applying hair dye and a more accurate haircut," he added.
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MEANS TO A SPLIT END
Delaphena might be considered a hair hero, but he even he can't save your split ends.
"You can only help prevent split ends. Once your ends are split, the only way to address this problem is to cut them off," he said.
"No amount of fancy salon products or made-at-home concoctions will bring your hair back together," he added.
He also wants you to keep your hands to yourself — or at least away from your hair.
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"Avoid playing with or touching your hair," he said.
"This can lead to adding grease and dirt to your hair, leading to premature wash days and split ends."
HAIR TRAINING MYTH-CONCEPTION
Another common misconception Delapenha wants to disprove is that washing your hair every day is bad.
Rather, how often you should lather up your locks is based on factors such as your activity and how much sebum you produce, a waxy oil produced by your scalp.
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"Always do what works best for you," he said.
Having thin-textured tresses also doesn't mean you don't have a full head of hair.
He explained how it's possible to have thin-textured hair with "high density," meaning you still have plenty of strands.
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"Many people believe that if they have thin-textured hair, they will also not have a lot of hair, and vice versa with thicker-textured hair," he said.
"Hair density and hair texture are two very different things. Density is how much hair is in one square inch — think how much hair is on your head — and hair texture is the size of the hair strand," he continued.
DON'T IGNORE THE DIRECTIONS
He also has some words of wisdom for those who believe the rinse, wash, repeat method is a made-up technique to get people to use more products.
"If you do not see many suds from the first shampoo, it is important to wash it again. This will help ensure your hair and scalp are fully cleaned," he said.
Long story short, your cowlick is the boss, and you will need to find a solution that works best for you and your specific needs and hairstyle.
Eric Delapenha
"To help in not wasting product, always start with a dime to a quarter-sized amount of shampoo in your hand, work the product together between your hands, and work onto your scalp," he added.
"From my experience, there is no need to use a handful of products at one time. This is wasting product and money."
YOU'RE STUCK WITH YOUR 'LICK
If you are desperate to find a solution to fix your cowlick, you might just be out of luck, according to Delapenha.
"A cowlick is the pattern in which hair grows from your head. There is no product or technique to do at home to change this growth pattern," he said.
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"The best course of action is working with the cowlick and learning styling tips on how to handle working with them," he continued.
"Long story short, your cowlick is the boss, and you will need to find a solution that works best for you and your specific needs and hairstyle."
MORE HOT HAIR HACKS
Another pro tip will also help you retain healthier hair.
"Wet hair is delicate. Please never comb rough or pull into tight hairstyles, as this can lead to breakage," he said.
"Wash out gel or heavy styling products. While it might be tempting to brush first, this can result in damage or breakage to the hair. Always let water and shampoo tackle the products first," he added.
"Don't dry your hair roughly. Again, wet hair is fragile and can break very easily."
To help manage your mane the right way, he recommends using customized haircare products items from his line, The Hair Lab by Strands.
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After you take their online hair diagnostic test, they will give personalized product recommendations to fit your specific needs.
Their shampoos, conditioners, and serums are mostly all under $12.