Old School/Wives Tales Haircare

[blacklove0607]

I was talking to a dear friend of mine and told her about my tranisitioning (12 weeks post) to natural hair. Her question was "what did you do, put straight vinegar in to remove the chemical?" I held my composure and explained the ONLY way to get rid of the chemical was to let it GROW out and cut off relaxed hair, and vinegar would probably only further dry my already dry hair.

What "haircare" wives tales have you heard?

 

[Leesh]

This one is a classic, Dirt makes your hair grow (basically washing it as seldom as possible) What a crock-a-S#@*!

 

[TheQueenBeeMaya]

My grandmother used to tell me to trim my ends on a full moon so that my hair would grow faster

 

[sharifeh]

My grandmother used to tell me to trim my ends on a full moon so that my hair would grow faster

I have a Venezuelan friend whose mom only lets her cut her hair on certain days of the moon cycle too!!
hmm interesting!

Mine is
Cutting your hair makes it grow.
You can't wash your hair more than once a week.
Your hair needs to be really really greasy and dirty for a perm (wait is this true?)

 

[blacklove0607]

This one is a classic, Dirt makes your hair grow (basically washing it as seldom as possible) What a crock-a-S#@*!

LOL! Then we would all have hair down our backs! As a little girl I used to run around and do all kinds of kid stuff in NYC dirt and never remember getting my hair washed more than every two weeks! Yuk!

 

[blacklove0607]

My grandmother used to tell me to trim my ends on a full moon so that my hair would grow faster

I actually heard that one from a stylist a couple of years ago...maybe that explains her limited scissor skills, appointments were probably not on full moons.

 

[blacklove0607]

I have a Venezuelan friend whose mom only lets her cut her hair on certain days of the moon cycle too!!
hmm interesting!

Mine is
Cutting your hair makes it grow.
You can't wash your hair more than once a week.
Your hair needs to be really really greasy and dirty for a perm (wait is this true?)

LOL - washing more than once a week does what? LOL. Reallly dirty for a perm - good thing I don't have that to worry about really greasy and dirty doesn't work for me at all.

 

[yamilee21]

My grandmother used to tell me to trim my ends on a full moon so that my hair would grow faster

So did mine; I used to dread full moons as a kid since that was when my mother would come after me with the scissors.

 

[chebaby]

i heard that if more than one person do your hair at the same time it will fall out.

 

[imaccami]

Eating too much salt causes dandruff...huh? That's what my stylist told my 16 year old self, and I believed her! It had nothing to do with the fact that I was sweating like crazy everyday on the X country team. Sheesh, why couldn't she just tell me that my hair was dirty.

 

[Jaxhair]

Having your hair done by a bleeding woman (menses and ?lochi? [post partum bleeds]) will make it all fall off. I know older women who won't let pregnant women touch their hair. And nope, their hair isn't at all compliment worthy!

I do want to try that Lunar hair cutting though - works for plants and fishing etc and I'm interested. Just need to get organised first.....

 

[Amerie123]

^^yup, I was just going to say I've heard: don't let pregnant people do your hair because it'll make your hair fall out. erplexed

 

[ebonyhair]

Dandruff makes your hair grow!!

 

[1babydimple]

Water will dry out your hair, that's why you were only suppose to wash every 2 wks or more. It wasn't that harsh poo (lye soap) or frying your hair with a hot comb sitting on the fire - NOPE -water

 

[qwnbee1]

I was talking to a dear friend of mine and told her about my tranisitioning (12 weeks post) to natural hair. Her question was "what did you do, put straight vinegar in to remove the chemical?" I held my composure and explained the ONLY way to get rid of the chemical was to let it GROW out and cut off relaxed hair, and vinegar would probably only further dry my already dry hair.

What "haircare" wives tales have you heard?

i also grew up hearing this one...i even remember an old beautician(you know the ones with the beauty shop in the house)tell my mother this when i was younger...i couldn't believe it when i read about doing acv rinses in this forum...this is one old wives tale that kindof sticks with me...i do baking soda clarifiers only

 

[qwnbee1]

yeah i still do this...old indian wives tales...

 

[favorc]

I heard a lot of dandruff means your hair is growing faster. Please.

 

[Evolving78]

you know the relaxer is working when it starts to burn. just spray some oil sheen on it to calm your scalp and continue to let it process. after that, i will pour some sea breeze to your scalp to treat it. that's so you won't get scabs.

 

[vkb247]

^^^^^That sounds like the perfect recipe for :burning::burning::burning:

 

[Jessofpal]

I just got "you wash your hair too much! You aren't a white girl." From my mother. Mind you I was once a week with a co-wash inbetween if my scalp itches. I said "Mommy, I love you but I'm not listening to you. I've been doing this for 2 years and I'm moving past SL for the first time in years." She said, "Well its not growing faster because you wash it too much!"

I said, "Mom its not going faster because I got an inch and a half cut in october!"

 

[first2grace]

My mom used to tell me that mayonnaise was good for you hair, but it would "strip your perm out."

Vodka makes your hair shine...not sure if there is truth to this one, but surely it isn't a good idea to douse my head in vodka right after a relaxer.

Washing your hair too often will make it fall out.

Never ever, ever flat iron damp hair...it will most definitely fall out.

"Your hair is thin, it will never grow."

"You have a good grade of hair." (If people could stop saying this, the world would be a much better place.)

 

[keepithealthy]

you know the relaxer is working when it starts to burn. just spray some oil sheen on it to calm your scalp and continue to let it process. after that, i will pour some sea breeze to your scalp to treat it. that's so you won't get scabs.

LOL LOL Yup def been there.. and I have to agree with the rest of you ladies, water drys out your hair (so stop wasing yo head like you a white girl only wash once a month),dandruff means your head is growing,, no preggies doing yo head....never hear of the solar cutting or the salt lol lol black folk and they hair tales

 

[mariofmagdal]

Burn your hair that falls from your head. If a bird gets it and uses it in his nest, you will have headaches for the rest of your life.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

I've heard that not letting a pregnant woman do your hair thing. I heard it was because the baby would steal your energy. It might be true, IDK.

I was told that I needed to use grease in my hair because grease activates the heat... chyeah right.

*These were not the same people.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

Burn your hair that falls from your head. If a bird gets it and uses it in his nest, you will have headaches forthe rest of your life.

I've heard that one too but not from family members.

I think a lot of these came over from Africa. I think they're very interesting.

 

[keepithealthy]

Burn your hair that falls from your head. If a bird gets it and uses it in his nest, you will have headaches forthe rest of your life.

lol lol yes yes yes i remember that one....

 

[Jaxhair]

If your hair is damaged by relaxers, cut it off, grow it natural for a while then relax again for healthy hair. Erm.... what about learning to take care of it so you don't have to cut it off ever again to start afresh? Many of my girl pals are waiting for me to relax again now I can rock a decent bob **rolls eyes**.


Oh, oh, another one: Natural hair needs no trims as it doesn't grow. Well, it does grow, it just doesn't retain length because it's pretty much torn off the head being combed whilst dry! Thanks God for hair sites, I tell yous!!!

 

[blacklove0607]

I heard a lot of dandruff means your hair is growing faster. Please.

Oh yeah, the growing dandruff!!! LOL ! I really believed this one too since my grandmother had the most beautiful head of healthy, thick, shiny and lengthy hair but had dandruff that could be removed from her scalp and hair in entire whole flakes!

 

[blacklove0607]

My mom used to tell me that mayonnaise was good for you hair, but it would "strip your perm out."

Vodka makes your hair shine...not sure if there is truth to this one, but surely it isn't a good idea to douse my head in vodka right after a relaxer.

Washing your hair too often will make it fall out.

Never ever, ever flat iron damp hair...it will most definitely fall out.

"Your hair is thin, it will never grow."

"You have a good grade of hair." (If people could stop saying this, the world would be a much better place.)

The vodka thing, very funny!

The thin hair thing - heard it before despite having grown my hair to shoulder length in the past and it being thin...

My mother recently said something about the "good grade" of hair - it really irritated me - so much that it wasn't the time to enlighten her, I'll get a minute soon....

 

[blacklove0607]

LOL LOL Yup def been there.. and I have to agree with the rest of you ladies, water drys out your hair (so stop wasing yo head like you a white girl only wash once a month),dandruff means your head is growing,, no preggies doing yo head....never hear of the solar cutting or the salt lol lol black folk and they hair tales

I don't understand the hair tales either...try explaining to your family going natural doesn't mean only a TWA, dreads or sistalocks!!!