Myths

All the following statements are considered FALSE

Stress causes hair loss. 
FACT:  Maybe, maybe not but probably not! Usually only extreme emotional turmoil over a lengthy period of time can cause minor thinning. Stress is one of the most common myths blamed for hair loss, and while it does happen, it is rarely the culprit.

Bad Circulation makes your hair drop out.
FACT:  Hair loss is not caused by a lack of circulation or nutrients to the follicle. Treatments which claim to stop hair loss via increased circulation can be a lot of wasted time and money.

Sweat & Dirt is bad for your hair.
FACT: Anyone who has ever had an ingrown hair can vouch for the fact that it takes much more than a liquid to stop a hair from growing.

Hair loss is inherited from your father or mother's side
FACT: Both parent's genes are a factor. Genetic hair loss patterns can skip generations so if your parents or even your grandparents have no hair loss problems, it may still be possible to inherit a hair thinning condition from a great grandparent

Hair colour, dyes and perms make you lose your hair
FACT: Normal use of hair care and dye products do not affect hair loss.

Frequently washing hair increases hair loss.
FACT: Not likely. Healthy clean hair is better for you.

Vitamin deficiencies cause pattern baldness
FACT:  Studies have linked crash diets to temporary hair loss but malnutrition is rarely a cause of hair loss. Increasing intake of a given vitamin, such as zinc, will not have an impact on hair re-growth.

Wearing a hat will cause hair loss
FACT: So those people undertaking occupations and sporting activities that require a hat to be worn are balding?. Don't think so! However, hats do cause hair breakage and, sometimes, split ends. Hats can also lead to scalp un-cleanliness and possible fungal contamination in men, with naturally oily scalps

Hair grows back thicker once it has been cut
FACT: Hair is thicker at the root than at the tip. Cutting hair causes it to appear thicker initially. It will go back to its usual profile.

Standing on your head cures baldness
FACT: This blood-flow theory, caused many men to stand on their heads in the 1980s. While Minoxidil is a vasodilator and is speculated to work, in part, by increasing blood flow to hair follicles, there is no evidence that standing on your head is good for hair growth.

Frequent ejaculation causes baldness
FACT: It is not believed that frequent ejaculation has an influence on Male Pattern Baldness. Depending on frequency, it can, however, raise or lower testosterone, but not so that it has an affect on male hair growth. But recent reports indicate, "wet dreams" or nocturnal emission in boys at teen age, may result in hair thinning and hair loss. Most boys have around 4 wet dreams a week and that can lead to zinc deficiency. Therefore, a continuous supply of zinc could be considered essential. You can get zinc from drinking lots of milk and using topical hair care supplements that contain zinc. See Vitamins and Diet

Propecia was by chance found to prevent hair loss
FACT: Propecia is not a prostate medication that was by chance noted to have a side effect of hair growth. It is a medication containing the drug Finasteride that was known since its discovery, that it could grow hair.

Dandruff does not contribute to hair loss
FACT: Well it does and it doesn't. Dandruff is shedding of more than normal, dead skin cells from the scalp. A small amount of flaking is normal and quite common. Some people, however, have visible, sometimes quite excessive flaking, as a result of certain factors that trigger this condition.

Excessive flaking can also be a symptom of seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infection or excoriation associated with infestation of head lice. 

Usually however, dandruff is caused by a person having an Individual susceptibility to a scalp specific fungus, Malassezia globosa. This fungus is commonly found floating in the air which is normally why dandruff can be treated, but not actually cured. This fungus changes elements present in scalp sebum creating an acid byproduct that penetrates the top layer of skin, resulting in an inflammatory response in susceptible persons, causing the characteristic flaking.
 
Studies have shown that with around 90 minutes of continuous scratching with the fingernails, it may be possible to remove from a hair shaft all of the cuticular scale, a protective covering on individual hairs. This removal leaves the hair shaft weak and permanently damaged, making it easily susceptible to breakage and hair loss.

Regular shampooing with an anti-fungal product can reduce recurrence. Effective dandruff shampoos and conditioners contain zinc pyrithione and other active ingredients. The ingredients leave behind the medication on the scalp to prevent re-growth of the fungus. This prevents dandruff and the hair loss associated with scratching.