Dr Neera Nathan, a dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon, has shared three ‘controversial’ things she would never do to her hair that many people are guilty of doing
A dermatologist has shared three hair habits she’d never dream of doing to her own locks.
Dr Neera Nathan, a Harvard-trained professional but also a skin cancer surgeon, has gained millions of followers on social media where she imparts her skincare wisdom and product picks. Taking to Instagram, she divulged a list of ‘don’ts’ for hair health, which she admitted were “controversial”.
She started her Instagram reel with a candid admission: “Three things I would never do to my hair as a dermatologist. Fair warning – these are all controversial but if your hair is falling out like mine was this video is especially for you.”
1. Never go longer than 3 days without washing hair
The first no-go she mentioned is avoiding hair washes for over three days. Dr Nathan detailed: “I would never go two or three days without washing my hair because if we go days without shampooing our scalp accumulates build up which leads to inflammation and causes our hair to fall out. If you can’t wash that often make sure to use a clarifying treatment like this one on your scalp in between wash days.”
Despite the common belief that regular hair washing is damaging, the dermatologist dispelled this myth in her post’s comments, clarifying that frequent cleansing doesn’t cause hair to shed or fall. She drew an analogy between a healthy scalp and fertile soil, essential for robust hair growth: “Our scalp is like soil and our hair is like flowers – you need healthy soil to grow flowers.
“Not washing hair for days leads to build up skin cells, oil, product which irritates and inflames follicles and can lead to her loss. Especially for anyone experiencing hair thinning, I recommend trying to shampoo your scalp more frequently” warned the dermatologist. She acknowledged that this isn’t feasible for certain hair types, suggesting that leave-in clarifying scalp treatments can “help keep your scalp healthy in between washes.”
According to Patient, how often you should wash your hair depends on various factors, including hair type, use of styling products and sweat production.
2. Never get a Brazilian blowout
Dr Nathan also revealed she would “never get a Brazilian blowout.” This is popular semi-permanent hair straightening treatment.
She claimed: “Guys, Brazilian blowouts contain cancer causing and toxic chemicals which can cause permanent trauma and damage to the hair follicle. I used to get Brazilian blowouts every six months and I’m convinced they contributed to my beautiful thick hair becoming pencil thin in my early twenties.”
The Belgravia Centre, a globally recognised hair loss clinic, has stated that over-exposure of the scalp to harsh chemicals can result in chemical trauma, where the scalp and hair follicles suffer severe damage from chemical burns, leading to expected hair loss.
The Belgravia Centre blog has received messages of hair loss concerns from readers who’ve undergone a Brazilian blowout. The clinic attributes this to the excessive heat and chemicals involved, cautioning: “So much heat, in addition to chemicals, isn’t great for the hair and, particularly if the hair is already coloured, damaged or if there is any hair thinning, can result in breakage.”
Furthermore, WebMD highlights the risks associated with hair smoothing treatments containing formaldehyde. When heated with a flat iron or blow dryer, these treatments release formaldehyde gas into the air, posing health risks.
WebMD warns: “And at unsafe levels, it could irritate your eyes, trigger allergic reactions and even raise your risk for cancer.”
3. Never wear tight hairstyles
Dr Nathan’s third hair care no-no is tight hairstyles, including slicked-back buns, which, despite finding them “super cute”, she vows to “never do.” Her reasoning is that “constantly wearing very tight hairstyles can result in hair breakage or even hair loss.”
This sentiment is echoed by Hair Made Easi, which cautions that sleek ponytails, braids, and buns can lead to hair breakage due to constant tension on the hair shaft.
This, in turn, can cause split ends, overall hair damage, and eventually, noticeable thinning and weakened strands. Dr Nathan’s Instagram reel, captioned “3 things I would NEVER do to my hair as a dermatologist on a hair growth journey”, has attracted a whopping 905,000 views, 11,000 likes, and a flurry of comments from concerned followers.
One viewer bemoaned the warning against Brazilian blowouts, saying: “I’m so sad about the Brazilian blowout, it’s so hard to tame my frizzy hair and those treatments are the only things that work long term. Now I gotta just deal with it I guess.”
Another shared their personal experience, claiming that regular Brazilian blowouts have damaged their locks: “I believe you on the Brazilian blowout. I’ve been getting it annually for 10 years now and have wondered why my hair went from extremely thick to thin.”
A third follower vowed to change their ways, admitting: “I’m guilty of all of them! Certainly won’t after today! So informative! Thanks for sharing this with us!” If you’re worried about your hair care routine and are in need of sound expert advice, your first port of call should always be a medical professional.
