We've been cutting hair on West 3rd Street for almost a decade, and the same questions come up in the chair every week. Most of them are rooted in myths your dad, your gym buddy, or some TikTok told you. Here are the five we hear most — and what's actually true.
Myth 1: Cutting your hair makes it grow back faster
Hair grows from the follicle, not the tip. Trimming the ends has zero effect on the rate at which it grows out of your scalp — that's set by genetics, hormones, and overall health. What regular cuts do is keep the shape clean as it grows, so it looks fuller and healthier. If your goal is length, the right move is fewer cuts, not more — but small shape-ups every 6–8 weeks keep it from looking shaggy.
Myth 2: You should shampoo every single day
For most LA guys, daily shampoo strips the natural oils your scalp needs and leaves hair looking dry and frizzy by week two. Two to three times a week is plenty for most hair types. On off days, rinse with water and condition the mid-lengths and ends. If your hair is fine and oily, a lightweight clarifying shampoo once a week is better than a heavy daily wash.
Myth 3: Plucking one gray makes two grow back
Biologically impossible. Each follicle produces one hair, and pulling a gray doesn't recruit reinforcements. That said, plucking can damage the follicle over time, so trim grays at the root with scissors instead — or, honestly, leave them. Silver looks expensive.
Myth 4: Cold water makes your hair shinier
Partially true, mostly overblown. Cold water can help close the cuticle slightly after washing, which adds a touch of shine. But the bigger driver of shine is the products you use, how often you condition, and whether you're heat-styling without protection. A 5-second cold rinse at the end of your shower is fine — don't suffer through a freezing wash for a marginal effect.
Myth 5: Expensive products always work better
Some do. Most don't. The price tag often pays for packaging, marketing, and fragrance — not formulation. What matters is matching the product to your hair type and the look you're going for. A $14 matte clay can outperform a $48 pomade if it's right for your texture. Ask your barber what they'd actually use on you, then buy that.
The honest take
Good hair isn't about hacks. It's a clean cut every 4–6 weeks, two solid products, and not overwashing. That's the whole game. If you want us to walk you through it in person, book a consultation — it's included with every Signature Cut.
—SIR Management