Have you ever wondered what is secretly damaging your hair?
Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr. Neera Nathan from Massachusetts shared videos about the things she would never do to her hair, from air drying her locks to a Brazilian blowout.
While some advice was expected, like avoiding harsh treatments that contain formaldehyde, other aspects shocked her skincare-obsessed fans.
“If you have followed my journey, you know that I struggle with hair loss. Here are things I would never do to keep my scalp healthy and promote hair growth,” the expert told her 94,000 TikTok followers.
Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr. Neera Nathan from Massachusetts shared videos about the things she would never do to her hair
Dr. Neera advised against exercising the hair, not washing the hair for a long period of time and using olive oil on the scalp as it causes dandruff
The dermatologist detailed what she would never do as part of her hair journey, from air drying to getting a Brazilian blowout
Beauty breakdown! What Dr. Neera AVOIDS
Dr. Neera shared two separate videos highlighting six things she would never do if she wanted to keep her hair healthy and shiny to prevent it from falling out in clumps.
“I would never hair train,” she announced, which means not washing your hair for a while so that your hair gets used to being washed just once a week and returns to a natural, healthy state.
“Going more than a week without washing your hair may be fine for the hair strands, but it's terrible for the scalp.” “All that product buildup, dead skin cells, and oil can lead to inflammation, hair thinning, or hair thinning,” the dermatologist continued .
“Instead, limit shampoo to the roots to cleanse the scalp while retaining moisture in the hair strands,” she wrote over the video.
Dr. Neera would also never use olive oil on her hair or scalp, even though some beauty influencers swear by the pantry ingredient. “Olive oil creates a breeding ground for dandruff, which can affect hair growth,” advised Dr. Neera.
The expert also warned against a “Brazilian blowout,” a harsh professional straightening procedure performed professionally that contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
“It can damage hair follicles and cause scarring, which can lead to permanent hair loss,” warned Dr. Neera.
Not everyone agreed with her expert tips. One person wrote, “The Brazilian blowout was the best decision I ever made,” while another agreed, “The Brazilian blowout made my hair so much better.” The skin surgeon replied, “If it works well for you, “I would make sure it doesn’t contain formaldehyde, which can cause cancer.”
Dr. Neera warned against a Brazilian blowout, a harsh professional straightening treatment that contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
Followers were divided over Brazilian hair loss, with many swearing by the treatment while others agreed it caused hair loss
However, some people had issues with the expensive straightening treatment, which costs between $300 and $500, with one woman saying: “Oh my god, I agree with the Brazilian blowout, it makes me lose so much hair.”
Also Dr. Neera's tip to wash her hair more often proved controversial. One person agreed: “As a person with very long, loose hair, frequent washing is a big no-no for me.”
In a separate video on the same topic, the dermatologist added three more things she would never do to her hair, including letting it air dry.
“I would never air dry my hair. Air drying can cause the hair shaft to swell, making it more susceptible to breakage,” the derm explained.
Many commenters criticized the lack of air drying, as most stylists say too much heat causes damage.
Dr. Neera said she would never air dry her hair, which caused a lot of controversy in the comments section
'Lol what? Air drying is better than using a hair dryer or any type of heat. “I've been doing it since I was a kid and haven't had any problems again,” one person replied.
“Can you tell us more about air-drying hair?” “I've never heard of it being bad,” one concerned commenter asked, before Dr. Neera wrote back: “I know I was shocked when I found out!”
“The excess water causes the hair strands to swell and then the hair becomes more delicate and prone to breakage.”
“I don't understand the air drying hair part when a hair dryer was designed for convenience,” another beauty lover wrote.
'What? How should I dry my hair? This is ridiculous,” agreed one angry commenter.
“Weird, I air dry my hair every time and I have very long and healthy hair,” read another comment.
Dr. Neera would also never swim in a chlorinated pool without a swim cap because “chlorine can really strip moisture from our hair.”
Dr. Neera continued, “I would never wear very tight hairstyles.”
The dermatologist explained: “Pulling your hair back can cause traction alopecia, which can lead to permanent, irreversible hair loss.”
Dr. Neera would also never swim in a chlorinated pool without a swim cap because “chlorine can really strip moisture from our hair.”
So if you want to revive dull hair that has fallen out, Dr. Neera prove useful.