The Myth Squad – 100 brush strokes a night

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Is this tip relevant or an old fashioned myth?

vintage brush set photo: needful junque via etsy

There was a time when one of the most commonly practiced beauty tips for beautiful hair was to brush your hair 100 times per day. Today, it’s one of those beauty tips that has continued to spread among women searching for shiny, silky, lush hair. But has this antiquated tip turned into a Beauty Myth? And what made 100 brush strokes a night a viable thing to do? The wht Myth Squad is here to answer these burning questions!

Whether you were a pioneer woman or a lady in the 1950’s, things were different then. Two of the most notable differences that are relevant to this myth; the hygiene/cleanliness standards differed from those of modern days and the availability and variety of beauty items was slim compared to our never ending options.

Once upon a time, it was common that a women would wash her hair less than once a week (and in many cases even less often). Because the hair was cleansed less frequently, natural oils would build up. If you brushed your hair 100 times per day this helped distribute the natural oils on your scalp through out the length of the hair, while adding natural shine and protection.

You may ask what would happen if one did not have the time, energy or inclination to do that? If you would not brush your hair with so many strokes a day, oil and debris would build up on the scalp, leaving the hair looking unclean and unkempt. Think about all of that oil just sitting in one place. These natural oils were put to work by helping the ends from becoming dry and brittle.

Also of note, during this time the beauty business was not the huge industry it is today. There was not such a wide variety of products and tools and most were “one size fits all”, not the hair specific items we see today. Not to mention without online shopping and local stock filled beauty aisles, many women had to save and plan for months (even years) to purchase hair care items. The daily washing, conditioning, blow-drying, straightening, etc was just not an option. But 100 strokes a night to better hair, was possible.

This brings me to the next question. Is this beauty myth still relevant? Unfortunately, brushing your hair 100 times a day would not work well today. We have undergone an evolution to the opposite extreme. We are guilty of doing too much to our tresses, whether it is over washing, too much product, coloring, highlighting, blow drying and straightening.

Excessive stimulation such as brushing, straightening or using curling irons erodes the hair’s cuticle. The cuticle is the hairs protective covering and when it becomes “roughed up” it catches on other hairs. This causes mats or tangles. With continued over stimulation, the cuticle will erode. This weakens the hair and causes it split or break.

I purchased a smooth wide-tooth comb to reduce split ends and hair fall out for my chemically processed shoulder-length hair. The best combs that I found are made from cellulose acetate. This is a non-petroleum based material that is derived from wood pulp but, looks just like plastic. (I bought mine for around $8.) This compound is very tough but, flexible. It allows me to comb through my thick hair highlighted hair without risking harm to my hair or sensitive scalp.

This is good option for anyone with damaged hair that would normally use a brush to detangle. Brushes tend to be hard on hair when trying to remove tangles. Instead, start combing from the bottom of your hair and gently work your way up to the top. I was surprised how well this basic method works. I have been doing this for at least three weeks and have experienced much less fall out while combing, blow drying, styling (so there is much less hair to pick up off the bathroom floor).

The moral of this story is be gentle and cognizant of what you may be doing to your hair, especially when it is wet. Anything that is excessive will ultimately lead to damage. It does not matter if it is brushing your hair 100 times every day or doing something else. We have heard this before but too much of any one thing is not good for you.

So, the wht Myth Squad Verdict? 100 brush strokes a night may have helped other generations get gorgeous hair, but it’s a beauty myth for women in 2010!