I’m a dermatologist – here are the things you should NEVER do to your hair if you want to avoid it FALLING OUT
Have you ever wondered what is secretly damaging your hair?
Harvard-educated, board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr. Based in Massachusetts, Neera Nathan shared videos of the things she would never do to her hair — from air-drying her locks to getting a Brazilian blowout.
While some of the advice was expected, such as avoiding harsh formaldehyde treatments, other aspects shocked her skincare-obsessed fans.
‘If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve struggled with hair loss. Here are things I would never do to my hair to keep my scalp healthy and promote hair growth,” the expert told her 94,000 TikTok followers.
Harvard-educated, board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr. Neera Nathan, based in Massachusetts, shared videos about the things she would never do to her hair
Dr. Neera advised against hair training, or not washing your hair for long periods of time, and using olive oil on the scalp, which causes dandruff.
The dermatologist outlined what she would never do as part of her hair journey, from air drying to getting a Brazilian blowout
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 involves not washing your hair for a while so that your hair gets used to being washed only once a week and returns to a natural, healthy state.
‘Not washing your hair for more than a week may be okay for your strands, but it’s terrible for your scalp. “All that product buildup, dead skin cells, and oil can lead to inflammation, thinning hair, or hair loss,” the dermatologist continued.
“Instead, limit the shampoo to the roots to cleanse the scalp while retaining moisture in the hair strands,” she captioned the video.
Dr. Neera would also never use olive oil on her hair or scalp, even though some beauty influencers swear by the stock ingredient. “Olive oil creates a breeding ground that causes dandruff, which can affect hair growth,” advised Dr. Neera.
The expert also warned about a Brazilian blowout, a harsh hair straightener done professionally that contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
“It can damage hair follicles and lead to scarring, which can cause permanent hair loss,” Dr. Neera warned.
Not everyone agreed with her expert tips. One person wrote, “Brazilian hair dryer is the best decision I’ve ever made,” and another agreed, “Brazilian hair dryer has 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 about a Brazilian blowout, a harsh professional hair straightener that contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
Followers were divided over the Brazilian blowout, with many swearing by the treatment, while others agreed it caused hair loss
However, some people struggled with the expensive straightening procedure, which costs between $300 and $500, with one woman saying: ‘Omg I agree with the Brazilian blow dryer, it makes my hair fall out so much.’
Dr Neera’s tip to wash hair more often also proved controversial, with one person saying: ‘As a person with very long loose hair, frequent washing is a big 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 air drying.
‘I would never let my hair air dry. Air-drying your hair can cause the hair shaft to swell, making it more susceptible to breakage,” the derm explained.
Many commenters took issue with the lack of air drying, as most stylists say using too much heat causes damage.
Dr. Neera said that she would never let her hair air dry, which caused a lot of controversy in the comments section
“Lol what? Air drying is better than using a hair dryer or any form of heat. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid and again no problems,” one person responded.
‘Can you tell me more about air drying hair? I’ve never heard of this being bad,” one concerned commenter asked before Dr. Neera wrote back. ‘I know I was shocked when I heard this!
‘The excess water causes the hair strands to swell, making the hair fragile and more likely to break.’
“I don’t understand the part about air drying hair when a hairdryer is made for convenience,” another beauty enthusiast wrote.
‘What? How should I dry my hair? That’s ridiculous,” one disgruntled commentator agreed.
“Weird, I air dry my hair every time and I have very long and healthy hair,” said another comment.”
Dr. Neera would also never swim in a chlorinated pool without a swim cap, because “chlorine can really strip our hair of moisture.”
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 our hair of moisture.”
So if you want to revive dull locks that are falling out, Dr. Neera be helpful.