Break This Rule: Skip conditioner if you've got greasy hair
Don't blame your conditioner for your oily hair, blame your scalp. "Greasy hair is caused by a problematic scalp," says Savone. "The cure for greasy hair is to cleanse the oil and buildup that is clogging the pores of the scalp. Use a stimulating and exfoliating oil to remove build up [since oil attracts oil] and then shampoo with an exfoliating shampoo and lightly condition." Try jojoba oil, says Ona Spa therapist Angelica Sepulveda, as it most closely matches your natural hair oils.
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Break This Rule: Always comb hair from the ends up
Technically, this rule is still true for some people. If you have thick hair, you should start combing at your ends and work your way up, adding extra conditioner if necessary, say Piero and Luigi Pirri, salon owners in Connecticut and New York and creators of Pirri Element Products.
But they add, "When you are working with thin hair texture you can start from the top because fine hair is fragile and weak. When brushed at the bottom it is more likely to get split ends."
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Break This Rule: Only apply conditioner to your ends
Only using conditioner on your ends is a bit like only using a spot treatment on zits and not bothering to treat your entire face.
Thomas says applying conditioner according to the "rules" repairs the signs of damage on your ends, but does nothing to prevent damage to your healthier sections of hair. So rather than fight a constant battle of damaged ends, fix the problem before it starts by applying conditioner from your crown to your ends, she says. The key to do this without weighing down your hair is to choose a conditioner specifically formulated for your hair type so you get the right amount of moisture.
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Break This Rule: Shampooing every day is bad for your hair
When it comes to shampoo frequency, it really depends on your hair and scalp -- and your personal preference. Babaii likes to start with a clean canvas every day (translation: freshly-shampooed hair), and says you can too unless your scalp and hair are very dry.
Aside from styling advantages, there are other reasons to suds up more often, says Christian Serafini, Master Stylist at Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa in Beverly Hills, Calif. "Shampoo[ing] to keep the scalp clean, eliminate oil and build up, and keep [hair] follicles breathing is important for every day." The most important thing, he says, is to use a shampoo that's right for your hair. One that's too harsh will dry out your scalp and hair and make daily washing impossible.
Are you sick and tired of hair that falls flat, frizzes at the first sign of rain, or has ends drier than Seth Meyers' wit? Join the club.
As fellow card-carrying members of the bad hair day club, we know the feeling. Which is why we tracked down a ton of leading experts and stylists to find out why our hair disappoints on a regular basis.
The consensus? We're still following these so-called "hair rules" that are actually just really bad advice. Turns out some of the hair tips we think are no-brainers -- like conditioning after shampooing, blow drying from back to front, and combing hair from the ends up -- are actually wrong. Who knew?
Check out this list of hair advice you should completely ignore. And in case you're wondering just who is turning your hair world upside down, rest assured we talked to the best in the biz. People like celebrity hair and scalp expert Philip B., Pantene Principal Scientist Jeni Thomas, and celebrity hairstylist David Babaii (he does Kate Hudson's gorgeous hair).
Thankfully, our experts didn't just crush our hair reality. They also gave us plenty of hair advice to rebuild our world -- a new world full of amazing hair every day. So go ahead -- be a rebel and break these rules for your best hair ever.
