When we were struggling through those awkward teenage years, when our hormones were wreaking havoc on our bodies and our skin, we were most likely inundated by advice from our mothers and grandmothers, and even our girlfriends, on what we should do to keep ourselves beautiful despite the storm of changes upon us and upon our bodies. Some of them sound sensible, while some sound totally absurd.
But even if these pieces of advice sound really silly, there are some of them that we could not easily shake off. They seem to work for us, and why let go of a good thing if it is working somewhat?
Nonetheless, for curiosity's sake, sometimes there is a need to ask. Do the beauty practices handed down to us by our mothers, grandmothers and girlfriends that we have religiously observed through the years hold a grain of scientific truth in them, or are they merely beauty myths spun by old wives? Let's find out.
Beauty Myth #1: Plucking white hairs yields more white hairs.
This is definitely just a beauty myth. Our hair whitens as part of the natural process of aging, and some of us see our hair start turning white earlier than usual compared to others. It only seems to us that we are having more and more gray hair after we see our first strand of white because our mind is now trained to look for the grays in our mane, and so we are now more likely to notice.
Beauty Myth #2: Shaving the hair makes it grow back thicker.
This is definitely another beauty myth as well. Shaved hair seems to grow back thicker only because when we shave, the razor cuts the hair off only on the skin's surface. They were not plucked off directly from the follicle. Therefore, when the hair grows back, the wide part of the strand grows out, making the hair appear thicker.
Beauty Myth #3: Mayonnaise makes for a great conditioner.
No, this one is not a myth. Mayonnaise, as long as it is real, does make for a great hair conditioner. The oil and eggs that can be found in real mayonnaise is rich in fatty acids and protein that nourishes the hair.
Beauty Myth #4: Applying ice to the skin makes the pores smaller.
Nothing can make the pores smaller. The size of our pores is the result of genetics, not of temperature applied on the skin, so some people just have smaller pores than others.
Beauty Myth #5: Toothpaste can cure pimples.
Well, yes. Toothpaste has menthol and other active ingredients that can dry up a pimple and make it heal much quickly than if left alone. However, the same active ingredients in toothpaste that can heal a pimple can also dry up and irritate the skin of your face, so it is better to use a pimple cream rather than toothpaste for your pimple.
Beauty Myth #6: Applying beer on the skin before going for a sun tan results in a golden glow.
No, not true. In fact, you should avoid sun tanning altogether, unless you are going to use a self-tanner. Applying beer before going for a tan does not do anything for the skin. Some people are just prone to getting a golden tan, while others naturally turn red as a lobster under the sun. It is, again, a matter of genetics.
Beauty Myth #7: Crossing the legs leads to varicose veins.
Not really. The true causes of varicose veins are yet unknown, but again, some people are more prone to having them because of factors like heredity, age and weight. Crossing the legs will not cause you to have varicose veins, but if you already have them, it can make the condition worse.
Beauty Myth #8: Washing the feet when tired will make the veins swell.
The veins in the feet really swell when the feet are tired. It is the body's own automatic attempt to soothe the tiredness of the feet. In fact, it is indeed best to soak the feet in warm water to further increase the blood circulation to your lower extremities, so as to take the tiredness away.
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