Pretty lies or ugly truth?

Acid test ... lemon whitens teeth but damages the enamel.

Heard enough old wives' tales to fill a book? Kate Waterhouse separates beauty facts from fiction.

1. Rubbing lemon on your teeth will make them whiter. TRUE

This is true but it comes at a price. Cosmetic and implant dentist Dr David Dunn says the use of lemon on your teeth will make them look brighter and whiter but the citric acid in lemons wears away enamel. ''It will give you minimal benefit but it's highly destructive to the tooth enamel due to the high acid content,'' he says.

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2. Toothpaste makes pimples disappear. TRUE

A nasty zit can be calmed by a dab of toothpaste but dermatologist Dr JoAnn See says don't expect long-lasting results. ''It will dry your pimples out because toothpaste is an anti-inflammatory agent,'' she says. ''It can reduce the redness if left on overnight and the results are usually evident within 24 hours. But it's not designed to stay on your face as a cream; it's supposed to be washed off, even on your teeth.''

3. The best way to grow your hair is to have frequent haircuts. FALSE

Your hair will grow at the same rate with or without a haircut. Hairdresser to the stars Jaye Edwards says: ''Having a lot of haircuts doesn't make your hair grow longer but it will promote healthier hair.'' Regular haircuts help improve the texture of your hair and get rid of pesky split ends.

4. Plucking grey hairs gives you more of them. FALSE

Tweezing won't give you any more grey hairs but it might make the hair more noticeable. ''Grey hairs will grow back and they will be more noticeable because it will be shorter in length than the rest of your hair,'' Edwards says.

5. Chlorine turns hair green. TRUE

Blondes beware, because this applies to you. It is actually copper residue in swimming pools, not chlorine, that turns hair green. ''Swimming in chlorine does make your hair go green and lighter hair is more prone as it's easier to grab the green and that's why it's important to shampoo and condition your hair every time you swim,'' Edwards says.

6. Cucumber relieves puffy eyes. TRUE

Forget spending a fortune on expensive eye cream as this actually does work. Sydney make-up artist Anya Fransman says turning to the vegie patch can work wonders. ''Cold cucumber slices placed over the eyes can help to alleviate puffiness simply because the temperature helps to constrict blood vessels, aiding in slowing down fluid retention,'' she says.

7. Shaved leg hair grows back thicker and darker. TRUE

Your genes determine how many hairs your body has but Melanie Corlis, from Bronzalicious, says constant waxing will make the hair finer. ''We recommend waxing as it removes the hair from the root and regular waxing will cause the hair to become finer and not as dark.''

8. Waxing your eyebrows makes skin sag. FALSE

If you find sagging around your eyes, it's from the ageing process, not waxing. ''The waxing is only working on the superficial layer of the skin, not the muscle,'' Corlis says.

9. Wearing nail polish turns your nails yellow. TRUE

Nail polish contains pigment that can stain the nails, with darker tones the worst offenders. One way to avoid this is to apply a clear base coat before you apply colour to act as a barrier. ''If nail polish is left on for too long, it can stain,'' Corlis says. ''We recommend to always use a base coat to prevent this happening as it protects the nail.''

10. Washing your face with soap is bad for your skin. TRUE

Not only can soap strip away all the natural good oils and sebum that keep your skin healthy but it can disrupt the skin's pH balance. ''Instead, choose a soap-free, gentle facial cleanser suitable for your skin type, making sure you use it morning and night, massaging it into the skin for up to 30 seconds,'' Fransman says.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/pretty-lies-or-ugly-truth-20110627-1gn3i.html#ixzz1QjKDD6xe