Chicago woman has dandruff—then an expert tells her it’s not dandruff at all, but something much worse: ‘You can get mold from air drying??’

A Chicago woman went for a routine hair appointment. Then she was told by the hairstylist that her dandruff is actually mold caused by air-drying.

Lincoln Park resident Honor Anne Bisagno (@honboncinnabon) shared her shocking experience in a viral TikTok. The clip had a simple caption: “My hairstylist just told me that mold is growing on my scalp and that it's not dandruff.”

Her simple post quickly caught the attention of viewers, amassing over 6.1 million views. 

While viewers were stunned, some questioned whether the stylist's claims were medically accurate.

Was she ‘humbled' for her haircare routine?

In a follow-up video, Honor explained that she had been seeing the same stylist for more than six years to get highlights. This time, she also requested a haircut.

According to Honor, the appointment turned into a critique of her entire haircare routine.

She claimed the stylist told her she was caring for her hair incorrectly and damaging it in the process. This included the allegation that mold was growing on her scalp because she failed to dry her hair within the recommended timeframe.

The stylist allegedly claimed Honor's hair had become matted because of trained malabsorption.

The criticism reportedly continued when the stylist advised Honor to throw away products from a brand she loved. While claiming they left metallic residue in her hair and caused it to break on contact.

The experience left viewers debating whether the stylist had identified genuine haircare problems or given her client misleading information.

What did a dermatologist say about hair mold?

Dr. Carlos, who identifies himself as a dermatologist, joined the discussion and challenged the claim that mold was growing on Honor's scalp.

“Hi! Mold cannot grow on the human scalp. Yeast can though,” he wrote, identifying Malassezia as a type of yeast that naturally lives on the skin but can overgrow under certain conditions, contributing to dandruff.

Healthline and Hairdressers Journal International consulted leading trichologists who also distinguish the viral concept of “hair mold” from genuine fungal and yeast-related scalp conditions. While certain fungi can affect the scalp and hair, that does not mean mold is growing because someone air-dries their hair.

However, the dermatologist agreed that sleeping with wet hair can aggravate existing scalp problems.

“Most derms recommend not sleeping with your hair wet because it can make dandruff worse,” he explained.

He also disputed the claim about metallic residue, saying anti-dandruff shampoos do not leave metals in the hair. However, some formulas can dry out the hair shaft. He recommended treating the scalp with anti-dandruff shampoo while using a regular shampoo suited to the hair strands to help prevent excessive dryness.

The combination of prolonged dampness and excessive dryness, he explained, can make hair more likely to snap off.

Can a hairstylist diagnose a scalp condition?

Although hairstylists can recognize visible changes in the hair and scalp, identifying a potential problem is different from diagnosing its cause.

According to the United States Trichology Institute, salon professionals can observe issues such as flaking, redness, and hair breakage, recommend appropriate cosmetic care, and refer clients to medical professionals when necessary.

However, diagnosing scalp diseases falls outside the usual scope of salon practice.

A stylist may notice symptoms that warrant further investigation, but determining whether they are caused by dandruff, a fungal infection or another condition requires appropriate medical assessment.

@honboncinnabon

Is ‘hair mold' the latest viral haircare scare?

Honor's experience comes amid social media attention around “hair mold,” with viral videos raising concerns about air-drying hair and going to bed with wet hair.

Glamour UK reported in December 2024 on growing interest in the topic. Online discussions fuelled questions about whether sleeping with wet hair could cause mold to develop.

But the alarming label can be misleading. Although certain fungal scalp conditions are real, they are not the same as mold growing on someone's head because they air-dry their hair.

Keeping the scalp healthy matters, but viral warnings should not replace medical advice.

Subplot News contacted Anne Bisagno via email for comment.

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