Health news - NewsLocker

Online safety regulator says teens ‘will lose interest pretty quickly’ in social media – as it happened

10-12-2025 07:13

This blog is now closedUnder-16s who slipped through cracks of social media ban will be ‘booted off in time’, eSafety commissioner saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Inman Grant says getting ‘the most powerful, rich companies’ to comply was always going to be messyInman Grant said she expects kids to experience massive changes as the social media ban sticks around. The eSafety commissioner added that some social media companies were more diffi

Hospital exhausted blood supply trying to save wellness influencer’s life after free birth, Victorian coroner hears

10-12-2025 06:21

Stacey Warnecke, 30, died after giving birth to a son at her Melbourne home accompanied by an unregulated doulaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA hospital exhausted its supply of a wellness influencer’s blood type in an unsuccessful attempt to save her life as she bled uncontrollably after a free birth at home, a court has been told.Stacey Warnecke, 30, was with her husband, Nathan Warnecke, and unregulated dou

Longevity supplements are sold as helping prevent ageing. But do they have any long-term benefits or increase lifespan? | Antiviral

09-12-2025 15:00

Much of the enthusiasm for these ‘anti-ageing’ products is based on animal studies, mostly involving rodentsThere are many acronyms you might find on the packaging of so-called longevity supplements, promoted by influencers for their ability to “repair DNA” and assist in “anti-ageing”.NRC (nicotinamide riboside chloride) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) are two of them – both precursors or “building blocks” for NAD (nicotinamide adenine

Wells refers expenses to parliamentary watchdog – as it happened

09-12-2025 08:42

This blog is now closed.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKevin Hogan says no one ‘gobsmacked’ by Barnaby Joyce’s decision to join One NationKevin Hogan, the deputy leader of the Nationals, compared Barnaby Joyce to Mark Latham after the former said yesterday he would join One Nation.The only other person I can think of that has left who has been a previous leader of a political party and joined One Nation is Mark Latham. And Barnaby Joyce joins those r

Australians’ credit card debt at four-year high – as it happened

08-12-2025 07:53

This blog is now closed Anika Wells claimed more than $8,500 for family travel to Melbourne during AFL grand final weekends over three yearsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese and Ley respond to tragic firefighter deathThe prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has issued a statement after the death of a firefighter who was battling a blaze at Bulahdelah on the NSW mid-north coast.My heart goes out to the loved ones and colleagues of the firefighter who has tragically

Specialist doctor fees are forcing Australians into ‘impossible choices’. Advocates say urgent change is needed

07-12-2025 15:00

Patients like Mary feel ‘embarrassed’ when they can’t afford to pay for care, as experts lament a ‘system without guardrails’Struggling to afford specialist fees? See if your GP can refer you to one of Australia’s free public hospital clinicsWhen Mary’s* heart began beating irregularly one evening in 2016, she was taken by ambulance to a major public hospital in Melbourne and treated by a cardiologist.She was surprised when her required follow-up appoint

Australians buying ‘iron supplements’ containing little more iron than a slice of bread, experts warn

07-12-2025 15:00

Calls for regulation of pharmacies and transparency around who is sponsoring products being registered with the TGAFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastProf Geraldine Moses was speaking to a nurse who told her something concerning: patients with kidney failure were taking “iron supplements” that contained almost no iron.Patients on kidney dialysis often need iron supplements because the disease reduces the bo

NSW Central Coast ‘not out of the woods yet’ as bushfire conditions ease – as it happened

07-12-2025 05:39

This blog is now closed.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese has also defended a $100k expense for communications minister Anika Wells, a staffer and a public servant to join the prime minister and foreign minister Penny Wong in New York for a United Nations meeting.Anika Wells was doing her job as the communications minister who is in charge of this world-leading, world-leading legislation, passed with bipartisan support, to give credit to Peter Dutton when he was

‘Not approved for human use’: the online frenzy for injectable peptides sweeping Australia

05-12-2025 15:00

Social media is driving a boom in the use of peptides to improve appearance and physical performance. Many are experimental and come with risk of serious side effectsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOn TikTok, a 21-year-old fitness influencer is spruiking a drug that hasn’t even finished clinical trials.“This stuff is actually hard to come by in Australia, so I’ll leave a reputable source in the description,” the Sydneysider says. “Obviousl

Chalmers cheers OpenAI’s new $7bn Sydney datacentre; emergency bushfire warnings in NSW – as it happened

05-12-2025 07:23

Meanwhile sewage risked spilling into Sydney Harbour from a cracked wastewater pipe. This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian government’s controversial “adult time for violent crime” bill has passed parliament without amendment.The bill, which will move serious crimes committed by children as young as 14 from the children’s court to adult courts, passed at about 6pm on Thursday with the support of the Coalition.I&rsq

Most NDIS participants will lose external avenue to appeal funding amounts under new system, Senate estimates told

04-12-2025 08:56

Administrative review tribunal no longer authorised to alter a person’s plan or reinstate funding, agency confirmsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastParticipants in the national disability insurance scheme will in most cases no longer be able to appeal against their total amount of funding support to any external review body, executives have confirmed.The minister for disability and the NDIS, Jenny McAllister, and National Disability Insurance Agency bosses were pep

‘Problematic precedent’: expert says Australia could be next as UK agrees to pay 25% more for new US medicines

02-12-2025 09:26

US has said it hopes other countries will follow as health policy experts say the agreement signals a shift away from value-for-money assessment Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the government is trying to understand a “dynamic shift that’s happening in the global pharmaceutical market” following a new agreement that will see the UK pay 25% more for new US medicines, as drugs policy experts warn the deal s

Victoria could become first Australian state to ban unnecessary surgery on intersex children

01-12-2025 15:00

Exclusive: Legislation would prohibit deferrable, irreversible procedures until child can give informed consent, bringing state in line with ACTFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria will become the first Australian state to ban unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, with legislation to be introduced to parliament to ensure procedures are deferred until patients are old enough to consent to them.The health mi

Australia’s drug regulator issues mental health warning for weight-loss drugs including Ozempic

01-12-2025 08:11

TGA issues a separate warning for Mounjaro about risk of reduced effectiveness of contraceptionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe medicines regulator has added two new safety warnings about mental health and contraception for people taking high-profile diabetes and weight loss drugs.While there is no proof of a causal association, experts say the risks are significant enough that awareness is important as part of a

Reciting the names of the dead: how Australia’s response to HIV/Aids was emotionally – and politically – powerful | Leigh Boucher

30-11-2025 23:00

Researchers now describe it as both historical phenomenon and public health model. Its success was remarkablePast/Present is a column which places current events in historical contextAids has always been laden with political and emotional volatilities. The possibility of blood- or sex-based transmission combined with its first emergence among marginalised and criminalised populations created a potent mix of primal terror and terrifying prejudice.It can sometimes be difficult to remember just how

Gen Z Australians are attempting suicide and self-harming more than previous generations, study finds

30-11-2025 15:00

Exclusive: Separate research shows number of young children having suicidal thoughts has risen at ‘alarming’ rateFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastYoung Australians aged 16 to 25 are attempting to kill themselves, self-harming and experiencing suicidal thoughts in greater numbers and at earlier ages than previous generations, a landmark study has found.It comes as Kids Helpline data provided exclusively to

‘Desire in one of its rawest forms’: what do we know about limerence?

29-11-2025 20:00

For everything from pop music to poetry, overwhelming infatuation offersinspiration and storylines. But when might this tip over into something a little less healthy?For months after her relationship ended, Anna* couldn’t stop thinking about him.Each morning she’d wake with a jolt of grief; an intense, almost physical feeling that morphed into thoughts of him that consumed nearly every waking hour. Continue reading...

Australian taxpayers subsidise rising specialist fees as spending on Abbott-era Medicare safety net ‘explodes’

29-11-2025 20:00

Exclusive: Health department data shows spending on the 2004 extended safety net has nearly tripled, from $324.9m in 2010 to $850.4m in 2024Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTaxpayers are increasingly subsiding the rising fees of specialist doctors, as new data shows “explosive” government spending on the Medicare safety net, which has more than doubled in 15 years.Total Medicare safety net benefits rose f

‘Mineral’ sunscreens marketed to Australians contain almost identical chemicals as others, testing shows

28-11-2025 15:00

Exclusive: UNSW researchers found protection in products usually marketed as ‘natural’ is also contained in cheaper alternativesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian consumers are paying a premium for “mineral” sunscreens that contain almost identical chemicals to cheaper varieties, new testing has revealed.The University of New South Wales’ school of chemistry tested 10 sunscreens, including Invisible Zinc children’s sunscreen

Does methylene blue really have wellness benefits or will it just leave you with the blues? | Antiviral

25-11-2025 15:00

The fabric dye is popular in wellness circles, with a laundry list of claimed benefits – but it also carries serious risksRead more in the Antiviral seriesA week before he was sworn in as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services in February, a video of anti-vaccination conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr went viral.In it, Kennedy, who has frequently promoted debunked health claims, is seen squirting inky blue liquid into a drinking glass. The substance was widely spe

Human rights fears over Australia’s role in F-35 parts after Trump’s decision to sell fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

22-11-2025 20:00

Experts warn US deal on ‘lethal’ aircraft presents issues for Australia that ‘we’ve tried desperately to ignore with the Israelis’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDonald Trump’s unilateral decision to sell F-35 joint strike fighter jets to Saudi Arabia will rely on critical Australian components, prompting experts to warn Australia could become complicit in human rights abuses.The

Stunning aurora australis lights up sky above New Zealand and Australia after ‘cannibal’ solar storm

13-11-2025 03:05

The geomagnetic storm, caused by powerful bursts of energy from the sun, also postponed the launch of two Mars-bound Nasa spacecraft in the USFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSkywatchers enjoyed a stunning treat on Wednesday night, with the southern lights visible across large parts of Australia and New Zealand.The aurora australis that lit up the sky resulted from what has been dubbed a “cannibal” solar

Recharging station: can at-home mats provide the same benefits as PEMF therapy? | Natasha May

11-11-2025 15:00

People in pain swear by pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Experts weigh in on the mats that have emerged as a self-therapy toolRead more in the Antiviral seriesIt looks like a fancy yoga mat but manufacturers claim pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy mats can recharge the body at a cellular level. PEMF therapy is a favourite of biohackers including Gary Brecka, who spruiked the mats on Joe Rogan’s podcast as having the ability to “re-polarise” red blood cells. Horse

AI study gives insights into why super-recognisers excel at identifying faces

05-11-2025 01:01

Research uses eye-tracking data to examine some people’s extraordinary recognition abilityThey have been used in the search for the Salisbury novichok poisoners, finding murder suspects and even spotting sexual predators. Now, research has revealed fresh insights into why super-recognisers are so good at identifying faces.Previous research has suggested people with an extraordinary ability to recognise people look at more areas across a face than typical people. Continue reading...

Australia’s remarkable success in reducing preterm births: ‘Babies are being born when they should be’

29-10-2025 00:30

Wendy Andrews’ blood pressure was dangerously high at 31 weeks, but doctors were able to delay delivery and strengthen her babyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen Wendy Andrews went for a routine check-up at 31 weeks and six days pregnant, her blood pressure was dangerously high at 150/120. This signalled pre-eclampsia, a condition that often forces early delivery.Her reading was marked as concerning and midw

What is protein water – and can it help me lose weight and gain muscle? | Antiviral

28-10-2025 15:00

The macronutrient is better coming from a range of wholefoods, dieticians say – and nearly all of us get enough, anywayRead more in the Antiviral seriesHaving infiltrated products ranging from chips to pancakes, protein is now being marketed as a healthy addition to … water.Influencers on TikTok and Instagram have been paid to promote protein water sachets and premade drinks, praising the confectionery-like flavours for helping them meet their “protein goals”. The produc

Australia must ‘step up to prevent catastrophic and preventable loss of life’ amid Trump cuts, former CDC boss says

25-10-2025 21:00

Dr Tom Frieden served as director of the US health body under Barack Obama until 2017 and warns about cuts under Donald TrumpGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia must “step up to prevent catastrophic and preventable loss of life” after US funding cuts to national and global health programs and institutions, a former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.Dr Tom Frieden, who served as director of the CDC until 2017 under Bara

Whistleblower resigns in protest after inquiry finds ‘no credible evidence’ of wrongdoing at SKA Observatory

22-10-2025 07:34

Organisation behind $3.6bn international project releases findings of report that found none of the claims of financial mismanagement had been upheldFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe organisation behind the Square Kilometre Array Observatory in outback Western Australia says an independent investigation into claims of financial mismanagement has found “no credible evidence” of any wrongdoing.In August,

Plantwatch: An extraordinary orchid that lives and flowers underground

15-10-2025 07:00

Botanist trying to conserve highly vulnerable rhizanthella that survives by feeding on nutrients from a fungusRhizanthella is an extraordinary orchid that lives its entire life underground. It flowers below ground, has no leaves and survives by feeding on nutrients from a fungus that gets its food from the soil and by connecting with roots of the broom bush, Melaleuca uncinata.Rhizanthella was an international sensation when it was first discovered by a farmer ploughing a field in Western Austra

Pregnancy skincare products target women at a vulnerable time. Do any work or do they just stretch the truth? | Antiviral

14-10-2025 16:00

Oils, creams and lotions with names like ‘mummy’s tummy’, ‘bump love’ and ‘belly butter’ aboundRead more in the Antiviral seriesPregnancy can be a trying time: you can’t tell whether you’re nauseous or hungry, your body is working at close to the sustainable limit of human endurance, your organs are rearranging to make space for a growing alien.There are myriad indignities: nosebleeds, swelling feet, back pain and, if you’re unlucky, ce

Women carry a higher genetic risk of depression, new study says

07-10-2025 16:00

Researchers in Australia find 16 genetic variants linked to depression in women but only eight in menWomen carry a higher genetic risk of depression, a new study has found.Claiming to be the largest genetic study to date on sex differences in major depression, the research published on Wednesday in Nature Communications has found 16 genetic variants linked to depression in women and eight in men. Continue reading...

The truth behind Trump's claims about autism and paracetamol, or Tylenol – video

25-09-2025 05:19

Global health agencies and regulators have dismissed unscientific advice from Donald Trump, who made an unproven link between autism and the use of everyday painkillers and vaccines. But the science wasn’t the only problem with that press conference. Matilda Boseley explains what you need to knowIs Tylenol the same as paracetamol, and should you take it in pregnancy? Here’s why experts say Trump should be ignored Continue reading...

Landmark climate report shows 'every Australian has a lot at stake', minister says – video

15-09-2025 04:33

Chris Bowen, the climate change minister, held a press conference after the release of a new report that finds no Australian community would be immune from the risks of worsening climate change. 'One thing that is very clear from this climate assessment is that the whole country has a lot at stake. Every Australian, regardless of where they live, has a lot at stake,' said Bowen. The long-awaited national climate risk assessment provides the most detailed picture of the severe and far-reaching so

Australian novel attracts controversy over fictionalised depiction of gay codebreaker Alan Turing

20-08-2025 05:29

Nick Croydon, the CEO of QBD Books, has faced criticism for his thriller The Turing ProtocolA novel written by a prominent book industry figure in which persecuted gay man Alan Turing has sex with a woman and fathers a child has been criticised online for its portrayal of the codebreaker.The Turing Protocol was released in July and was written by Nick Croydon, the CEO of QBD Books, the largest Australian-owned bookshop chain, where the book is being heavily promoted. Continue reading...

Australia news live: Pocock calls for more targeted Israel sanctions ‘starting with Netanyahu’; NSW police threaten court action to block pro-Palestine march

29-07-2025 09:26

Follow today’s news live‘Beyond comprehension’ for Israel to claim there is no starvation crisis in Gaza, PM saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNationals net zero debate ‘total madness’: PocockWe can’t seem to stop talking about net zero in parliament, and independent senator (and known longtime climate action advocate) David Pocock says it’s “total madness” to see the path the Coalition is taking on the issue.I th

I had no idea where to find help for my eating disorder. Then Australia’s new e-clinic changed everything | Lucinda Price

29-07-2025 05:17

Too many are still stuck in silence, still waiting, still falling through the cracks. It’s time we moved the dialIn 2020, I decided to get help for an eating disorder.Up until that point, I’d had some variation of one for years. It all started when I decided to go on my first diet, aged 21. What followed was a half decade of cycling through maddening patterns of restriction. From bingeing to purging, starving to hardcore exercising, my mind was constantly overrun by thoughts of food.

Becoming a paramedic changed me. But not in the ways I expected

28-07-2025 17:00

From trampolines to smartwatches, the job has changed how I see everyday life. It’s a kind of hyper-awareness that doesn’t switch offGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailBefore I became a paramedic, I didn’t expect the job would change how I load a dishwasher. Or eat a sandwich. Or look at trampolines. I knew it would change how I see others – watching people die tends to do that. But nearly 10 years in, I’ve realised how much it’s quietly altered my day

Hanging up the car keys for good: the decision to stop driving is complicated, but are age-based restrictions the answer?

28-07-2025 04:00

With rules for elderly drivers under scrutiny in Victoria, experts disagree on mandatory assessmentsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHiding car keys and deflating the car’s tyres were some of the steps Melbourne woman Beth Nielsen took to prevent her grandfather from getting behind the wheel in the final years of his life.Nielsen’s grandfather had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2016 but remained

What is vitamin B6 toxicity and what are the symptoms of taking too much?

27-07-2025 02:00

Consuming too much in supplements or fortified foods such as energy drinks can damage peripheral nerves and, in extreme cases, impair motor functionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn January Guardian Australia told the story of Simon Bogemann who developed a nerve condition known as peripheral neuropathy after consuming excessive vitamin B6 from multivitamin and magnesium supplements.Since then, the potential of these over-the-counter supplements to cause harm has attr

Annabelle’s journey to having her pain taken seriously wasn’t easy. A new health service has brought relief

27-07-2025 02:00

Free Victorian government-funded virtual women’s health clinic aims to fill the gap in access to vital servicesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnnabelle says she didn’t realise how much pain she was in until something as simple as laughing hurt.“We were in the car and Mum made a joke,” she says. “I laughed, then turned to her and said, ‘Can you not do that? It hurts to breathe.&rs

‘Ignoring hot flushes is wrong’: study challenges assumptions about perimenopause symptoms

26-07-2025 00:30

Research notes lack of interventions for perimenopausal women despite finding that hot flushes and night sweats can be as severe as for those of menopauseGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost 40% of women going through perimenopause experience moderate to severe hot flushes and night sweats but have no treatment options, new research has found.The study, published in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, explored differences in symptom prevalence by menopausal stag

Labor MP says Australia should move to recognise Palestinian statehood – as it happened

25-07-2025 09:29

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIndependent MP Allegra Spender will hold what’s being referred to as a tax reform roundtable today. She told RN Breakfast this morning reforming the tax system would help Australia “solve some of its biggest problems” like sluggish productivity and the cost of living crisis affecting young people, as well as fund the climate transition.The goal for this roundtable is to both contribute to the trea

Senator calls out ‘incredibly childish stunts’ – as it happened

24-07-2025 09:48

This blog is now closedAustralia warned it could face legal action over ‘wrongful’ fossil fuel actions after landmark climate ruling from world’s top courtGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCoalition demands biosecurity reassurances after US beef trade deal newsThe opposition is a little less welcoming of the decision to lift restrictions on US beef.The prime minister himself has said that we couldn’t relax the restrictions on the importation of US

Australia’s largest private hospital operator to close majority of psychology clinics to be ‘flexible, sustainable’

24-07-2025 09:26

Seventeen of Ramsay Health Care’s 20 clinics will close by the end of August, with only Cairns, Charlestown and Joondalup to remain operatingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRamsay Health Care, Australia’s largest private hospital operator, has announced it will be closing the majority of its psychology clinics, described by the peak body as “very sad news” for those needing mental health care

‘Slip, slop, slap for brain health’: Australia needs a major prevention campaign for dementia, doctor says

23-07-2025 06:39

Prof Henry Brodaty of UNSW says managing risk factors such as diet and anxiety is a cost-effective way of curbing the diseaseFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA “slip, slap, slop”-style preventative campaign is needed for dementia, as new research shows cases of the disease could be delayed with no added cost, a leading doctor has told the National Press Club on Wednesday.In the speech titled “Hope B

Is ‘office air’ to blame for your limp hair and spotty, flaky skin? | Antiviral

22-07-2025 17:00

Air conditioning, heating and poor ventilation in the office can contribute to drier skin and greasier hair, but other factors such as the commute may play a part tooRead more in the Antiviral seriesStill-life paintings known as vanitas, popular in the 17th century, served as reminders of the transient nature of everything on earth, doomed to wither and fade. It’s a lesson most of us get when we catch our reflection in the office mirror and are shocked to find our neatly groomed appearance

Teenage vaping has ‘turned a corner’ in Australia, says Mark Butler, as data shows falling rates

15-07-2025 17:00

Report finds vaping rate among children aged 14-17 years has declined, with some describing embarrassment about being a ‘vaper’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government believes dangerous vaping rates among younger Australians may have turned a corner after years of rapid growth, with new research showing take-up could have peaked among teenagers and high school-age children.Data released by

Indigenous midwife referred to by racist slur on staff whiteboard at Sydney’s RPA hospital

13-07-2025 17:00

Exclusive: Renee Bani quit hospital’s Aboriginal midwifery group practice due to a number of factors which she said ‘came down to, basically, racism’Warning: This article contains outdated offensive languageFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesRead more from our investigation into the maternal health and infant removal crisis facing First Nations women in AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former midwife at one of Sydney&rsquo

RBA deputy warns of Brexit-scale impact as Trump threatens 200% tariffs on foreign pharmaceuticals

09-07-2025 07:25

Andrew Hauser says it is ‘puzzling’ investors not more concerned by tectonic economic shifts emanating from WashingtonFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor is making urgent representations to the White House about Donald Trump’s threat to impose 200% tariffs on drug imports to the US, amid growing warnings the US president’s growing trade war will seriously damage the global economy.Trump sai

What is hair and scalp oiling, and will it make my locks long like Rapunzel? | Antiviral

08-07-2025 17:00

While some people are just genetically blessed, many popular hair hacks are simply commonsense, say experts• Read more in the Antiviral seriesMythical representations of women, whether Botticelli’s Venus, the Hindu goddess Lakshmi or the pre-Raphaellites’ women of the Arthurian legends are often united by a common trait: their long flowing hair. You might think such lengths are confined to the realm of myth untouched by the realities of split ends, but if you look on social medi