Hair dying is a regular part of a large portion of men’s and women’s lives. Whether someone is dying their hair for the sake of changing their color or style or simply coloring out the grey, a large number of people put dye in their hair more than a few times a month. Most people are aware that hair dye uses a concoction of chemicals that can be damaging to hair, but the risk is weighed against the result and most give this fact little or no afterthought.
For those who are dying shorter hair, it is usually less of a concern – but for people with long hair, there is always a risk of the hair being permanently damaged by regular chemical treatments. Even with these risks and potential consequences on the table, few actually take the time to discover what type of chemicals they are using on their hair.
In fact, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that most people who dye their hair would even prefer not to know what the chemicals are and what their potential side effects may be. This follows in the vein of “ignorance is bliss.” Unfortunately, this is the type of “bliss” that is simply based on prolonging the inevitable. The ends may justify the means for a while, but if you turn a blind eye you will never know if there are other options available.
Wouldn’t it be better to find an alternative that could give you the same or similar results without the same risk of side effects to the health of your hair?
There are a variety of options available when it comes to using natural or organic hair dye. It’s true that the color from any hair dye product that is free from any synthetic chemicals will not last nearly as long as its artificial counterpart, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Depending on the way you style your hair and your purpose for using dye, a shorter-lived color may be beneficial. It can also be something of an irritation for those who dislike the process of dying their hair.
However, for those who have allergic reactions to the chemicals that are typically found in artificial hair dye, organic dyes are an excellent solution.
Regardless of what you decide to do in the long run, it is helpful to know what type of chemicals make up the hair dye that you use and what their potential side effects may be. This way, you can make an educated decision about which dyes to use and try to avoid using products that contain unnecessarily damaging or dangerous chemicals.
Some of the chemicals that are better to avoid if possible are:
- ammonia
- peroxide
- para-phenylenediamines (PPDs)
- lead
- toluene
- resorcinol
- coal tar
In 1993, the FDA released a warning that stated coal tar was a possible cancer risk. PPDs, a chemical used for the color in many dyes, is considered by many to be carcinogenic. When possible, you should stay away from these chemicals. Read the labels of your hair dye products and try to get an idea of what you are putting into your hair and onto your scalp.
By eliminating some of these chemicals from your hair dye routine, you can at least lower your risk from them. However, the only way to remove any risks from synthetics and chemicals used in hair dye is to switch to a 100% certified organic hair dye product.
Recommended for you: This video shows you how to color your hair using henna.
The main benefit of using an organic dye is the fact that they contain absolutely no carcinogenic or damaging chemicals at any time. All natural means that the ingredients they used are derived from plant matter and other natural sources. No chemicals are added. However, it’s important to find the right organic product for your hair. Because of the nature of organic hair dye products, they can react differently with different hair types. It may take a couple of tries to find the right product for you, but it will be more than worth it in the long run.
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Hair dye has long been a concern of mine, Dima, because I have been coloring my hair for many years. In fact, I first became a redhead in London where the colors are bright and absolutely amazing. However, hair dye is not as closely regulated there as it is in the U.S. As you mention, the FDA does regulate hair dye in the US and has banned many chemicals. Natural hair dyes like henna are very pretty but they don’t last or provide the results that many of us are looking for. Organic hair color has improved over the years, I have heard. I will ask my colorist at Vidal Sassoon what she thinks! Great topic 🙂
Allison recently posted…Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick, pink peony
Thanks Allison for stopping by!
I know it is of a big concern for you as many women, too.
Though regulated by the FDA, still some brands are being used, that contain harmful ingredients.
As mentioned, many women just ignore those facts and color their hair again and again, sometimes more than once a month, which is not good at all !
I even saw pregnant women exposing to all chemical dyes!
You are right about henna, white hair is colored bright red, but I prefer henna over chemical dyes.
It is a good idea to consult your colorist for more natural choices 🙂
Dima Al Mahsiri recently posted…Healthy Diet for Your Hair Care
very nice information. but i don’t use any brand to color my hair. but my mother use henna from many years.