Is it safe to dye your hair. Hair Dye Safety: Salon vs Box Dye – Ingredients, Risks, and Precautions

05.06.197701.11.2021 by alexxlab

Is salon or box dye healthier for your hair. What chemicals are in hair dyes. Can hair dye cause allergic reactions or hair damage. How to safely dye your hair at home. Are natural hair dyes safer than chemical dyes.

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The Chemical Composition of Hair Dyes

Hair dyes contain a complex mixture of chemicals designed to alter hair color. While our natural hair color comes from melanin, artificial dyes rely on synthetic compounds to achieve desired shades. Common ingredients found in many hair dyes include:

Ammonia
Hydrogen peroxide
Paraphenylenediamine (PPDA)
Lead acetates (recently banned by the FDA)

These harsh chemicals can potentially irritate the scalp and damage hair. PPDA in particular is a known allergen present in most permanent hair dyes, regardless of price point. Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist, emphasizes the importance of reading ingredient labels carefully, as many people are allergic to PPDA.

How Do Hair Dyes Work?

Hair dyes alter hair color through chemical reactions. Permanent dyes penetrate the hair shaft, while semi-permanent dyes coat the hair surface. The ammonia in permanent dyes opens up the hair cuticle, allowing dye molecules to enter. Hydrogen peroxide then bleaches out natural pigments and activates the new color. This process can weaken hair structure over time.

Potential Health Risks of Hair Dyeing

While hair dyes are widely used, their long-term health effects remain unclear. Research into potential cancer risks has yielded inconsistent or inconclusive results. However, immediate adverse reactions are well-documented:

Scalp irritation, redness, and itching
Allergic reactions, especially to PPDA
Hair damage and increased breakage
Temporary skin staining

Can hair dye cause hair loss? In some cases, yes. Excessive use of harsh bleaching agents can weaken hair shafts, leading to breakage and thinning. Those with sensitive scalps may also experience inflammation that impacts hair growth.

Salon vs. Box Dye: Which is Safer?

Both salon and box dyes contain similar chemical ingredients. The main differences lie in application technique and customization. Salons offer professional expertise and can tailor formulations, potentially reducing risks. However, box dyes allow for more frequent touch-ups at a lower cost.

Are salon dyes inherently safer than box dyes? Not necessarily. The safety of hair dyeing depends more on proper application, ingredient awareness, and individual sensitivity than on whether it’s done at home or in a salon. Patch tests are crucial for both options to check for allergic reactions.

Advantages of Salon Hair Coloring

Professional application technique
Custom color mixing
Expert advice on hair health
Higher-quality products (in some cases)

Benefits of At-Home Box Dyes

Cost-effective
Convenient for touch-ups
Wide range of color options
Control over ingredients (if you read labels carefully)

Safe Hair Dyeing Practices

Whether opting for salon or box dye, following safety precautions can minimize risks:

Always perform a patch test 48 hours before full application
Wear protective gloves when mixing and applying dye
Follow instructions carefully, especially regarding processing time
Rinse thoroughly after dyeing
Avoid mixing different dye formulations
Never use hair dye on eyelashes or eyebrows

How often is it safe to dye your hair? Most experts recommend waiting at least 4-6 weeks between coloring sessions to minimize damage. Those with particularly dry or damaged hair may need to wait longer.

Natural Alternatives to Chemical Hair Dyes

For those concerned about chemical exposure, natural hair dye alternatives are available:

Henna: A plant-based dye that coats hair strands
Indigo: Often combined with henna for darker shades
Coffee or tea rinses: Can darken hair temporarily
Herbal hair colors: Made from various plant extracts

Are natural hair dyes completely risk-free? While they generally contain fewer harsh chemicals, natural dyes can still cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Patch testing remains important, even with natural products.

Pros of Natural Hair Dyes

Fewer synthetic chemicals
Often gentler on hair and scalp
May provide additional conditioning benefits

Cons of Natural Hair Dyes

Limited color range compared to chemical dyes
Results can be less predictable
May not effectively cover gray hair
Often require longer processing times

Recognizing and Addressing Adverse Reactions

Even with precautions, some individuals may experience negative reactions to hair dye. Dr. Piliang advises watching for these symptoms after coloring:

Scalp redness or irritation
Itching or burning sensation
Scaling or flaking of the scalp
Blisters or open sores

How long do hair dye allergic reactions typically last? Mild reactions often resolve within a few days. However, if symptoms persist for more than 48 hours or are severe, consult a dermatologist or healthcare provider promptly.

Managing Hair Dye Reactions

If you experience a mild reaction to hair dye, try these steps:

Rinse your scalp thoroughly with cool water
Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to soothe irritation
Take an oral antihistamine to reduce itching
Avoid heat styling and harsh hair products until symptoms subside

For severe reactions or those involving swelling, difficulty breathing, or widespread rash, seek immediate medical attention.

The Future of Hair Dye Technology

As awareness of potential health risks grows, researchers are exploring safer alternatives to traditional hair dyes. Scientists at North Carolina University have created a database of over 300 hair dye substances to investigate more sustainable and less harmful coloring methods.

What innovations can we expect in hair dye technology? Some promising areas of research include:

Graphene-based dyes that don’t penetrate the hair shaft
Enzyme-activated hair coloring systems
Nano-pigment technologies for longer-lasting, gentler color
Plant-based dyes with improved gray coverage

These advancements aim to provide effective hair coloring while minimizing chemical exposure and hair damage. However, it may be several years before such products become widely available to consumers.

Hair Dyes and Cancer Risk: Examining the Evidence

The potential link between hair dyes and cancer has been a subject of ongoing research and debate. While early studies raised concerns, more recent evidence suggests that the cancer risk from modern hair dyes is likely low for most users.

What Does the Research Say?

Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between hair dye use and various types of cancer. Here’s a summary of current findings:

Bladder cancer: Some studies have found a slightly increased risk, particularly among hairdressers with long-term exposure
Breast cancer: Most large studies have not found a significant association
Leukemia and lymphoma: Results have been mixed, with some studies showing a small increased risk and others finding no link
Other cancers: Generally, no consistent associations have been found

It’s important to note that many of these studies have limitations, such as relying on self-reported data or not accounting for all potential confounding factors.

Factors Influencing Cancer Risk

When considering the potential cancer risk of hair dyes, several factors come into play:

Frequency of use: More frequent dyeing may increase exposure to potentially harmful chemicals
Type of dye: Permanent dyes generally contain harsher chemicals than temporary or semi-permanent options
Dark vs. light colors: Some studies suggest darker dyes may pose a higher risk
Era of use: Dyes used before 1980 contained more potent chemicals that have since been banned
Application method: Professional application may reduce skin exposure compared to at-home use

How can individuals minimize potential cancer risk from hair dyes? While the overall risk appears low, those concerned can take precautions such as:

Opting for less frequent coloring sessions
Choosing lighter shades or semi-permanent dyes
Using natural alternatives when possible
Ensuring proper ventilation during application
Following safety instructions carefully to minimize skin contact

Maintaining Hair Health While Coloring

Regular hair dyeing can take a toll on hair health, leading to dryness, breakage, and loss of shine. However, with proper care, it’s possible to maintain healthy hair while still enjoying color treatments.

Tips for Protecting Dyed Hair

Use color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners
Limit washing to 2-3 times per week to preserve color and natural oils
Apply a deep conditioning treatment weekly
Protect hair from sun and chlorine exposure
Minimize heat styling, and always use a heat protectant product
Trim ends regularly to prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft

How can you extend the life of your hair color? In addition to proper care, consider these strategies:

Use color-depositing conditioners between dye sessions
Rinse with cool water to seal the hair cuticle
Apply a leave-in UV protectant to prevent sun-induced fading
Touch up roots instead of re-dyeing the entire head each time

Nourishing Ingredients for Colored Hair

Look for hair care products containing these beneficial ingredients:

Keratin: Strengthens hair structure
Argan oil: Provides moisture and shine
Biotin: Promotes hair growth and strength
Panthenol: Improves hair elasticity and moisture retention
Silk proteins: Help repair damage and add softness

By combining safe dyeing practices with proper hair care, individuals can enjoy vibrant color while maintaining the health and integrity of their hair.

Making Informed Decisions About Hair Coloring

Choosing whether to dye your hair and how to do so safely involves weighing personal preferences against potential risks. Consider the following factors when making your decision:

Your overall health and any existing scalp conditions
History of allergic reactions to cosmetic products
Desired color and level of permanence
Current hair condition and damage level
Time and budget constraints
Environmental and ethical concerns

Is it ever unsafe to dye your hair? While hair dyeing is generally considered safe for most people, certain situations warrant caution or avoidance:

During pregnancy (consult with your healthcare provider)
If you have open cuts or sores on your scalp
Immediately after another chemical hair treatment (e.g., perming)
If you’ve experienced severe reactions to hair dye in the past

Alternatives to Traditional Hair Dyeing

For those who want to change their look without using permanent dyes, consider these options:

Temporary color sprays or chalks
Hair mascara for subtle highlights
Clip-in colored hair extensions
Semi-permanent glazes or toners
Gradual color-depositing shampoos and conditioners

These alternatives can provide a fun change without the commitment or potential risks associated with permanent dyes.

Ultimately, the decision to dye your hair is a personal one. By understanding the potential risks and benefits, following safety precautions, and listening to your body’s reactions, you can make choices that align with your health goals and aesthetic preferences. Whether opting for salon treatments, at-home box dyes, or natural alternatives, prioritizing hair health and safety will help ensure beautiful results and minimize potential harm.

Is Salon or Box Dye Healthier for Your Hair? – Cleveland Clinic

If you’re among the millions of American women (and men) who dye their hair regularly, you may be exposing yourself to dangerous chemicals that damage hair and skin. The truth is, chemical-laden hair dyes can irritate your scalp and cause hair thinning or loss in some people — while the long-term health effects are not yet known.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

A harsh chemical cocktail

Human skin, eyes and hair get their color naturally from melanin, a compound derived from the amino acid tyrosine. In a nutshell, the amount of melanin you have determines your hair, skin and eye color. When talking about natural hair color, for example, blondes have fewer melanin molecules than brunettes.

Hair dyes, on the other hand, use a veritable cocktail of chemicals to alter hair color. They often contain ammonia, lead acetates (Note: The FDA recently repealed approval of this ingredient, but it is pending), hydrogen peroxide and paraphenylenediamine (PPDA) – a common allergen.

“PPDA is common in both cheap and expensive hair dyes and present in nearly all permanent type dyes,” says dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD. “Many people are allergic to it, so I recommend reading the ingredients on every hair dye product,” she says.

Although researchers have studied the long-term effects – including possible cancer risks – of hair dyes, many of the findings have been inconsistent or inconclusive. Essentially, this means that experts don’t have a clear understanding of the possible hazards of these dyes over time.

Permanent hair dyes use the harshest chemicals to alter hair color, but semi-permanent dyes (often used to cover graying hair) may still contain worrisome chemicals, including PPDA or a similar compound. That’s why it’s important to always read the ingredients on any type of hair color before using it, Dr. Piliang says.

Signs of problems caused by dye

Whenever you color your hair, watch out for signs of problems after use. “Any scalp redness, irritation, itching, scaling, flaking or blisters should raise concern,” Dr. Piliang says. If your symptoms are severe or last more than two days, she recommends making an appointment with a dermatologist or your primary care physician.

Other, less medically significant issues can occur from using hair dyes as well. They often tint the skin of the scalp for a few days, which may cause embarrassment. “Products that bleach or lighten hair color strip away the protective coating of the hair fibers. This makes the hair shaft thinner and weaker, which makes them more susceptible to damage,” Dr. Piliang explains. Using these bleaching and lightening formulations too often can make hair appear limp and lifeless and may even cause hair loss.

Take precautions

When dying your hair using a boxed product, follow these tips for best results:

Conduct a test patch on the skin to rule out possible allergic reactions before applying the dye to your hair.
Always wear gloves when applying or mixing hair dye.
Don’t leave dye on your hair for longer than the instructions suggest.
Rinse your scalp well with water when you are done dying.
Never mix different hair color formulations.
Never attempt to dye eyelashes or eyebrows with hair dye. This can damage your eyes permanently and could even cause blindness.

The safest bet is to closely follow all instructions that come with your boxed hair dye and avoid formulations containing PPDA if you’re allergic.

If you want to avoid exposure to the chemicals contained in most artificial hair dyes, consider trying a natural substitute like a plant-based henna dye or another all-natural hair color product.

Looking to the future, there is potential for new and safer
hair dyes. Researchers at North Carolina University have created a database with
more than 300 substances in hair dye to research
ways to make hair color safer and more sustainable.

Hair Dyes and Cancer Risk

Many American women, as well as a small but increasing number of men, use hair dyes. You may have heard rumors about a link between using hair dye and getting cancer. Many studies have looked at hair dyes as a possible risk factor for various types of cancer. Here is what the research shows so that you can make choices that are comfortable for you.

Types of hair dyes

Hair dyes vary greatly in their chemical make-up. People are exposed to the chemicals in hair dyes through skin contact. There are 3 main types of hair dyes:

Temporary dyes: These dyes cover the surface of the hair but don’t penetrate into the hair shaft. They generally last for 1 to 2 washings.
Semi-permanent dyes: These dyes do penetrate into the hair shaft. They typically last for 5 to 10 washings.
Permanent (oxidative) hair dyes: These dyes cause lasting chemical changes in the hair shaft. They are the most popular types of hair dyes, because the color changes last until the hair is replaced by new growth. These dyes are sometimes referred to as coal-tar dyes because of some of the ingredients in them. They contain colorless substances such as aromatic amines and phenols. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, these substances go through chemical reactions to become dyes. Darker hair dyes tend to use more of these coloring agents.

Concern about cancer risk is largely limited to the semi-permanent and permanent dyes. Because darker dyes have more of some chemicals that may cause cancer, these products are of greatest potential concern.

How are people exposed to hair dyes?

The most common way to be exposed is to dye your hair or have it dyed. Some chemicals in hair dyes can be absorbed in small amounts through the skin or inhaled from fumes in the air.

People who work around hair dyes regularly as part of their jobs, such as hairdressers, stylists, and barbers, are likely to be exposed more than people who just dye their hair on occasion. Many of the concerns about hair dyes possibly causing cancer have focused on people who work with them.

Do hair dyes cause cancer?

Researchers have been studying a possible link between hair dye use and cancer for many years. Studies have looked most closely at the risks of blood cancers (leukemias and lymphomas) and bladder cancer. Some studies have suggested possible links, but others have not.

What do studies show?

Researchers use 2 main types of studies to try to figure out if a substance causes cancer. A substance that causes cancer or helps cancer grow is called a carcinogen.

In studies done in the lab, animals are exposed to a substance (often in very large doses) to see if it causes tumors or other health problems. Researchers may also expose normal cells in a lab dish to the substance to see if it causes the types of changes that are seen in cancer cells. In lab studies, researchers can control many of the other factors that might affect the results. Still, it’s not always clear if the results in lab dishes or animals would be the same in humans, for a number of reasons.

Another type of study looks at cancer rates in different groups of people. Such a study might compare the cancer rate in a group exposed to a substance to the rate in a group not exposed to it, or compare it to what the expected cancer rate would be in the general population. But sometimes it can be hard to know what the results of these studies mean, because it is hard to account for the many other factors that might affect the results .

In most cases neither type of study provides enough evidence on its own, so researchers usually look at both human and lab-based studies when trying to figure out if something might cause cancer.

Studying something like hair dyes can be even more complex because not all hair dyes are the same – they can contain any of thousands of different chemicals. On top of this, the ingredients in hair dyes have changed over the years. Early hair dyes contained chemicals, including some aromatic amines, which were found in the late 1970s to cause cancer in lab animals, so hair dye manufacturers changed some of the chemicals in their products. Studying exposure to hair dyes from decades ago may not be the same as studying current exposures. In fact, many studies classify personal hair dye use based on whether it took place before or after 1980.

Studies done in the lab

Some of the ingredients used in hair dyes (including certain aromatic amines) have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals, usually when the animals were fed large amounts of the dyes over a long period of time. Although studies have shown that some of the dye applied to an animal’s skin is absorbed into the bloodstream, most have not found a link between skin application and cancer risk.

It’s not clear how these results might relate to people’s use of hair dyes.

Studies in people

Most of the studies looking at whether hair dye products increase the risk of cancer have focused on certain cancers such as bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and breast cancer. These studies have looked at 2 groups of people:

People who use hair dyes regularly
People who are exposed to them at work

Bladder cancer: Most studies of people exposed to hair dyes at work, such as hairdressers and barbers, have found a small but fairly consistent increased risk of bladder cancer. However, studies looking at people who have their hair dyed have not found a consistent increase in bladder cancer risk.

Leukemias and lymphomas: Studies looking at a possible link between personal hair dye use and the risk of blood-related cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma have had mixed results. For example, some studies have found an increased risk of certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (but not others) in women who use hair dyes, especially if they began use before 1980 and/or use darker colors. The same types of results have been found in some studies of leukemia risk. However, other studies have not found an increased risk. If there is an effect of hair dye use on blood-related cancers, it is likely to be small.

Breast cancer: Results of studies looking at a possible link between personal hair dye use and breast cancer have been mixed. Many studies have not found an increase in risk, although some more recent studies have.

Other cancers: For other types of cancer, too few studies have been done to be able to draw any firm conclusions.

Many people use hair dyes, so it is important that more studies are done to get a better idea if these dyes affect cancer risk.

What expert agencies say

Several national and international agencies study substances in the environment to determine if they can cause cancer. The American Cancer Society looks to these organizations to evaluate the risks based on evidence from laboratory, animal, and human research studies.

Some of these expert agencies have classified hair dyes or their ingredients as to whether they can cause cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its major goal is to identify causes of cancer. IARC has concluded that workplace exposure as a hairdresser or barber is “probably carcinogenic to humans,” based on the data regarding bladder cancer. (The evidence for other types of cancer is considered mixed or inadequate.) But IARC considers personal hair dye use to be “not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans,” based on a lack of evidence from studies in people.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is formed from parts of several different US government agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The NTP has not classified exposure to hair dyes as to its potential to cause cancer. However, it has classified some chemicals that are or were used in hair dyes as “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.”

(For more information on the classification systems used by these agencies, see Known and Probable Human Carcinogens.)

Are hair dyes regulated?

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of cosmetics, including hair dyes, but there are limits on what the FDA can do. The FDA does not approve each ingredient used in hair dyes before it goes on the market, and in general the responsibility for the safety of products and ingredients falls to the manufacturers.

The FDA can take action if any cosmetics are found to be harmful or in violation of the law (such as being mislabeled). This includes any new ingredients to be used in hair dyes. However, many of the older ingredients in hair dyes (some of which are still in use) were excluded when the FDA was initially given the power to regulate these products back in the 1930s.

If cosmetics (including hair dyes) or their ingredients are found to be unsafe, the FDA can request that the company recall the product, although it can’t require a recall. The FDA can, however, take further steps if needed, such as getting a federal court order to stop sales, requesting that US marshals seize the product, or initiating criminal action.

Should I limit my exposure to hair dye?

It’s not clear how much personal hair dye use might raise cancer risk, if at all. Most studies done so far have not found a strong link, but more studies are needed to help clarify this issue.

Other than recommendations that apply to everyone (not smoking, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, getting routine screening exams, etc.), there is no specific medical advice for current or former hair dye users. Smoking is a known risk factor for bladder cancer and some types of leukemia (as well as many other cancers and other diseases), and quitting smoking can improve your health, regardless of whether or not you use hair dyes.

Some people might want to avoid or limit exposure to hair dyes for other reasons. For example, some of the ingredients in hair dyes can cause serious allergic reactions in some people. Hair dyes can also actually cause hair loss in some people. Some doctors advise women to avoid having their hair dyed during pregnancy (or at least until after the first trimester). Not enough is known about hair dye use during pregnancy to know for sure if this is a problem, but doctors often recommend this just to be safe.

For people who want to dye their hair but are concerned about safety, the FDA has provided some suggestions:

Follow the directions in the package. Pay attention to all “Caution” and “Warning” statements.
Be sure to do a patch test for allergic reactions before putting the dye in your hair. Do a patch test before every use. (Some people become more allergic to certain ingredients the more they are exposed. You may not have an allergic reaction the first time you use a product but you may the second or even third time, so it is important to keep checking.)
Wear gloves when applying hair dye.
Don’t leave the dye on your head any longer than the directions say you should.
Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after use.
Never mix different hair dye products. This can hurt your hair and scalp.
Never use hair dye to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. This can hurt your eyes. You might even go blind. The FDA does not allow using hair dyes on eyelashes and eyebrows.

Some newer hair dye products are vegetable based. These products may have some drawbacks, such as not being able to change hair color drastically or having the color fade sooner than is seen with permanent dyes (unless they contain some of the same ingredients as the permanent dyes). But they may be another option for some people concerned about hair dye safety.

Healthiest Hair Dye – Safe Hair Dye Options 2020

8

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PPD is a powerful chemical sensitizer, explains Lunder: “It can cause strong allergic reactions.” These
reactions can go beyond itchiness or even redness and irritation, though PPD can cause all of those. PPD can
also cause fatal anaphylactic reactions—which can occur even if you pass a patch test, even if you’ve been using
the same hair color with no ill effects for years, or, conversely, if it’s the first time you’ve ever tried hair
color. And the patch test itself is controversial: “People are now studying to try to figure out whether the
patch test only serves to increase your exposure—and thus increase the likelihood of an allergic reaction—or
whether there’s a benefit,” says Lunder.

PPD is also linked to cancer—in 2001, a University of Southern California study found that women who had
colored their hair once a month for fifteen years or more had a 50 percent higher risk of bladder cancer; in a
2004 study published in the International Journal of Cancer, hair colorists who’d been working with
color for more than fifteen years had a five times greater risk of getting bladder cancer than the general
population. PPD’s also been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (in the American Journal of Epidemiology
in 2008).

Beyond cancer, 2001 research from Linköping University in Sweden suggests that PPD might compromise the immune
system, setting off rheumatoid arthritis (women who’d colored their hair for twenty years or more had twice the
risk of women who had not), according to the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Despite all
this, the FDA has even less authority to regulate PPD than it does other cosmetics. PPD and all other coal-tar
colorants—usually by-products of petroleum combustion—are called out specifically in the Food Drug and Cosmetics
Act as exempt from rules for any cosmetic that “bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which
may render it injurious.” To quote the FDA website: “FDA cannot take action against a coal-tar hair dye, as long
as the label includes a special caution statement and the product comes with adequate directions for consumers
to do a skin test before they dye their hair.”

The European Union classifies PPD as a wildlife and environmental toxin, as an irritant, as a restricted
occupational hazard, as toxic or harmful for use on skin, and as an immune system toxicant. The EPA classifies
PPD as a known human respiratory toxicant and as generally toxic to animals in moderate doses (and it
acknowledges there are no low-dose animal studies).

All of that said, many of the published studies are based on subjects who were dying their hair pre-1980, and
formulas have absolutely improved since then. Improved, though, does not mean there isn’t still PPD in most hair
color. Because the FDA requires little transparency when it comes to hair color formulas and labeling, the
incentives for companies (both “natural” and not) to clean up their acts are simply not there.

Some people have good results with pure henna; others do not. Henna formulas can contain heavy metals, salts,
and, particularly when labeled as “black henna,” PPD. (Lunder says the so-called black henna that’s used in
temporary tattoos is made of PPD.)

Skeptics point out that even PPD-free formulas can contain toxicants like benzenes, which are also linked to
cancer. Again, without any FDA regulation, risks and benefits are hard to parse. “It’s a moving target,” says
editorial colorist David Adams, the founder of FourteenJay Salon in Tribeca, an Aveda salon (Aveda offers PPD
and non-PPD color, and its formulas replace some of the other potential toxicants in hair color with natural
ingredients). “The technology is changing all the time.” Robinson’s NYC salon offers non-PPD options, and she,
too, sees reasons for optimism. “Every day there are breakthroughs in beauty,” she says. “And hair color just
doesn’t have the same chemical content as it did when our parents and grandparents used it.”

Do hair dyes/colors damage your hair permanently?

The use of a hair dye to colour the hair has become quite common over the last few decades. Currently, millions including both the genders use it. Although the primary use of hair colouring is to improve hair colour, it is also used to cover up grey hair by both men and women. Hair colouring is believed to give your hair a perfect shine and texture along with making you look younger.

In recent times, the usage of hair dyes has increased significantly due to a higher disposable income and growth in fashion-consciousness among men and women alike. While its abundant usage is due to its cosmetic appeal, the fact that it can lead to long term problems should not be ignored. You should also be aware of the permanent damage of the hair caused by the repeated and extensive use of such products. In this article, we will be shedding light on what happens when you dye your hair, the common products used in hair dyes and the side-effects caused by hair colouring. Moreover, one of the common questions that almost everyone using a hair dye has is that does hair colouring damage the hair permanently. Well, read the article to get your query answered.

What Happens When You Dye Your Hair?

Colouring of the hair is not only performed by professionals but is also a popular cosmetic procedure done at home. As hair dyes are widely available, it has become easy to colour the hair at the comfort of your home. But there are few things to know about hair dyes and its colouring process.

Hair is made up of root and shaft. When you colour the hair, it is the shaft which is coloured and not the root. The shaft is made up of three layers namely cuticle, cortex and medulla. The medulla is a hollow core, cuticle contains tightly packed cells and the cortex is the one that consists of natural colour pigments (these are the pigments which determine the colour of the hair). When you use colouring agents, it either rips off the natural colour from the hair shaft, adds a new colour or does both.

Hair dyes contain a lot of chemicals right from ammonia to peroxides. Basically, there are three types of hair dyes which are temporary, semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes.

Temporary Hair Dyes: For permanent colouring of the hair, the product should penetrate the cuticle to so as to either deposit the colour or remove colour in the cortex of the hair. Temporary hair dyes contain large molecules which are too big to penetrate the cuticle. As a result, these dyes only coat the shaft of the hair providing temporary colouring of the hair.

It is one of the most common hair colouring alternatives used to get a blonde or golden colour to hair. The use of bleach produces a colouring effect by oxidizing the hair follicles. This not only damages the natural state of the hair but also removes the moisture from the hair follicles. Moreover, it can further lead to dryness, breakage, and split ends, which can cause hair loss.

Semi-Permanent Hair Dyes: These type of hair dyes contain small molecules such as aromatic amines, which cause swelling of the hair shaft. This, in turn, causes the dye to penetrate the cuticle and allow it to enter the cortex thus colouring it.

The usage of semi-permanent hair dyes is quite popular as they are easy-to-use and do not contain bleach. Moreover, these dyes do not change the natural colour of the hair but merely add a layer of colour that progressively fades over a span of six weeks. They only add a layer without affecting the nutritional profile of the hair follicles. Therefore, they are considered to be safer in comparison to permanent hair dyes and often the first hair care tips when it comes to colour.

Permanent Hair Dyes: Contrary to semi-permanent hair dyes, permanent hair dyes change the natural colour of hair by embedding the colour deeply into the hair. They are known as oxidative dyes and contain the smallest molecules of the aromatic amines which cause swelling of the cuticle. The oxidative dye namely hydrogen peroxide allows the dye to penetrate the cortex which removes colour and lightens the hair. These type of dyes cause the hair colour to lasts until the hair grows out.

While ammonia was a common ingredient in permanent hair dyes initially, companies have started to offer ammonia-free hair colour options. However, as permanent hair dyes can cause detrimental effects that are heightened by prolonged exposure, caution is highly advised in applying these types of products. You can even consult a dermatologist before picking up any hair dyes or opting for hair colouring treatment.

Side Effects of Hair Dyes

Hair Coloring products have always been in use despite the shift in trends related to beauty and fashion. For some people, it is also a necessity when it comes to looking younger or to be in trend. However, there are side effects of hair colour. These include hair loss which is caused due to an ingredient known as para-phenylenediamine found in some modern products [1] to higher chances of bladder cancer and hematopoietic cancer[2]. Moreover, in some studies, it is also reported that the use of hair dyes during pregnancy can also lead to complications in pregnancy and fetal health[2]

Due to the different types of risks involved in the usage and applications of hair colouring products, it is advised to get colouring done by professionals and avoid prolonged exposure to hair colouring products in addition to following proper hair care tips.

So if you are planning to colour your hair at home, then do not forget to look at the pack of the hair dye to know the type of hair colouring agent before you buy one. But if you are getting it done at a salon or parlour, do ask the professional about the hair colouring products before you opt for one.

(The article is reviewed by Dr. Lalit Kanodia, General Physician)

References:

1. Ishida W, Makino T, Shimizu T. Severe Hair Loss of the Scalp due to a Hair Dye Containing Para phenylenediamine. ISRN Dermatol. 2011;2011:947284.

2. Saitta P, Cook CE, Messina JL, Brancaccio R, Wu BC, Grekin SK, Holland J. Is there a true concern regarding the use of hair dye and malignancy development?: a review of the epidemiological evidence relating personal hair dye use to the risk of malignancy. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013 Jan;6(1):39-46.

3. Patel D, Narayana S, Krishnaswamy B. Trends in use of hair dye: a cross-sectional study. Int J Trichology. 2013 Jul;5(3):140-3.

4. Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015 Jan-Mar;7(1):2-15.

Disclaimer: “This article is authored and provided by The Times of India Healthy India Fit India partner, 1mg.com“

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair Without Damage?

For colorist Julia Elena, how often you can safely use demi-permanent color depends on your hue, even if color is not applied overall: “It is only potentially damaging to blondes achieved with constant bleaching. I recommend waiting up to 3 weeks if necessary for touch-ups, but otherwise, I recommend they let their hair ‘breathe’ until the next full service. Otherwise, demi-permanent color isn’t harsh on brunettes and reds, and since bleach is rarely involved, they can come in often without concern – though it’s not usually necessary.”

Stylist and colorist Jennifer Covington-Bowers adds that it depends on what demi-permanent color is used for. “If it’s simply used to blend grays, I say 4 weeks is a good interval. I also use it to give shine and dimension by using it every 6 to 7 weeks, or just about the average time between haircut appointments when I will do both. If I’m using it to correct color, it can be done sooner than 4 weeks after the initial service, but I pay extra attention to keeping the hair healthy throughout the process.”

Semi-permanent color can be safely used as often as your wants and whims change – perfect for a weekend fashion fling. This low-maintenance and short-term option is simply a stain or toner that is deposited on the surface and can be removed in as little as one washing if you use an aggressive cleanser, such as a clarifying shampoo, which by itself can be more damaging than the hair dye will ever be.

2 COLOR MAINTENANCE AND HAIR HEALTH

Since permanent color is a chemical process that occurs inside the hair fiber, it can break a number of the structural bonds (disulfides) that hold the protein strands together and can leave your color treated hair brittle, porous, and more damage-prone. The more often you color your hair, the more protein you lose, and it can become challenging to comb, style, maintain, and the likelihood of split ends increases.

What Hair Dye Actually Does To Your Hair, According To Science

A lot of people dye their hair, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know what they’re actually doing to their locks. Specifically, they might not know what dye does to your hair follicles, from a scientific point of view. The majority of us just schedule our monthly hair appointment, sip our coffee in the chair as we fill our hairdressers in about our latest dating escapades, and wait until the foils are set and blow driers are switched on. Or, if we’re feeling strapped for money that month, we might just head over to our corner drugstore and choose the best bottle of dye we can find.

There’s usually not a lot of questioning involved here. We just get used to certain routines and beauty rituals. But there should be a lot of questions involved when changing the state of your hair. For example, what’s that harsh smell coming out of the bottle? Or how does a dark, rich color magically turn light and summery? What strips away the color, and how does a new one stick around, even after dozens of washes? When you think about it, it all sounds borderline magic.

But it’s actually some cold, hard science. Below are facts of what hair dye actually does to your hair.

1. The Ammonia In Your Hair Dye Breaks Through Your Hair Cuticles

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Hair dye doesn’t just rinse across your hair and stain it. It actually has to break through a couple of barriers to set permanently. In order to get into the hair shaft, it has to get through the hair’s natural protection: the cuticle.

And how does it get past that obstacle? The ammonia in hair dye lifts the cuticle up to let the molecules of the dye in.

“The cuticle is the first line of defense in protecting the integral structure of the hair fiber, much like the shingles on the roof of a house protect inside the home. The pigments responsible for natural hair color are below the cuticle, so to get to those natural pigments and deposit new color, the cuticle needs to swell to allow hair color to get in,” Valerie George, co-host of The Beauty Brains and a hair color chemist, tells Bustle. “Ingredients with a high alkalinity, like ammonia or monoethanolamine, are responsible for allowing the cuticle to swell for the hair color reaction to take place.”

2. And The Peroxide Strips Away Your Current Color

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Now that the cuticle is broken, you can actually color your hair the hue you want. In order to do that, you have to use peroxide (aka bleach) to remove your natural color and make room for the new pigment.

“Peroxide is used as the activator for most hair color. When you hear your stylist talking about 10, 20, 30 or 40 volume, they’re talking about percentages of peroxide in the activator,” Marissa Bender, Stylist and Co-Owner of Moss Hair Co in Columbus, tells Bustle. The difference in those concentrations is how quickly it’s going to work to open up that hair cuticle.

“The easiest way to describe hair lightening or bleaching vs. hair coloring, is that hair coloring is opening the hair and then putting color molecules back in, and letting the cuticle close back up,” Bender explains. “With bleaching, the goal is to remove as much pigment as necessary for your desired result. You can then go back in with your demi- or semi-permanent and re-deposit the tone — it’s a two-step process rather than one.”

And there is a reason why bleach is damaging. “Hydrogen peroxide can also be damaging hair because it’s not a smart molecule. While it prefers to go after the melanins, it really will interact with anything including keratin, the dominant protein that makes up the hair fiber. This can also lead to damage,” George says.

3. Then The New Color Pigment Gets Deposited

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Now that the cuticle is lifted, the original hair color proteins become colorless, and the new color pigment can take over and bond to the hair cortex. “Permanent hair dye is permanent because it has a larger molecule that sits in the deepest layer of the hair and can’t be washed out,” Jordan Morris, an independent stylist at Hey Pooker, tells Bustle.

“Permanent hair dye removes natural color from the hair that you can’t put back, and fills the hair with artificial color. Once those cuticles close after the coloring process, the hair dye molecules are trapped inside the hair fiber,” George explains.

In contrast, demi-permanent colors only penetrate partially into the structure, with most of the dye molecules staying outside on the surface. Semi-permanent colors don’t go inside at all, and stay only on the surface.

“The damage from permanent color can come from opening and closing the hair shaft multiple times. During this process the bonds that hold the structure of our hair together and give the color a place to grab onto can be compromised,” Bender says.

4. Ammonia-Free Dyes Still Lift Your Cuticles

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So, ammonia is needed to lift the cuticle of your hair and to start the whole process of dyeing. But what if you go with an ammonia-free dye because you heard it was less damaging? As it turns out, it might not be.

“In ammonia-free color, monoethanolamine (MEA) serves the same function, except it is a liquid, not a gas, so it stays in the hair and continues to cause damage. In fact, a 2014 study found that MEA is as —if not more — damaging than ammonia to the hair,” George says.

Plus, going with ammonia-free products might give you a weaker color. “MEA are a larger molecule than ammonia and don’t swell the hair as much, therefore the dyes don’t penetrate as far, so the results are typically not as good as what an ammonia color can deliver when it comes to how long the color takes to fade,” Bender says.

5. The Longer You Dye, The More Damage You Cause

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While the bleach is sitting on your head, the molecules are going into the strands and developing. But the longer the cuticle is lifted (so, the longer the bleach is on your head,) the more damage is done to your hair.

“Most people don’t realize this but most hair color has a built in timer. After a certain point the color will stop working,” Jaymi Smith, a hairstylist at Cavana Spa & Salon, tells Bustle. As for bleach, that is where the damage can really occur. Unlike hair color, bleach is constantly working. The goal with bleach is to lighten the hair to your desired level of lightness (between a one and a 10, with 10 being the lightest.) Anything beyond that is removing stuff that doesn’t need to be removed, and that’s where the damage comes in.”

Smith warns about putting color on top of color. “This process of emptying and filling the hair with color molecules over and over is like painting on the same piece of paper over and over again. Eventually that paper with be flimsy and when it dries…it will crack. The same thing goes with your hair.”

6. Your Hair Won’t Actually Fall Out

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There’s always that worry that if you over-dye your hair, you’ll kickstart some sort of hair loss episode. But there’s actually no evidence that hair dyeing causes as much.

“Hair loss can occur for many reasons, but it’s unlikely to be caused by routine hair coloring. Hair color can, though, cause hair damage which can lead to breakage,” George says. “This is because the strength of hair is mostly due to strong disulfide bonds in the hair. Hair coloring and bleaching can break those disulfide bonds permanently, leading to weak hair.” So there you have it: As long as you condition it properly to prevent your hair from becoming brittle, enjoying a monthly dye job shouldn’t make you go bald.

Now that you’re armed with the facts, your next visit to the hair salon or drugstore box dye aisle should be a little more enlightening. You now know exactly what you’re doing to your hair, and can rest easy over the harsh smells, scary words (bleach! peroxide!), and threats of David Letterman hairline futures. Science doesn’t lie.

This article was originally published on Jan. 21, 2016

Can Dye Your Hair Too Much? Here’s What You Should Know About Coloring Your Locks

I’ve always loved dyeing my hair. Whether it’s a new look for the summer or a more dramatic feel for fall, you’ll most likely see my strands in a different shade of some red, brown, or black throughout the year. But after many trips to the salon, I can’t help but wonder how often can you actually dye your hair ? Am I really damaging my hair? Is there an actual limit to how much you can dye your roots? I know that dyeing your hair is somewhat damaging no matter what, but how much is too much?

According to Hair Care Manual, “The general rule is to wait four to eight weeks before coloring your hair again but […] it’s not always necessary. If your hair is strong and you use a dye which is not too harsh then you can try to wait a little less than that and everything might still turn out fine. In most cases you can feel if your hair is OK and you can dye it sooner or if it’s damaged and needs to be fixed first.”

For me, I’ve never really had a problem with “over dying” my hair or causing it to be extremely dry. Although I have thin hair, coloring it every 2-3 months works well and I don’t really worry too much about the chemicals causing too much damage.

However, it also truly depends on what kind of color you’re using and if it’s super drastic. So before coloring your hair, make sure to note a couple of things before doing so:

1. Don’t Overdo It

As much as you can, make sure to stick to only dyeing your hair within the four to eight week time span. When you over-dye your hair, it may be hard to fix and maintain it. According to Hair Care Manual, “You probably understand that any chemical process takes its toll on your hair and coloring is certainly no exception. That is the number one reason why you shouldn’t re-dye your hair right away – exposing your hair to hard chemicals is not something you want to do too often.”

2. Lighter Shades Damage Your Hair More

The truth is that when you dye your hair lighter, it actually causes more damage to your strands. Celebrity hair stylist Mitch Stone told Birchbox, “When you are coloring darker, you are actually depositing color as opposed to stripping it out of the cortex. This is a much harsher procedure and it takes a harsher chemical: bleach.”

3. Keep Hair In Good Condition

If you change your hair color frequently, make sure that your strands are in good condition before you change it up again. The more chemicals you apply to already damaged hair, the worse its texture will get. Don’t keep adding more or different colors if your hair can’t take it.

4. Know What You Can Maintain

Certain colors may be easier to maintain than others. I personally enjoy having darker hair because it’s easier to take care of. I don’t have to color it as often, and if I do let it grow, it still looks pretty subtle and natural. If your schedule can accommodate a high-maintenance hair color, then I’d say go for that unicorn ombré!

5. Think Before Bleaching

One of the most severe hair coloring procedures you can do to your hair is bleaching. So definitely think about the pros and cons before doing it.

6. Let Your Hair Grow Out Before Changing Colors

According to Med-Health.net, “When changing the colors in your hair, it is best to let the last color to grow out completely. This will allow your hair to absorb the new color more easily. If you mix the old color that is still in your hair with a new one, you will end up with an odd tinge.” Before going from red to brown, definitely try to grow out your hair as much as you can before making that appointment.

Want more fashion and beauty tips? Check out the video below and subscribe to Bustle on YouTube!

Images: Pixabay (7)

90,000 Is it harmful to dye your hair? | Eternal Questions | Question-Answer

The question of whether hair dye is harmful to health remains open. Stylists and hairdressers are convinced that modern paints are absolutely safe, since they do not penetrate the body through the skin and have a safe composition, unlike their predecessors. Doctors and scientists, in turn, were divided in opinion: some believe that frequent staining can cause many dangerous diseases, up to cirrhosis of the liver and cancer, while others claim that staining once every two to three months with sparing agents will not do much harm.

Speaking about the dangers of hair dyes, first of all they mean persistent and semi-permanent products. However, in our time, manufacturers offer paints with a large variation in composition: the product can include quite gentle and soft substances instead of aggressive components. It is these paints that most experts advise to use.

There are three main types of modern hair dyes:

Permanent and dyes are the most popular on the counter and are most commonly used in home dyeing.An indisputable plus of such funds is a relatively low price, complete shading of gray hair and a good duration of the staining effect. However, these paints contain ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. These are chemically active substances that penetrate into the hair and replace a person’s own pigment with a dye pigment.
Tint products – are produced not only in the form of paints, but also in the form of tonics and shampoos. Their components do not interfere with the hair structure in any way, but simply create a film of the selected color on the hair surface.Hence the lack of such products: they are very unstable and cannot radically change the color of the hair, they only slightly shade the natural one.
Natural dyes – henna and basma. They also do not damage the hair structure and create an indelible film on its surface. The main advantage of natural paints is their harmlessness and incredible durability. However, such products have a limited range of shades (red, red-chestnut, black) and an unpredictable result: they can give different effects under the same conditions.

Natural dyes with a less persistent effect are also: chamomile, turmeric, cinnamon, hops, coffee, onion husks, honey.

What harm can paints do?

Frequent use of dyes with an aggressive composition can lead to certain negative consequences:

– Deterioration of hair condition. Penetrating into the hair, the dye can lead to a violation of their structure, which is why they become dry, porous, brittle and fragile, more split at the ends.

– Irritation of the scalp. Dermatitis, itching and dandruff may appear.

– Allergic reactions. An allergic reaction to one of the many chemicals in the paint or a combination of both is highly possible. Therefore, paint manufacturers always strongly recommend doing a control test on the bend of the arm before use.

What is the safest way to stain?

Natural paint is the least traumatic and toxic.If the choice still fell on chemical agents, then in this case it is better to entrust the procedure to a specialist. The hairdresser will apply the paint more accurately, without touching unnecessary areas of the skin, and will also be able to maintain the necessary proportions when mixing the coloring components and calculate the optimal holding time of the composition on the hair.

Is hair coloring harmful: the opinion of a professional. Part 2

We continue to get acquainted with modern dyes to figure out how bad hair dyeing is . The first part can be found here. And today we will learn about semi-permanent and permanent dyes and their effect on hair.

Permanent (ammonia-free) dyes: is it bad for hair?

In this type of dyes, both straight and colorless molecules are often used, which appear in color only after they enter the hair cortex.This type of dyes are made on the basis of a cream, gel or oil. Usually activated with emulsions of 1.5-4%, but can be used with higher oxidation percentages of 6-9%. Thus, semi-permanent paints can color not only tone on tone, but also lighten by 2-3 tones when mixed with a high percentage of oxide.

Dark shades of semi-permanent dyes are rather persistent than direct dyes, but light shades are washed off after 5-15 hair washes.Everything, of course, will depend on how porous the hair is – the paint is washed off quickly from damaged hair.

At the same time, do not be fooled by reading the coveted word “ammonia-free” on the packaging – there really is no ammonia in the composition, but there are other alkaline elements, its substitutes, they are called ammines (ethanolamine, monethanolamine, demiethanolamine, etc.). Ammines are an order of magnitude more expensive than ammonia, because they have a softer effect on the hair structure. When dyeing hair, semi-permanent means slowly open the cuticle, through the scaly layer they get to the cortex, where they create connections.After that, the dye molecules develop color and are fixed due to expansion in volume.

When using ammonia-free dyes, the pH of hair and skin can rise to 7-9. That is why it is imperative to use special shampoos and conditioners with acidic pH after staining. This will allow:

to normalize the pH balance of hair and skin
to stabilize the color molecule
to stop alkaline processes
to qualitatively close the cuticle and give the hair additional shine

This item – washing off the paint with shampoo with acidic pH, – very important and must be present in high-quality hair coloring.Even healthy and dense hair can be literally crippled, let alone thin and damaged hair.

Permanent dyes: what is harmful in them?

This type of dye allows you to cope with even the most difficult tasks – from the darkest shades and accurate tone-on-tone to shading gray hair and lightening by 4 tones. The composition of the funds contains ammonia, as a rule, no more than 15% for a 25% aqueous solution.Has a creamy base and works with oxidants of any saturation.

Cuticle with ammonia paint opens much faster than without ammonia paint – no more than 10 minutes. The further scheme of fixing and developing the color molecule corresponds to the action of semi-permanent paint.

This dye will be washed off in different ways – again, it all depends on the chosen color and the degree of porosity of the hair. Permanent dyes have an alkaline pH of 11.

Such dyes saturated with useful components do not give a therapeutic effect on the hair for one simple reason – such care is simply not enough for the strong effect of ammonia.Most often, the vitamins, oils and minerals indicated on the paint packaging are nothing more than a marketing ploy. Their concentration is so low that it cannot withstand staining and literally burns out on the hair. Especially when high percentages of oxidants are used. Unfortunately, it is impossible to put more active ingredients in such dyes, because this will interfere with the hair coloring process (gray hair will not be taken or there will be a slight lightening).

Hair suggests itself: then why add these caring components at all, if they essentially do not give a positive result?

The fact is that there are 3 reasons:

to attract the attention of the buyer in red words
to weaken the effect of ammonia and create a cosmetic effect on the hair
is sometimes used to enhance the shine of colored hair

In the final 3 In part, we will tell you whether it is safe to dye your hair with an ammonia dye, or whether its negative effect on the hair structure is nothing more than a myth.

How to dye your hair at home no worse than in the salon (I bet you didn’t know about onions) / AdMe

“If you dye your hair, you will soon go bald.” Probably every girl who at least once changed her hair color has heard this phrase. In fact, modern paints nourish, shine, and even laminate. But, unfortunately, dyeing at home can lead to unpleasant consequences, ranging from unexpected color to brittle hair and split hair.To avoid this, you need to follow a number of simple rules.

Bright Side collected tips that will help you dye your hair at home as well as in the salon, and do without unpleasant surprises.

Determine the type of dye

Before dyeing your hair, you need to decide not only on the color, but also on the type of dye. They can be divided into four categories: blonde, physical, chemical and natural. They differ in a variety of color palette, durability, depth of penetration into the hair.

To buy a dye, it is better to contact a professional hair cosmetics store, where sales consultants will help you choose the right shade and oxide that will cause minimal damage to your hair.

Blonding dyes

Blond dyes can lighten your hair three or more tones. They work by removing the natural pigment from the hair – melanin. Blond dyes should be applied to dry and dirty hair, but heating curls during dyeing is extremely harmful and even dangerous.For specialblond, oxides of high percentages are used – from 6% and above.

Remember that paint does not lighten paint. And to lighten previously dyed hair, it is better to use powder, which should be purchased at a specialized store. It is mixed with oxide in a 1: 2 ratio, where one part is powder, and two parts is oxide.

To apply the brightening powder, start from the back of the head, stepping back 3-5 cm from the roots. The roots are painted over last. The temperature at the roots is higher, the reaction is faster there. Better clarification on oxides up to 6%. A high percentage of oxide can simply curl the protein, causing the hair to turn yellow, and all further manipulations with bleaching will not bring the desired result. Never add water, shampoo, or balm to the mixture. This violates the clarification technology and the result becomes unpredictable.

Chemical dyes

This group of dyes also consists of two components: paint and oxide. Hair color change occurs by the penetration of dye molecules into the hair.Chemical dyes paint over gray hair well and have a varied palette of shades. Before applying them to your hair, be sure to do an allergy test on the bend of your elbow.

Apply a chemical dye to dry, dirty hair, starting from the back of the head and moving towards the forehead. After combing through the hair with a non-metallic comb to distribute the color evenly.

Regrown hair is dyed as follows: a dye composition is applied to the roots, kept for 10-15 minutes and combed out to the ends of the hair.To make the difference between roots and length less noticeable, choose the same paint (brand and number).

Physical dyes

These include toning hair dyes. These are coloring tonics, foams, gels, masks. They envelop the outside of the hair with a film and do not react with the hair pigment. These dyes are one-component, they are not mixed with the oxide. They will not be able to lighten your hair, so the resulting colors can be either darker or tone-on-tone.

Physical dyes are applied to freshly washed hair. They can be mixed with each other to obtain new interesting shades and tint hair after lightening. Unfortunately, hair that is too dark is not exposed to physical dyes, preliminary lightening is required. The longer the exposure time of the dye on the hair, the brighter and richer the color.

Natural dyes

Henna, basma, chamomile, walnut, onion peel, tea, coffee – dyes created by nature.They cannot radically change the color of the hair, but only change the shade. It is advisable to apply natural dyes to curls that have not been dyed or permed. They clog into hair scales, due to which the shade changes. After dyeing with natural dyes, do not forget to put a warming cap on your head.

Apply the paint correctly

We have chosen the paint, and this is already half of the success. The second half is a competent application.

Before dyeing, drink hot tea, coffee or mulled wine to improve blood circulation in the vessels of the scalp.
Do not forget about protection – gloves and a cape on the shoulders. Apply a greasy cream or petroleum jelly to the ears, neck and hairline. They will prevent the dye from absorbing into the skin.
If you are in doubt as to whether a color is right for you and how it will fit on your hair, do a strand test. Color a small section of hair and check the result after 24 hours.
Add the vitamin complex or auxiliary substances that protect the hair to the coloring mixture. You can also buy them in specialized stores.
Mix hair dye in a non-metallic container and apply immediately to hair.
Divide the hair into 4 sections: the occipital, two temporal and the frontal. The paint should be applied along the parting from the back of the head, moving towards the forehead. At the back of the head, the body temperature is lower, which means that the staining process will take place more slowly. Whiskey is dyed last. Start dyeing the strand from the roots – and to the ends of the hair. The exposure time should be counted only after the entire composition has been applied to the hair.
Use micellar water, alcohol or make-up remover to wipe the paint off the scalp, hands and neck.

Don’t forget about leaving

Care after dyeing will help to preserve not only hair color, but also its quality. Anti-dandruff shampoos and detergents for oily hair irritate the scalp and wash out the color very quickly. Therefore, it is better to use a ruler for colored hair or baby shampoo.

There are balms and masks containing pigments on the hair care market, which maintain hair color or neutralize yellowness.They are applied in the same way as conventional care compositions, kept for several minutes and washed off.

Do you have your own life hacks for hair dyeing?

90,000 How old can you dye your hair?

Hair coloring

Almost all girls try to imitate their mothers.So, at preschool age, they wear mother’s shoes or hats. As they get older, they paint their lips with mom’s lipstick or scent them with her perfume. Then they try on her jewelry and also dream of becoming more adults. And what girl did not dream of having the same beautiful nails as her mother, or getting the same hairstyle?

In adolescence, many girls try to stand out with non-standard behavior and unusual appearance in order to assert themselves and attract attention to themselves. They wear heavy jewelry, high heels and short skirts, shorts, but what is especially incredible – they dye their hair lilac or crimson.

So is it worth allowing girls to dye their hair, and if so, at what age? And won’t it hurt her in the future? This is what we will try to figure out.

Do I need it?

A child’s hair is much thinner than adults, his skin is much softer and more sensitive, and his allergic reaction to dyes and brighteners is much stronger. Therefore, the harm from coloring will be more significant.Not to mention the fact that if from an early age chemicals are exposed to the hair, they will become brittle and dead, and their bulbs will become weakened, because the ammonia contained inside the permanent dye penetrates deep into the hair, destroys it and replaces the natural dye with an artificial dye …

If you start dyeing your hair from ten or twelve years old, then by the age of 18 your hair will be thinned, dry, brittle. Instead of living shiny and flowing hair on the head there will be a tough split “straw”.

Experts advise to start dyeing your hair not earlier than 14-16 years old, that is, not before puberty ends, since under the influence of hormones both the scalp and the hair itself can still change – you should not subject them to additional testing.

Which paints are suitable?

Natural dyes are another matter.They are not only not harmful, but also strengthen the hair, improve its structure.

To give a light tone, rinse the hair with chamomile broth. An infusion of onion peels will give your hair a chestnut-golden hue. For a more radical coloring, you can use natural paints: henna and basma. By mixing them in different proportions, you can get all kinds of shades: from red to dark cherry. Teenage girls are better off using natural paint if the school’s charter allows them to go to school with a painted head.because this paint is very resistant and cannot be washed off in one to two weeks.

You can also practice coloring your hair during the summer holidays. And there is time, and there are no school restrictions. It is better to “indulge” in other persistent paints, as well as lightening or highlighting, already at an older age.

There are now a lot of safe tools that you can use if you are going to a school party or want to surprise your friends with an unusual look. They are short-lived and wash off the head in one or two times.

But you can experience different shades and look like a bright personality for one evening. For this, tonics are used. They work differently than permanent dyes. Tonics do not penetrate deep into the hair structure and do not spoil it, they are distributed over the surface, easy to apply and easy to wash off. Light tonics stay on the hair for no more than a month.

These include crayons, balms, mousse, tint shampoos. They do not contain ammonia.The gentle tonic penetrates the hair structure a little deeper, so it lasts longer on the strands.

Persistent tonic contains a small percentage of ammonia, but does not harm hair. Lasts up to two months.

You can use special crayons. This is a multi-colored pastel that gives the strands a different color.

There are 2 types of crayons: dry and shadow crayons.The former are cheaper, they have more varied shades, and crayons-shadows are easier to apply. They are also washed off in one or two times.

Because the toners are easy to apply and rinse off, you can try different shades before finding the one that’s right for you. You can change your look every time from the “Vamp” style to Malvina with blue hair.

The main thing is that it does not run counter to the requirements of the school and parents.

Output

It is better for girls to start dyeing their hair no earlier than 14-16 years old.Until this age, only natural dyes of not too bright shades are permissible. For parties and meetings with friends, dyeing with unstable, harmless products (crayons, coloring shampoos, varnishes) is acceptable, which are easily washed off and do not spoil the hair structure.

This question can arise in every family where girls grow up. A few tips will help you solve this problem correctly.

90,000 The safest hair coloring – I Buy

Professionals confirm: there is a safe staining, and there are different methods that help to achieve the desired result.Here’s a top ranking from the experts: the six safest ways to change your hair tone!

First place – staining with toning shampoo

Dolce & Gabbana

Toning shampoo is the easiest and safest way to refresh hair color or change it by 1-2 tones, it is not capable of more. With its help, you can try on extraordinary shades if your soul asks for colors. The toning shampoo contains neither hydrogen peroxide nor ammonia, so it only stains the surface of the hair and does not penetrate into the hair shaft at all.Therefore, the dye is quickly washed out, in a maximum of a week.

Cons

Toning shampoos have contraindications: they cannot be used if you have hair dyed with chemical dye, you have recently lightened curls or individual strands, or have permed. The result, firstly, may be unpredictable, and secondly, washing the dye will become a difficult task, in some cases even insoluble. And consider one more nuance: even after the shade has washed off, it is better to refrain from chemical staining for 2-3 weeks so that residual pigments do not react with the paint.

Second place – henna staining

Dolce & Gabbana

The method of staining, known to our grandmothers, is still more alive than all living things. True, now there are so many types of organic henna that you can choose any shade for yourself and not be limited to the standard red.

The beauty of henna is that it is a completely natural ingredient. It contains oils, tannins and resins, they perfectly integrate into the hair structure, and even ennoble it – strengthen, nourish, restore, smooth out roughness.

In the online store of organic cosmetics ECO-HOME you can buy Ayurvedic natural hair dye “Henna red”, +7 (912) 615-65-60.

Cons

Henna is not easily washed out of the hair, so if you want to switch to regular dyes, it will take time: chemical dyes do not lie on top of henna.

Third place – toning

Jeremy Scott

Toning is a way to freshen up a color or change it depending on the chosen coloring option.Moreover, the hair color can be given almost any (except, of course, radical changes – for example, from a brunette to a blonde).

Cons

Toning will not help paint over the roots if your natural color is very different from the dyed hair mass, and it does not cope with gray hair too well: initially gray hair will take in the pigment, but it will wash off very quickly.

Expert opinion

Toning is ammonia-free and transparent.In ammonia-free tinting, a gentle coloring pigment is used. Its composition gently envelops the hair, giving it the desired shade and dazzling shine.

Light transparent gels are used for transparent toning. They give the hair shine, and the plant extracts in the preparations nourish the strands and restore their structure.

Veli, MK Studio stylist: Barber & Beauty

Fourth place – biolamination

Area

Biolamination is also called “manicure” for hair.This is because after the procedure you get an instant, albeit short-term effect – shiny Hollywood strands and a delicate shade. The process uses dyes based on natural nutrients such as beeswax.

Color and clear lamination can be done. In the composition of preparations for color lamination, in addition to the conductor (the same beeswax), there are dyes based on natural ingredients. They envelop the surface of the hair, together with nutrients they thicken, add volume and a temporary shade to the hairstyle.True, with biolamination, you do not radically change the image, it rather enhances and brightens the shade you already have.

In the process of colorless lamination, the hair is simply given shine and volume.

Cons

The result from biolamination lasts a maximum of two weeks (the color will last the same). Another disadvantage: biolamination, like lamination, cannot be done on fine hair. They will just sag. In addition, nutrients from balms and masks will not be able to penetrate under the film that covers the hair.And it is useless to use these products while biolamination lasts. By the way, after the biolamination procedure, your hair will become absolutely straight, so it will not be possible to wind it on a curling iron or curlers and style it the way you want. The strands simply won’t give in.

Fifth place – bio-staining

Area

Biostaining is a method that uses ammonia-free dyes. In the process, you can give the hair the desired shade (and even radically change the color) without damaging its structure.

Cons

This coloring is not suitable for gray hair, as it does not paint over gray hair one hundred percent.

Expert opinion

The conductor in the ammonia-free dye is not ammonia, as you might guess, but, for example, oils. The dye envelops the surface of the hair, as it were, without penetrating into the cortex.

Alexandra Bondarenko , top stylist Domenico Castello

Sixth place – gentle ammonia paint

Pamella Roland

Experts assure that modern ammonia dyes are not as dangerous as we used to think.Ammonia is introduced into the paint in order to lift the hair scales more, allowing the pigment to penetrate deeper. This injured the hair before, but in modern dyeing techniques, special agents are applied that lower the scales back and fix them in this position. Naturally, such a procedure can only be carried out in a salon where strictly professional dyes are used. In the most modern ammonia, the concentration of harmful substances that destroy the structure and cortex of the hair is reduced.Therefore, such dyes are safe for the health of the strands and help to paint over even one hundred percent gray hair.

Cons

Not suitable for people with ammonia allergy.

90,000 features of procedure and color selection

Today women do everything with their appearance to become better, more attractive and brighter. Often, the desire to experiment is expressed in the change of hair color into radically bright shades: red, blue or even green. But on the way to changing the image, an obstacle appears – modern dyes can ruin the hair.Is it possible to reduce the risk of ruining your hair to a minimum?

Gouache coloring will quickly change hair color

Can hair be dyed with gouache or watercolors?

The main question that many girls ask before dyeing is “is it possible to dye your hair with gouache?” Gouache is an artistic paint used by children of all ages. It does not cause allergies and does not have a strong odor.

Gouache does not cause allergies

Due to its composition, gouache is a safe colorant.It consists of a coloring pigment or substance that makes the paint viscous. It can be PVA glue and whitewash, these substances do not harm the hair.

Painting features

But before dyeing your hair with gouache, you need to note all the pros and cons of such dyeing.

Try dyeing the ends of the strands first

If you decide to change your look, do not try to dye your hair completely right away, try dyeing the ends of your hair with gouache or individual strands.

Expert opinion

Specialists have different opinions on staining. Some are of the opinion that it is not worth experimenting with gouache, since its frequent use will cause the ends of the strands to dry out, and the result may not live up to expectations. The paint can look unnatural on the curls and glue the hairs together, therefore experts suggest paying attention to the means more suitable for painting – special crayons, mascaras and paints.

The opinions of experts regarding the use of gouache differ

Others believe that there is nothing wrong with such a procedure, if you do not get too carried away with it, which they are right about.But experts emphasize that dyeing with gouache will not give a lasting effect and looks more profitable not on loose hair, but on a collected hairstyle.

Multi-colored hair

We dye the curls ourselves

Once you have made up your mind to make a change of image, you need to learn a lot about how to choose and apply paint correctly.

Shades

How correctly and brightly the paint will fall depends on the girl’s main hair color. If you already have highlighted strands, then the selected colors are best applied to light curls, without affecting areas with a natural color.

It is easier for owners of a plain light shade. These girls can safely experiment with different colors, bright or pastel. But experts recommend that blondes pay attention to soothing colors – lilac, blue, light green, peach, pink, etc. Such shades allow you to create a mysterious and fabulous image.

For each hair color, the dye is selected individually

But burning brunettes or girls with a dark shade should give preference to contrasting colors – red, yellow, green or blue.

Gouache type

There is no strict framework for the manufacturer’s choice. But please note that gouache is not intended for dyeing hair, therefore, when choosing, pay attention to the composition of the dye. In this case, one should not act on the principle “the more expensive, the better”, since harmful chemicals are added to expensive products that help artists when drawing, but will be useless and even harmful for working with a hairdo.

Study the composition of the paint before buying

Therefore, when buying paint, give preference to the middle category of goods, and it is better to opt for children’s gouache.

Manual

Once you have purchased your favorite gouache, let’s figure out how to dye artificial hair or natural.

Wash your hair and dry it with a towel;
Wash your hair before painting
Separate the required strands and comb them carefully;
Add a little water to the paint so that it becomes thinner, but does not flow from the brush;
Dip a tooth cheek or cysts in the paint and apply pigment to the strand;
Comb the curl again and let it dry;
Once completely dry, comb through the hair again to loosen any excess dye.

It’s so easy and quick to change the color of your hairstyle with your own hands at home.

Hair coloring with gouache is a procedure that any girl can handle

In conclusion

At the end of staining, do not forget to moisten the tips with oils (just rub 2-3 drops in your palms and run over the colored curls).

WATCH THE VIDEO

After removing the pigment, it is enough to make a mask or lubricate the ends with a balm.

Is it safe to dye your hair. Hair Dye Safety: Salon vs Box Dye – Ingredients, Risks, and Precautions

The Chemical Composition of Hair Dyes

How Do Hair Dyes Work?

Potential Health Risks of Hair Dyeing

Salon vs. Box Dye: Which is Safer?

Advantages of Salon Hair Coloring

Benefits of At-Home Box Dyes

Safe Hair Dyeing Practices

Natural Alternatives to Chemical Hair Dyes

Pros of Natural Hair Dyes

Cons of Natural Hair Dyes

Recognizing and Addressing Adverse Reactions

Managing Hair Dye Reactions

The Future of Hair Dye Technology

Hair Dyes and Cancer Risk: Examining the Evidence

What Does the Research Say?

Factors Influencing Cancer Risk

Maintaining Hair Health While Coloring

Tips for Protecting Dyed Hair

Nourishing Ingredients for Colored Hair

Making Informed Decisions About Hair Coloring

Alternatives to Traditional Hair Dyeing

Is Salon or Box Dye Healthier for Your Hair? – Cleveland Clinic

A harsh chemical cocktail

Signs of problems caused by dye

Take precautions

Hair Dyes and Cancer Risk

Types of hair dyes

How are people exposed to hair dyes?

Do hair dyes cause cancer?

What do studies show?

Studies done in the lab

Studies in people

What expert agencies say

Are hair dyes regulated?

Should I limit my exposure to hair dye?

Healthiest Hair Dye – Safe Hair Dye Options 2020

8

Do hair dyes/colors damage your hair permanently?

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair Without Damage?

2 COLOR MAINTENANCE AND HAIR HEALTH

What Hair Dye Actually Does To Your Hair, According To Science

1. The Ammonia In Your Hair Dye Breaks Through Your Hair Cuticles

2. And The Peroxide Strips Away Your Current Color

3. Then The New Color Pigment Gets Deposited

4. Ammonia-Free Dyes Still Lift Your Cuticles

5. The Longer You Dye, The More Damage You Cause

6. Your Hair Won’t Actually Fall Out

Can Dye Your Hair Too Much? Here’s What You Should Know About Coloring Your Locks

1. Don’t Overdo It

2. Lighter Shades Damage Your Hair More

3. Keep Hair In Good Condition

4. Know What You Can Maintain

5. Think Before Bleaching

6. Let Your Hair Grow Out Before Changing Colors

What harm can paints do?

What is the safest way to stain?

See also:

Is hair coloring harmful: the opinion of a professional. Part 2

Permanent (ammonia-free) dyes: is it bad for hair?

Permanent dyes: what is harmful in them?

How to dye your hair at home no worse than in the salon (I bet you didn’t know about onions) / AdMe

Determine the type of dye

Blonding dyes

Chemical dyes

Physical dyes

Natural dyes

Apply the paint correctly

Don’t forget about leaving

Do I need it?

Which paints are suitable?

Output

Fourth place – biolamination

Can hair be dyed with gouache or watercolors?

Painting features

Expert opinion

We dye the curls ourselves

Shades

Gouache type

Manual