Almost every woman in our world has dyed her hair, and those who have grey hair tend to undergo this procedure even more often. Moreover, young girls also get involved in the color-changing affair simply because nowadays it is trendy to shift the shade of the chevelure almost every year.
However, the number of dye users grow who become concerned about applying this chemical substance to their manes because of the potential damage they can cause.
Is this true? We are sure everyone would like to know the answer and the beauty expert Kate Holmsy from Beezzly magazine had shared with us.
Kinds Of Dyes Used Today
Coloring the chevelures was known and quite widely used centuries ago. Back then, our ancestors used to go for more natural and thus harmless “dyes” received from the wood bark or plants, and even veggies! However, let’s assume that nowadays very few women would boil the onion peel to get the coloring pigment.
No wonder that one day, people created chemical compounds that can be turned into coloring substances to apply them over the locks. Sometimes it can be done as a single-stage procedure, and sometimes the mane might need a two-step processing. Which one is less harmful? Well, this issue is to be questioned.
And even though dyeing our strands may seem to be great fun, it is necessary to keep in mind that this procedure requires the use of harsh chemicals that will affect the locks. This can also be true when learning how to dye a wig as well. Hanging upon the type of coloring pigment, the effect will vary:
- Permanent pigments contain ammonia quite often, and they penetrate through the shaft and get to the cortex. Such pigments must be refreshed nearly every twelve weeks.
- Semi-permanent colors cover the cuticle and have the penetrating effect only partially.
- Temporary ones don’t have that penetrating effect which is why we have to renovate them quite frequently.
- Ammonia-free pigments are way softer on the locks due to the absence of this harsh chemical.
- And finally, almost any coloring procedure requires a bleaching agent to lighten the dark strands before turning them blonde or red.
Read next: How to get rid of brassy hair?
Why Can Dye Be Dangerous?
Basically, any coloring procedure is chemistry since it is all about the reactions between our natural hair pigments and the chemicals used in the dye. However, as we all know from the school chemistry class, chemical stuff is not always a good thing, and this is why it is true regarding the coloring substances:
1. Over-processing
Permanent pigments often have ammonia and peroxide in their content. The latter one removes the natural pigment from our strands stripping the color away, and to achieve the desired result, quite a massive damage must be done to the mane.
When being excessively treated by such chemicals, the locks will sooner or later become less lust, more prone to damage, and moreover, it may lead to hair loss!
And even though it is possible to revive the strands to a certain point by applying various anti-damage products, the only way to completely renew the locks is to cut the hair short and let them grow again.
2. Allergy
It is not something rare to get a nasty allergic reaction on a certain coloring pigment, all because they usually contain a component called PPD that is a strong allergen.
This is why people who suffer from skin health issues like dermatitis or eczema must refuse the idea of applying coloring pigments. If you’re not allergic but you have sensitive skin, the aftermath will be milder but still unpleasant including itching, redness, or irritation.
Another unpleasant nuance is that even those who are not allergic can develop such sensitivity in the future when using the dye regularly.
3. Fertility hazard
Even though the researches don’t show the direct connection between dyeing pigments and issues with child-bearing, they consider certain risks of being exposed to these chemicals while pregnancy. That is why the women who are pregnant or plan to have a child in the nearest future are better to avoid coloring their locks.
4. Conjunctivitis
It is not a constant danger but if we fail to be extremely cautious when applying the coloring pigment, some of it can get into the eyes or onto the other sensitive areas.
If it does get in contact with the eyeball, conjunctivitis or severe inflammation can be developed.
5. Asthma
What is the link between coloring pigments and asthma, you might wonder? The thing is that this illness is the direct reaction to the chemicals that the coloring substance contains. If a person who suffers from asthma will inhale the chemical vapors for long enough, he/she can develop coughing, wheezing, lung inflammation, or even asthma attacks!
6. Cancer
Even though modern hair dyes are introduced as non-carcinogenic, more medical researches are needed to prove that those pigments can not cause such aftermath.
And the last nuance we would like to mention is the upkeep. It can hardly be called a hazard, but imagine how much time, money, and effort must be made and spent to maintain the colored locks in a proper state!
Regular visits to the salon, special treatment products, and procedures, finally, the continuous re-coloring to make the shade stay bright. It all will take a lot of time. Moreover, such a massive appliance of chemicals, again and again, will only make the state of your locks worse.
How to Make Coloring Hair Safer
Is there a way to keep the strands safe and sound during or after the coloring? Well, certain precautions can indeed be taken to minimize the possible damage:
- Do your best to avoid using permanent chemicals and stick to less harmful options. Yes, those will be temporary, but at least your locks will live longer.
- Always do a patch and a strand test prior to applying the chemical substance onto the locks. A patch test will help to figure out whether you have an allergic reaction, and a strand test will show how the mixture will affect the strands.
- Better visit a salon for coloring the mane rather than experimenting and performing that yourself unless you’re a professional colorist. It can significantly decrease the chances of a possible disaster.
- Ensure that the room where you’re coloring the mane is well-ventilated and properly lit. Chemical vapors can lead to nasal irritation and poor lighting will make it difficult to see how accurately the dye is applied.
- Go for the colors from the trusted brands that contain the minimal amount of harmful compounds. It is the least what can be done to reduce the damage.