Hair loss is a regular part of life for a large proportion of men and women. Whether a person dyes their hair to change the color or style or dyes it gray, many people apply hair dye more than a few times a month. Most people know that hair coloring uses chemicals that can damage the hair, but the risk is weighed against the outcome, and most give little or no thought to this fact.
For those who dye their hair with shorter hair, this is usually not much of a concern, but for people with long hair, there is always the risk that regular chemical treatments will permanently damage the hair. Even with these risks and potential consequences, few people actually take the time to find out what chemicals they use on their hair.
The benefits of using Natural vs Artificial Hair Dye
In fact, it’s not a stretch to suggest that most people who color their hair would rather not know what the chemicals are and what their potential side effects are. This goes along with the slogan, “Ignorance is bliss.” Unfortunately, this is “happiness” based only on extending the inevitable. The ends may justify the means for a while, but if you close your eyes, you will never know if there are other options available.
Wouldn’t it be better to find an alternative that can give you the same or similar results without the identical risk of side effects on the health of your hair?
There are different options for using natural or organic hair dye. Indeed, the color of any hair dye that doesn’t contain synthetic chemicals won’t last as long as its artificial counterpart, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Depending on how you style your hair and your purpose for using the color, a more permanent color may be beneficial. It can also be annoying for those who don’t like the process of drying their hair.
- However, for those who have an allergic reaction to the chemicals commonly found in artificial hair dye, organic dyes are a great solution.
Whatever you decide to do long-term, it’s helpful to know what chemicals are in the hair dye you use and what side effects they may have. This way, you can make an informed decision about what dyes to use and try to avoid using products that contain unnecessary, harmful, or unsafe substances.
Some of the chemicals that are better to avoid, if likely, are:
- ammonia
- peroxide
- para-phenylenediamines (PPD)
- leading
- toluene
- resorcinol
- coal tar
In 1993, the FDA issued a warning stating that coal tar posed a possible cancer risk. PPD, a chemical used to add color to many dyes, is considered by many to be carcinogenic. If possible, you should stay away from these chemicals. Read hair dye labels and try to understand what you are putting on your hair and scalp.
By removing some of these chemicals from your hair dye, you can reduce the risk associated with them. However, the only way to eliminate any risks associated with synthetics and chemicals used in hair coloring is to switch to a 100% certified organic hair color product.
The main advantage of using organic dyes is the fact that they are completely free of carcinogenic or harmful chemicals. “All natural” means that the ingredients they use are resulting from plants and other natural sources. No chemicals were added. However, it is important to find the right organic product for your hair. Due to the nature of organic hair dyes, they may react differently to different hair types. Finding the right product for you may take a few tries, but it will be worth it in the end.
