The ‘Dye’ Is Cast — The Dos And Don’ts Of Hair Coloring
The hair color market is exciting and transformative. In this age of breaking stigmas and stereotypes, we have successfully removed the humiliation that was associated with hair coloring and usage of hair dyes. It is now an innate part of the hair care regimen.
Many feel the need to be experimental and the huge hair color market in India, which keeps growing every year, has many options for it. The journey with hair dyes starts as youngsters to add zest to the overall look and flaunt it on social media profiles. As we age, we dye to cover the grays and look young.
As a Harry Potter fan, I have always considered hair coloring similar to casting a spell — easy and fast, with just a flicker of your wand. But, in this Muggle world, I mean reality, hair dyeing and coloring is a long process.
Several factors such as the hair type, its present condition, and its current shade influence how hair coloring will work for each person. That is why it is essential to take some time out to make the right choices and decisions before proceeding with dyeing your hair.
The three-fold decision making
The first decision to make with regards to hair coloring is finalizing the kind of look you want to achieve. For this, select the color that identifies well with your personality. We can refer to the many photos of models and celebrities we see online for inspiration. But remember that reality will be a little different from your expectations. It is well-known that these photos use Photoshop effects to enhance the color shown in the hair.
Also, consider the rules that your college or place of work has with regards to coloring your hair. You can go for options such as vivids, pastels, color pops, hidden rainbows, balayage, etc., that are usually considered work-safe. It will still get you the wows and heart emojis on social media.
The second decision to take is finalizing on the type of hair dye you want to use. There are many variants which come with their pros and cons.
- Permanent hair dyes — You can use permanent hair dyes when you want the color to last for a longer time. Permanent hair dyes have a lot of chemicals in their dye formula. Ammonia, parabens, hydrogen peroxide, paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and para toluene diamine (PTD), resorcinol, coal tar, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and silicones are examples of chemicals usually found in permanent hair colors.
- Demi-permanent hair dyes — These hair dyes are used for the hair color to last eight to twelve weeks. They contain a smaller percentage of chemicals when compared to permanent hair dyes, but still enough to cause damage. Darker the color of the hair dye, higher is the concentration of chemicals in them.
- Semi-permanent hair dyes — These hair dyes are used for colors to last four to six weeks. Semi-permanent hair dyes might contain some amount of hydrogen peroxide along with a small mix of the other chemical substitutes.
- Temporary hair dyes — These hair dyes are used for colors to last for one to two weeks. They come in the form of sprays, rinses and gels and mainly contain water, organic solvents and other agents. They are mostly chemical-free.
- Natural or Organic hair dyes — These hair dyes are entirely chemical-free and made of henna leaves, indigo extracts and cassia. These, when blended, create shades of a brown or reddish color and lasts for a week or so.
The third and final decision is finalizing on where and how you want to color your hair. We can dye our hair lavishly at a salon or by using quick and affordable boxed hair dyes at home. Either way, special attention has to be given by the stylists or the brands for preparing the dye formula to achieve the particular desired outcome that is safe.
Concerns of using chemical-based hair dyes
Everyone using hair dyes should take some time out to first understand the side-effects and consequences of using it. The general understanding is that the hair will lose its shine and become unhealthy with the constant use of hair colors. This generalization is true in case a person applies random, cheap and chemical-filled hair dyes to the hair. But there are also few serious concerns one should be mindful of such as skin reactions and allergies that can be caused by hair dyes.
If you are looking to dye your graying hair, then permanent dyes will seem like the most viable option. But, the constant use of chemical-filled permanent hair dyes can result in damaged and dry hair. Conditioning and moisturizing the hair and scalp will help only to an extent.
Chemical-based hair dyes have a high possibility to cause actual rashes around the hairline, neck, face, ears, etc. Though many of us are not aware of this, a lot of people are affected by it. The medical term for this allergic reaction is contact dermatitis. People who get it can notice their skin becoming red, dry and irritable once it comes in contact with a particular substance or allergen.
While hair dyes contain chemicals, one chemical that is considered as an allergen and yet invariably included is paraphenylenediamine (PPD) or para toluene diamine (PTD). There is a cap on the maximum amount of PPD or PTD any product can contain. Many regulatory bodies have strict rules on the usage of PPD in hair colors and recommend safety instructions. Ignoring that can lead to grave outcomes that make it risky for your health. Similarly, other chemical ingredients in hair colors such as peroxide, ammonia, resorcinol, parabens, etc., can also cause allergies.
If you get contact dermatitis from using hair colors, it is better to be careful of other dyes. Products like shoe polish, cloth dyes, sunscreens, certain medications, etc., contain similar ingredients as that of hair dyes. Also, pregnant women must avoid hair dyes. Industry data points towards a possible link between hair dye usage during pregnancy and the development of several childhood malignancies in the offspring.
Play it safe with hair colors!
The safest way to proceed is to avoid chemical-based hair dyes.
Otherwise, better get a patch test done before using any hair dye. A home-done patch test is quite simple and involves following the instructions in the dye box to prepare a small pea-sized dye solution. Then apply it on your inner elbow or behind one of your ears and leave it to dry. If you develop any irritation or feel unwell after this patch test, avoid using that product. You can also get a proper patch test done at a dermatologist’s office.
Also, make it a point to converse openly with the people who treat you. The next time you visit your general physician, dermatologist and hairdresser ask them any doubts you have. You can discuss the allergies you have or think you might have with these people.
If you don’t have any issues with hair dyes (hooray for you!) continue using the product of your choice. Additionally, remember the below tips and precautions to avoid any mishap in the future:
- Follow the instructions that come along in the pack to the T
- Wear gloves while applying hair color. Even if the hair color pack doesn’t have gloves, get some for this purpose
- Apply Vaseline along the hairline and ensure the dye doesn’t come in contact with your face or neck
- Keep the hair dye in your hair only for the time mentioned in the pack — not more or less
- Give your hair and scalp a thorough wash post-application of the hair color
- Make sure to moisturize your hair after coloring it. This small step will reduce the damage, in case of any, and protect your precious locks
- Avoid using hot tools as it will damage your sensitive hair
- Use hair products designed specifically for colored hair
- As a general rule, use branded products that are chemical-free
There are a lot of chemical-free products making their way into the market. I use one such brand that is my one-stop solution for safe and stylish hair coloring. Their products are devoid of harsh chemicals and contain natural ingredients such as argan oil, jojoba oil, cocoa oil and keratin. Till now, I have seen 100% white or grey hair coverage and long-lasting color retention. It takes time to find such products that work their magic on you, but it’s worth the effort!
