Dyeing our hair is a very common activity, particularly among women, but did you know it could be dangerous? Commercial hair dyes aren’t just hard on the hair, but they’re pretty toxic too. Those unpleasant smelling fumes and that tingling sensation don’t indicate that your hair dye is good for you. Toxic cosmetics are becoming more of a concern as more people find out what’s in the products they use and for good reason. We should all pay attention to toxic hair dye. Here’s some information you’ll want to know.

As much as seventy percent of dyes tested by one group posed a cancer risk to users. Dark dyes used over longer periods of time may increase the chances of developing multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, as well as a number of other cancers. People who use permanent hair dye are twice as likely to get bladder cancer as those who don’t use it at all.  This does not fit your “living younger longer” program.
How can that be? We want to believe that our regulatory agencies are protecting us from toxic hair dye. However, the truth is that the FDA and many agencies in other countries don’t regulate the ingredients in hair dyes, whether they’re natural or synthetic.

Conventional hair dyes contain ammonia and peroxide – lighteners that strip the hair of its natural color and can leave it feeling brittle and fried, as well as coal tar as possible cancer risk known to the FDA (which issued a warning about it in 1993) and PPDS – paraphenylenediamines. PPDs are the chemicals believed to be carcinogenic, and are the chemicals that create the color. These and other chemicals are in the toxic cosmetics that many of us encounter every day.

So what can you do if you want a different color? There are a number of different options. Natural possibilities include bleaching hair with lemon juice and similar light acids – they’re still hard on hair, but better for our bodies than ammonia and peroxide. You can also use henna and indigo to get reds, browns and even a deep blue black color. Ammonia free, low or no PPD dyes that are free of toluene, lead and coal tar are also available.

You’ll probably have to pay a little more to get non toxic hair dye, but it’s worth it in the long run. Health should come before beauty, and that means ditching the toxic cosmetics and being willing to do your own research to find natural alternatives that’ll be better for you in the long run.   With a little creativity, anti-aging can look smart and prevent health issues at the same time.

Have a fun and successful day,

Vida