Hair Color Myths Exposed!

Nearly all professional and “box” Color hair brands contain ammonia.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ammonia is listed as a hazardous substance that has related negative health effects.

This is a fact: The average salon customer is in contact with hair color ammonia about every 4 – 7 weeks. However, hair stylists have daily contact — leading to accumulative bouts of headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue due to the ammoniated smells.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ammonia is listed as a hazardous substance that has related negative health effects. Nearly all professional and “box” hair color contain ammonia. If a color line claims to be a “non-ammonia base,” the product most likely contains its “silent scented,” even more toxic friend ethanolamine.

Your hair color and your investment, fully fading…

Both the hair professionals and consumers are led to believe ammonia is a “must” for color to work, however it is actually an inexpensive hair color additive used to allow color molecules to penetrate the hair’s cuticle. Because of its properties, these ingredients leave the hair in a weakened condition. The money you have spent hoping that it lasts a long time is also compromised as fading and discoloration will occur and will make maintaining your hair much more difficult..

For longer lasting, beautiful hair color–avoid these two major ingredients:

Ammonia

Recent research has found that 50%-60% of clients suffer from negative effects of ammonia-based colors. Over time, the shaft of hair starts to resemble string cheese. Ammonia not only negatively affects the cuticle of the hair, it also damages the amino acid or protein called tyrosine, which is found inside the hair shaft. When the tyrosine is damaged, the hair’s ability to hold onto color is greatly reduced.

Ethanolamine

Ethanolamine is a “silent substitute” if ammonia is not used in a hair color. This ingredient is used in semi-permanent color at about 3% concentration. If ethanolamine is used in permanent color, the concentration has to be increased to 9%, compared to 1.8-3% of ammonia!

In the amount and how much it is compounded with its “adhesive” property, it can never be totally washed out of the hair and scalp! As a result, every time the hair is washed, the water acts as a mild oxidizer and “processes” the color all over again. This is what contributes to pre-matured fading and the dryness that develops gradually. Often you’ll end up needing vitamins for your hair to get it back to the condition it was prior to coloring.

A Shocking Statistic…

Fact: In the United States, over 6.2 billion harmful ounces of chemicals and synthetics from shampoo and conditioners are washed down the drain, into rivers, lakes and oceans, every single day.

Is a Less Toxic Approach Really Possibly with Hair Color?

Most people have an internal battle that as a consumer they wonder 1) What do we have a right to know? 2) What we are willing to learn? and 3) How then do we discern the wisdom?

Have you wondered why fumed hair dyes sting our scalp, make our eyes water, and make some people sneeze? Then have you asked yourself, “Can this be safe for me?”

About 400 (86%) out of the 456 hair colors ranked in the Skin Deep cosmetics database of the Environmental Working Group are considered high hazard. It is a controversial issue in “quoting” hair dyes to be linked to health Hazards. Many believe the conventional carcinogenic dyes are part of the issue, when used in conjunction with other toxic personal care products.

The early studies showed an association between hair dye use and increased risks for multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and leukemia, plus ovarian cancer in women. Almost all the early studies indicated that increased risk might be restricted to long-term or frequent hair dye users, particularly users of dark hair dyes.

Is There a Healthy Alternative in Hair Coloring?

Many over-the-counter and professional hair color products claim to be gentle and contain botanical extracts. The few included botanical ingredients don’t necessarily make a safe or “non-toxic” product. Many of these colors contain ammonia, Ethanolamine, and/or resorcinol. Several very popular hair color lines contain both ammonia and Ethanolamine. This is a good reason to carefully read the labels on even the most “trusted brands” before you choose a hair color.

Problem Solved. Have your beautiful color, and health too!

It is possible to find safe and healthy hair color products!

Here is what a safer color line can offer!

• No ammonia or ammonia substitutes, therefore no damage to the hair.
• Rich, vibrant colors including reds and coppers that do not fade.
• Lighten up to 6 levels without having to bleach or damage the hair.
• No more itchy scalps, stinging or staining.
• No toxic odors in the salon–smells like grapes.
• No ammonia gas to be inhaled.
• Ability to color the hair more often.

For both the customer and the hair professional it is important that professional salons soon offer a coloring service with a more integrative, healthier, and longer-lasting investment for the client.

Use Natural Products and help keep hair color from fading.

Better for personal health

By skipping harsh chemicals, organic hair products are simple better for your body. Every single thing you rub into your skin or coat your hair with goes into your body. Even hair conditioner can rub off on your skin and leave a residue. Good or bad, this chemical-laden residue is processed by the body. The overall effects of this chemical build-up in our bodies are what cause potential medical issues.

Better for hair health

Whatever product you use on your hair will effect your hair, obviously. This is not only true is the short term, but in the long term as well. Though the newest chemical-ridden hair product may produce shine or curl in the short term, regular use usually causes long term damage. However, organic hair products avoid harsh elements, gradually nourishing your hair to its healthiest state. That healthy hair look comes from actual healthy hair.

* You want to have your hair unshampooed for at least 24 hours before applying the color. Your natural oils will help to make the color application more successful.

* Try to avoid swimming in chlorine pools and long exposure to the sun. The sun can fade your hair as well as the chlorine.

* Keep your hair well conditioned to help the hair stay soft since dyeing it can dry it out. Conditioned hair holds color better than dry hair so make sure to condition regularly.

* Try washing your hair only every other day instead of every day. Washing your hair to much strips the natural oils that your hair produces and takes shine away as well as fades the color. If you have Oily hair then try using baby powder to soak up the oils on the days you don’t shampoo your hair.

* After you wash your hair try to rinse it with the coolest water you can take. Cold water helps close the cuticles and keep your color in so it last longer and will be shiner as well.

How Well Do Natural Hair Products Work?

Shampoos

The biggest complaint people have about natural shampoo is that it doesn’t suds up like other shampoos. However, most natural shampoos will clean your hair just as well as chemical-based shampoos. Chemical based shampoos include special additives that cause all the extra lather. The lather is there mainly for show and to make people feel better, but has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the cleanser.

Conditioners

Natural conditioners may not give you perfect looking hair right away, but, in the long run, are usually much more effective than chemical based conditioners. Conditioners with processed chemicals are not only harsh on your hair, they use products, such as silicone, to artificially create that healthy hair shine. While this may give an immediate look of health, it can actually damage hair.

Many natural conditioners avoid artificial products to induce shine. They hydrate and moisturize your strands to create a shine due to health, not oil. However, not all natural conditioners can be trusted. Some use wax and heavy oil additives to create shine. These additives tend to build up on hair, causing damage and dullness.