Hair color has become an integral part of grooming for many of us. Most individuals color their hair to hide their gray strands, while for others it means a new look. These days women experiment with new colors on their hair.
Hair colors are broadly classified into three types.
- Temporary hair color: This hair colors are generally used for any particular occasion. The temporary hair color can be easily removed after the hair wash.
- Semi permanent hair colors: Semi Permanent hair color remains till a few hair wash. Semi permanent or temporary hair colors are generally available in the form of powder or spray.
- Permanent color: Permanent hair colors have a longer life and are widely preferred by most Indians.
Most individuals believe that hair colors used today are safe to use. Dr. Apoorva Shah, world renowned trichologist & the pioneer of trichology in India says, “Hair coloring involves the use of chemicals capable of removing, and/or covering up pigments naturally found inside the hair shaft. Use of these chemicals can result in a range of adverse effects, including temporary skin irritation and allergy, hair breakage, skin discoloration and unexpected hair color results.”
Let’s understand the various adverse effects of hair color and ways to minimize their effect.
If your hair is subject to hair coloring extensively, it can lead to hair breakage. The hair loses its texture and becomes dull and rough. It has been seen that frequent hair coloring develops splits ends and looks unhealthy. Dr Apoorva Shah says, “Hair that has been damaged by excessive exposure to chemicals is considered over-processed. This results in dry, rough and fragile hair. In extreme cases, the hair can be so damaged that it breaks off entirely.”
Trick to reduce breakage:
Deep conditioning of hair is recommended to avoid breakage of hair. Dr. Apoorva Shah advices,“Colored hair should be deep conditioned regularly, and washed and conditioned with gentle products specifically designed for color-treated hair. This will help keep the hair intact and minimize color fading.”
Any extra drip of the hair color that falls on your skin, finger nail etc can cause patches of discoloration. Dr. Apoorva Shah explains, “Skin and fingernails are made of the same type of keratinized protein as hair, which means drips, slips and extra hair tint around the hairline can result in patches of discolored skin. This is more common with darker hair colors and persons with dry absorbent skin. This discoloration will disappear as the skin naturally renews itself and the top layer of skin is removed (typically takes a few days or at most a week)”
Trick to avoid skin discoloration
Dr. Apoorva Shah advices, "A good way to prevent skin discoloration is to put a thin layer of Vaseline or any oil-based preparation around the hairline.” You can avoid skin discoloration on the hands and fingers by wearing latex gloves over your hands for protection. It is seen that the discoloration fades off on its own as the skin renews in a few days.
- Skin irritation and allergy
Some people are prone to allergies to the hair colorants that include redness, sudden itching, redness on the skin, burning sensation on the skin and other signs of discomforts.
Trick to avoid skin irritation:
To prevent the skin allergy it is recommended that you conduct a patch test 48 hours prior to applying any hair color. This involves mixing a small quantity of tint preparation and applying it directly to the skin for a period of 48 hours. If you experience any symptoms, it is important to stop the process of hair coloring immediately. If you feel no discomfort, it is safe to use on your hair. Dr Apoorva Shah advices, “ A skin patch test is advised before the use of every coloring process, since allergies can develop even after years of use with no reaction.”
Are hair dyes safe during pregnancy?
Dr Apoorva Shah says, “According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), hair dyes are probably safe to use during pregnancy because very little dye is absorbed through the skin. However, it is still important to be cautious, therefore many health care providers recommend that pregnant women should not use permanent hair color during the first three months.
While the absorption through the skin is minimal, the concern is that breathing fumes during the process could be harmful to the developing baby. Semi-permanent dyes or a highlighting process may be considered safer for pregnant women. With highlights, the dye is enclosed in foil and won’t be absorbed into the skin. Vegetable dyes such as henna are considered to be safe for coloring hair during pregnancy.”
What are the precautions to be taken while coloring your hair?
Dr. Apoorva Shah from Rich feel says that there are various safety tips that should be followed while coloring your hair. Coloring your hair is not as easy as buying a color or going to a beauty salon. You have to take numerous precautions to have a healthy look after getting your hair colored or in future.
- Have the treatment completed in a well-ventilated area.
- Don’t leave the chemicals on your head any longer than necessary.
- Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after treatment.
- Wear gloves when applying chemicals.
- Carefully follow directions on the product package.
- Do a patch test for allergic reactions before completing the process
- Never color or bleach eyebrows or eyelashes. This could cause swelling or increase risk of infection in the eye area.
- Use baby wipes to remove the stains of color from your skin especially near your ears, hairline, and neck.
- Be careful when you have a shower. Chlorine mixed in water can bring out color from your hair, making it difficult for you to get your locks re-colored.
- If you have applied henna on your hair and plan to get your hair colored keep in consideration the time duration. Get your hair colored after a gap of at least four to five months.
- Do not get your hair colored if you have scratches or abrasions on your scalp.
- Use color preventive shampoos and conditioner to protect the color from fading.
- Use replenishing balms and serum after color in case your hair are dry and damaged.
- If you have got your hair colored to hide gray hair, color your hair only once a month.”
Safe alternatives for hair color
There are a variety of natural hair colors that can be used to hide your grey strands. The natural colors are a safe alternative to chemical colors. The natural hair color options are derived from plant source such as henna, hibiscus, etc.
Henna is a well known hair color that is used since ancient times. The leaves of the hair color contain a pigament called ‘lawsone’, that offers red tinge to the hair.
Now that you are aware about the ill effects of hair coloring, it is better to stay away from such chemical processes. It is better to look natural and rather than adding unnecessary problems.
