Side Effects of Using Hair Dye
If you ask me, dyeing your hair, hands down, is the most fun thing to do. People have gotten used to me changing hair colors to the point where they are completely unfazed when they see me with blonde hair one day and blue the next. I cannot deny that dyes can often come with harmful side effects.
SIDE EFFECTS OF USING HAIR DYES:
1. Overexposure: Permanent hair dyes contain ammonia and peroxide. Peroxide strips away the natural color of hair and thus exposing your hair to these chemicals regularly can cause your hair to lose luster, break easily and even lead to eventual hair fall.
2. Allergic reactions: Hair dyes causing allergic reactions is not uncommon especially because permanent hair dyes contain paraphenylenediamine which is a common allergen. Another thing to keep in mind when using these dyes is that not having had an allergic reaction in the past does not mean you won’t have one in the future. The more you color your hair, the more likely you become to having an adverse reaction.
3. Effect on Pregnancy/Fertility: Coloring hair can prove to be fatal for the unborn infant of pregnant women as it may cause malignancy. Lead acetate is a common ingredient used in permanent hair dyes. Research has drawn a possible link between this chemical and fertility issues in men and women. It should also be made a point for pregnant women not to use any kind of hair dyes as the chemicals present may cause malignancy in their unborn infant.
4. Asthma: Hair dyes contain persulfates which can aggravate asthma. Continuous inhalation of the chemicals can cause coughing, lung inflammation and even asthma attacks.
5. Upkeep: While this is not technically a side effect, it can be cause for some. A lot of people don’t realize just how much goes into the upkeep of colored hair. It’s a long-term commitment that will have you rushing back to the salon every month or so, which can be hard on your hair. Post process hair is vulnerable to damage and demands a lot of time, patience, and care. Failing to give your hair what it needs will result in locks that lack shine, luster, and health.
6. Conjunctivitis: Failing to exercise extreme caution when dyeing your hair can result in the chemicals contacting the sensitive parts of your face. In some cases, when chemicals from hair dyes contact your eyes, it can lead to conjunctivitis or pink eye. In other cases, it causes inflammation and severe discomfort.
7. Cancer: When permanent hair dyes were first introduced, they had compounds which were carcinogenic (cancer causing.) While the formulas were altered to replace these chemicals, the debate as to whether hair dyes can cause cancer has not been put to rest.
Tags: hair and wellness, healthy hair, hair dye, hair color, haircare education
