Have you been searching for a more natural hair color product? I have and it has often been a frustrating and sometimes painful experience. I am looking for a safer product but I am also sensitive to some hair dye ingredients and using the wrong product can cause a nasty reaction.
I have tried and continue to experiment with the newer and safer alternatives to conventional hair dye. Fortunately, more companies are addressing the safety of hair dye so there are more products to try.
It turns out that some of the most toxic ingredients used are often the same ones that cause irritation. Minimize or eliminate those and not only is the product less likely to cause reactions but it is also safer. That’s good for everyone.
Safer ingredients are not the only requirements are they? We want great, long lasting color too but finding a product that is safer, provides great color, covers gray and for the growing ranks of us who are sensitive does not cause an allergic reaction can be hard but… not impossible.
I never had a particularly attractive hair color so I started very early on coloring my hair and usually my only thought was…
How I would look with beautiful blonde hair like the model on the box?
In fact, I usually didn’t take the time to do a patch test. It became painfully evident and I really do mean painful that my usual products were not going to work any longer. It seems like overnight I was using products with no problem to using products and experiencing burning and itching.
For a long time I did not color my hair at all. I just wasn’t happy with the alternatives I was finding. I could have used henna products which can be a great option and a very safe way to color hair but I was hesitant to try them. I just didn’t care for the colors that are available.
Since I wasn’t and am still not absolutely certain what I am allergic to in permanent hair dyes, I started with the ingredient that is causing the most concern both for toxicity but also as a serious allergen for some women, PPD (p-Phenylenediamine).
I soon discovered that most permanent products contain ppd a very effective chemical ingredient that helps the dye penetrate the hair shaft and the ingredient that seems to cause the most reactions so I looked for products that contained ppd in lesser amounts. It was also very important that the brand I chose did not do animal testing.
My first choice was a more natural hair color product called Naturtint. It is permanent and without animal testing. It was a better choice for awhile but burning and itching soon became a problem again.
Many hair color products call themselves natural and I find this can be confusing. If they were to say natural looking results then that makes sense. Contains natural ingredients even if only one or two ingredients makes some sense too but to call a product natural when it contains chemical ingredients is just misleading.
I refer to products on this page as more natural. They contain a greater percentage of natural ingredients than many brands and the choice of chemicals used is safer than many of the brands currently available.
There are quite a few ingredients in hair dyes that can trigger allergic reactions. Depending on your level of sensitivity the reactions may range from mild itching to severe burning and blisters in very sensitive individuals. Based on my mail alone irritation to hair color is a big problem. It drives many women like myself to figure out what ingredient or ingredients are the culprits.
I researched the product I was using, Naturtint and discovered through the Skin Deep Database that it had a moderate safety rating. As I said it does contain PPD (p-phenylenediamine) an allergen and carcinogen, Cocamide DEA another allergen and fragrance an allergen that may contain toxic ingredients. The database gives PPD their highest and worst rating which is a 10 for high hazard. Fragrance is also considered high hazzard. Cocamide DEA and hydrogen peroxide receive a moderate rating.
It’s pretty obvious to me that by choosing a safer more natural hair color product I may also be able to find something that is not irritating but after having no luck with Naturtint I had to wonder if permanent color would work for me. I was not willing to give up on this just yet.
Update: Naturtint Permanent Hair Color for some reason is no longer listed on the Database but you can always check individual ingredients for safety. 07/12/11
Skin Deep is a database that rates thousands of different ingredients and products for safety. Be sure and visit the Skin Deep Database to check out any hair color products you are using. You’ll have more info to make an informed decision.
If like me you are still wanting to color your hair with permanant products try those that contain safer and less amounts of chemical ingredients like those below containing low levels of ppd’s. Always doing patch tests. If allergies become an issue or you are wanting the safest natural hair color possible check into those listed below with no ppd’s.
My stylist suggested that I don’t wash my hair for several days before I color. This allows the scalp’s natural oils to build up and provide a barrier that may help to provide some protection from chemicals. This may not work though if you use a lot of styling products. Make sure to read product instructions first and see their recommendations.
Vegetal Temporary Hair Color by Herbatint
Aubrey Organics Color Me Natural
Below are my reviews of more natural hair color products I’ve tried.
Tints of Nature Permanent Hair Color Review
Palette by Nature Hair Color Review
Also make sure to check out reviews submitted to this site.
When choosing your natural hair color always remember to do a patch test and a strand test. I know it’s tempting to bypass these, I’ve been guilty of this myself but if you find out as I did that you have suddenly become allergic to a product you can find out before applying the product to your whole head. Always follow package recommendations. I have found that applying the product just behind my ear is more reliable and make sure to leave it on the recommended amount of time.
The strand test can be so important especially when you do your own color. The color on the box may morph into something quite different on your hair. For the best results make sure to follow package directions carefully. I don’t want you have a hair color disaster.
Also if have have your hair colored at a salon and develop allergic reactions to their products talk to your stylist. They should be able to research other safer products or maybe they will allow you to do as I do and bring in whatever product you want and they apply it. This works well for me since I have been know to miss whole sections when doing touch ups. Just make sure to do the allergy and patch tests in advance.
One of the biggest challenges to colored hair is keeping the color fresh as long as possible. It’s inevitable that it will fade but you can take some steps to protect the color and slow the fading process.
Protect your natural hair color by using products especially formulated for color treated hair. There are many great natural shampoos formulated just to protect color. Also consider a product like John Masters Organics Cider Rinse, a blend of herbs and organic apple cider vinegar, that works to protect your natural hair color while helping remove product build up that tends to flatten hair.
And don’t forget a hat. The blazing summer sun does a very nice job of fading color. A good hat preferably one with UV protection will do double duty protecting your natural hair color and your skin.
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