According to one survey from the U.K., women change their hairstyles about 150 times over the course of a lifetime. However many times you make the change, it’s likely that coloring is a part of the process.
It’s not required, of course. These days, white hair is in vogue, with celebrities like Helen Mirren, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Meryl Streep all embracing their natural silver.
Still, about 65 percent of women alter their natural hair color, about a 7 percent increase from the 1950s. We like playing with color. It makes us feel good…until we open the bottle and smell all the fumes.
Traditional hair dyes are full of potentially harmful chemicals that at high exposures, have been linked with skin and respiratory irritation, a suppressed immune system, and even cancer.
RECOMMENDED READING:
A New Way to Cover Gray — How Hairprint Mimics Biology and Restores Your Hair Color
Is there a natural way to cover the gray—or just enjoy a nice color—without exposing ourselves to these toxic chemicals?
The Concern About Harmful Chemicals in Regular Hair Dyes
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that over 5,000 different chemicals are used in hair dye products, some of which are reported to be carcinogenic in animals. Though manufacturers have improved beauty products to eliminate some of the more dangerous chemicals that were used in the 1970s, most still contain less-than-savory ingredients.
Here are some common side effects of chemicals found in hair dye:
- Quaternium-15, which can release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
- Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), which may be hormone disruptors
- Phenylenediamine (PPD), which is a skin and respiratory irritant and has been classified in the European Union as toxic and dangerous to the environment
The NCI notes that some studies have found that hairdressers and barbers are at an increased risk of bladder cancer, potentially because of coloring chemicals. Other studies have found personal use of chemical dyes could potentially increase the risk of leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but results have been mixed.
Build Your Perfect Skin Care Regimen
Take QuizWhen we review the research, we can see that we don’t have enough studies yet to know how coloring our hair maybe 6-10 times a year really affects our health. Most likely—unless we’re hairdressers who deal with high exposures or we color more frequently than usual—the effects will be negligible. Still, it’s not comforting to imagine all those chemicals seeping into our scalps from dyed hair (not to mention the toll that the creation and disposal of these chemicals takes on the environment).
Fortunately, there are other natural hair color alternatives. And there are many ways you can diy hair coloring at home.
Knowing how many chemicals are used in so many hair care products, we knew we also had to develop an effective, wildcrafted hair care line to offer our community. We spent a lot of time formulating our Sweet Sunrise Shampoo and Conditioner to work beautifully for all hair types. Most importantly, it’s healthy for you and the environment giving results we’re proud of.
Our Sweet Sunrise duo delivers instant sheen and long-term strength with handcrafted extracts of horsetail and nettle—rich in minerals and protective antioxidants. We’ve also carefully selected essential oils like parsley, basil and more for a bright, herbace