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by Ros Burton
Two out of every five Australian women and an increasing number of men are dyeing their hair.
Permanent hair dyes, which penetrate the cuticle, offer the best coverage of the hair. They
do not wash out and regrowth occurs after four to six weeks. Semi-permanent colours only
coat the cuticle and fade after about twelve to sixteen washes.
A great deal of research has been done on hair dyes and there are differing opinions as to
whether or not they are harmful. Recent reports have come up with some findings that will
make people take another look at what they are putting on their hair, and at whether
alternatives are available.
Permanent hair dyes are linked to large increases in bladder cancer risk
People who regularly colour their hair with permanent hair dyes as well as hair stylists who
work with such chemicals are at greater risk of bladder cancer, according to a report from the
Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
A report published in the February 2001 issue of the International Journal of Cancer stated
that people who use permanent hair dyes at least once a month for one year or longer have
twice the risk of bladder cancer as non-users. Those who have used a permanent hair dye once
a month for fifteen years or more experience three times that risk.
Hair dye could cause rheumatoid arthritis
A report published in 2001 from Linkoping University in Sweden says that women who have dyed
their hair for twenty years or more have almost double the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Para-phenylenadiamine, a key ingredient in permanent hair dyes is known to trigger allergic skin
rashes in some people and is thought to lead to damage of the immune system, causing the onset
of rheumatoid arthritis.
Many people in the hairdressing business leave after a few years because they find themselves
suffering from skin and other allergic conditions due to the chemicals with which they regularly
come in contact. Peter Dingle, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology at Murdoch
University in Western Australia says ‘There is little doubt that hair colourants used over a long
period of time will lead to adverse health effects. The issue is which ones?’
The Healthy Alternatives
One of the best known natural hair dyes is henna. Coffee can be added to henna for a darker
brown, and beetroot or carrot juice is a good addition to dye hair red. To restore grey hair to its
original colour a strong tea of sage and rosemary can be rubbed into the roots every morning until
the grey disappears, then a couple of times a week to maintain the colour. To go blonde: a mixture
of chamomile tea and lemon juice applied to damp hair, and followed by an hour in the sunshine
before washing the mixture out, can give good results.
The Natural Compromise
Many women, and men too, use permanent hair colourants to hide greying hair. Natural hair dyes
that mix plant pigments with some chemical fixatives are a good compromise for people who
want complete coverage of their hair and lasting colour, but no chemical overload. One of these
is NaturStyle, which is widely used by women in Europe, and is now available in health food shops
in Australia.
In most permanent hair dyes the developer, which opens the hair cuticle so the colour can
penetrate the hair, is ammonia. NaturStyle uses natural ingredients to open the cuticle, and
because these are not as strong as a synthetic developer, drastic hair colour changes can not be
made. NaturStyle’s hair dyes do not use ammonia because it can irritate the skin and is a known
allergen. Ammonia can also damage the hair fibre.
Resorcinol is found in most hair dyes and in greater quantities in the ones for dark shades.
NaturStyle has avoided resorcinol due to its known high irritation level and its association with
various skin conditions including contact dermatitis. Also, NaturStyle uses a maximum of only 30%
of the concentration allowed by law of para-phenylenediamine, to minimise any negative effects
from this chemical.
With awareness of the ingredients in hair dyes people can decide whether to dye or not and
choose brands that are known to be low in, or free of, the more toxic chemicals.
Ros Burton is a freelance alternative health journalist. She is a presenter for Panacea, 2SER
Radio’s health program, and formerly was manager of the Mind Body Spirit Sydney Festival.
OUR PRODUCTS:
CLICK HERE to see our full NatureColour range
CLICK HERE to see our full NaturStyle Range
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