Let’s face it, it is fun to change your hair color. Some of you want a different hair color because you are bored with your natural hair, some of you want to cover up those grays, and sometimes, you see your favorite celebrity rocking a new hair color, and you want it. According to the Times of India, the primary use of coloring your hair is to improve the color you already have, and many color their hair to get the perfect shine and even make you look younger.
Ancient Egyptians were among the first known people to dye their hair using henna, mostly to cover up the grays, and during the Roman Empire, sex workers used a plant-based mixture to lighten their hair because they were required to be blonde, per Madison Reed. The culture of coloring your hair is not new; what is different is how we have so many options now.
Too much of anything can be harmful, and that applies to dyeing your hair too often as well. Unfortunately, we have all heard of hair dye horror stories where people experienced more breakage, dryness, and overall damage to their hair. So sadly, we have to say that if you dye your hair too often, you are damaging it because your hair is at its healthiest when it hasn’t been touched with color, which is basically chemicals. You can lessen the effect of hair dye by using natural hair dyes using at-home products or going longer in between coloring appointments.
How chemicals in hair dye can damage your hair
There are mainly three kinds of hair dye available on the market: temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent. The differences have to do with how much they penetrate the hair shaft and how long they last (via Times of India). All hair dyes are chemicals that change the nature and structure of your hair. Doing so means you have to deal with either short-term or long-term damage.
According to Healthline, applying any kind of permanent dye or bleach creates a chemical reaction that causes the protein in your hair to lift so the chemicals can penetrate the hair strand. Unfortunately, when you alter the hair’s protein structure to get the gorgeous color you want, it can also result in loss of hair strength, reduced thickness, and increased roughness of the follicles. Stylecraze agrees that coloring your hair too much can make your hair prone to more damage because the color goes deep in the hair shaft to alter the pigment. The result can strip the protective layer from your hair and make your hair look dry. The chemicals in hair dye can also cause allergies and redness or itchiness on the scalp.
It is best to keep coloring your hair to a minimum. However, if you are addicted to the process, Mother Earth Living recommends avoiding chemicals like P-Phenylenediamine (PPD), hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, and lead acetate.
Originally published at https://www.thelist.com on February 14, 2022.