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Annie B. Bond

To Dye or Not To Dye? Permanent Hair Dyes

posted by Annie B. Bond Oct 20, 1999 4:47 pm
filed under: True Beauty, Hair Care, Health & Safety, Healthy Beauty Basics
To Dye or Not To Dye? Permanent Hair Dyes
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If you use permanent hair dyes at least once a month you should
know about a 2001 study from researchers at the University of
Southern California that analyzed the association between hair
dying activity and bladder cancer.

There was no association between semi-permanent or temporary
hair dyes and bladder cancer. (See Safer Ways to Color Your
Hair.”)

While the study was not a clinical cancer trial, it did make a
determination of those who are at highest risk from use of
permanent dyes:

* Women who use permanent, hair dyes once a month for 1 year or longer have twice the risk of bladder cancer.

* Women who use permanent hair dyes for 15 or more years at least monthly have three times the risk of bladder cancer using permanent dyes for 15 or more years when the dyes are used monthly or more frequently.

* Those who have worked as hair dressers or barbers for 10 years or more have five times the risk of bladder cancer.

The researchers note that the exposure of concern is to a family of chemicals called Arylamines, an ingredient in many oxidative hair dyes, which is a known risk factor for bladder cancer and found to cause cancer in experimental animals.

The study was considered of enough concern in Europe that the European Commission, a body that drafts legislation for the European Union, has changed their policy to demand information from manufacturers about ingredients contained in hair dyes. The United States does not required manufacturers to file data on ingredients or report cosmetic-related injuries.

Darker hair dyes cause higher risk because of the increased number of chemicals.

More on Hair Care (48 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3189 articles available)

11 comments
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11 comments

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11 Comments       add a comment »
Michelann D.

Hi Annie, what is the name of the brand that you are using. I would like to try it. Thanks!

Michelann D.

Annie what is the name of it. I would like to try it. thanks

Nina Mbengue

I started using Mountain Light Natural Cover the Gray Henna after my January post. It is a 2-step process and contains a bag of henna and a bag of indigo. The henna first turns your roots orangey-pink, then you mix up and add in the indigo and that turns your orangey-pink hair black. It's kind of a pain, takes a while and only seems to last a few weeks (I have very resistant gray roots on Afro-American hair), but the itchy scalp is gone, my bald spot is going and my hair is thicker! Be careful of the herbal dyes, including Aveda, that you find in the health food stores - they STILL contain small amounts of the ingredient in question. I believe it is p-Phenylenediamine and it does cause allergic reactions such as severely itchy scalp in some people(caused mine to swell and ooze) as well as being linked to cancer. Apparently it is the p-Phenylenediamine that causes the color to stick (especially for dark and black color), NOT the herbs, and they all contain it even if they tout themselves as natural.
Nina Mbengue
Aurora

Nina Mbengue

I started using Mountain Light Natural Cover the Gray Henna after my January post. It is a 2-step process and contains a bag of henna and a bag of indigo. The henna first turns your roots orangey-pink, then you mix up and add in the indigo and that turns your orangey-pink hair black. It's kind of a pain, takes a while and only seems to last a few weeks (I have very resistant gray roots on Afro-American hair), but the itchy scalp is gone, my bald spot is going and my hair is thicker! Be careful of the herbal dyes, including Aveda, that you find in the health food stores - they STILL contain small amounts of the ingredient in question. I believe it is p-Phenylenediamine and it does cause allergic reactions such as severely itchy scalp in some people(caused mine to swell and ooze) as well as being linked to cancer. Apparently it is the p-Phenylenediamine that causes the color to stick (especially for dark and black color), NOT the herbs, and they all contain it even if they tout themselves as natural.
Nina Mbengue
Aurora

Shenahn Colby

my beautician is using a new clairol natural product that can only be purchased by a professional in a beauty supply store. the ingredients were checked against my list of harmful chemicals, and the dye contained only 1 iffy ingredient. my hair is dyed monthly, and the color holds up better than any other run of the mill hair dye. have your beautician check her sources for this new product.

Annie T.

I have dyed my hair with the Clairol or Wella permanent hair dye for quite a number of years and developed a very itchy scalp and losing hair at quite an alarming rate: I had heard about the dangers of these dyes and never took it seriously until now - so I've quit using them, but am now faced with the deleamor of how to cover my grey hair. I tried henna which only succeeded in turning my roots orangey brown, so Anne, we need your help/suggestions on what products are out there and the best way to use them in transitioning from the old ways to the natural, please!

Arun P.
  • Arun P. says
  • Mar 23, 2008 7:44 AM

i would like to know the hair dye that not does not react to skin

Nina Mbengue

Annie Bond - What is the herbal dye you use? I have gray hair around the edges and I have been using a demi-permanent dye but I am still concerned. I tried henna many years ago, but remember that the gray was hard to cover and my hair came out kind of greenish. I'd like to try henna again or some other product, but they are somewhat expensive in the health food stores so it would be nice to know which ones actually work.

Thank you!
Nina in Colorado

Darlene Pearson

wHAT ARE SOME OTHER HERBAL DYES BESIDES AVEDA?

Priscilla Nystrom

I've been using Aveda permanant hair color for over 15 years. They (Aveda), use only all natural products.

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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