So, how toxic is Hair Dye? Well, …pretty toxic!  And we apply it without question.  It becomes a vicious cycle: apply, touch-up, re-apply... How ironic it is that we all want a different hair color tone than what we were born with?!…And hiding those grays becomes a major part of our beauty routine once we hit a certain age.  If you have been using hair dye since you were in your teens, you probably are noticing, now, that you are starting to gray prematurely!  Well, guess what’s pretty much to blame… your hair dye!  Whether applying it yourself with a home kit or at the salon, each application slowly kills your roots, causing the pigmentation to fade into... gray! 

Yes, all those hair dye ads, by Garnier, L’Oreal, Clairol, and Vidal Sassoon, for example, make us want those luscious, beautiful locks that flow and shine.  Unfortunately, “Buying” into these images and ads could very well make you a statistic… Here’s one of those statistics you could fall into… women who use conventional hair dyes more than 9x/year have a 60% greater risk of contracting blood cancer.  I used to be that person, going to the salon and getting my hair beautified with chemicals.  I didn't think twice, because it made me feel beautiful and good about my image.  I’m pretty sure many of the ladies reading this, also fall into that category too.  The reason for the statistic, that I just mentioned, is because conventional, over-the-counter, and hair dyes used in salons are packed FULL of chemicals and toxic ingredients that penetrate our skin and hair, getting into our blood stream, and “poison us”.

So, what are the ingredients poisoning us, you ask…Hair dyes, whether conventional or salon grade, have active ingredient chemicals called secondary amines, which are compounds derived from ammonia.  We’ve all been told not to touch or use ammonia because it is hazardous to our lungs and skin, but we put it directly onto our scalp when we apply our hair dye?!  Eek!  These toxic amine chemicals can penetrate the skin and stay on hair for weeks, months or even years after the dye is applied!  Airborne substances, such as tobacco smoke, can easily react to these chemicals in our hair and create another hazardous “poisoning” toxin, called N-nitrosamines, one of the most powerful cancer-causing compounds know to man!  If this chemical has been banned from the cosmetic industry, how are hair dye companies allowed to let it be a part of their products for everyday use by consumers like you and me?  Not only is long term use of hair dyes linked to a wide host of different types of cancers, but it is also linked to major skin allergies, immune disorders, hormone disruptors, nervous system disorders, and respiratory issues (such as asthma & other lung disease).

*HOW TO DYE YOUR HAIR NATURALLY: Henna is a great natural alternative to chemical hair dye!  People have been using it for many, many years to dye skin (temporary tattoos), hair, and fabric in countries like India and Africa.  Henna powder is naturally created from a Henna Tree by drying and grinding leaves and stems.  To strengthen the dying powers and to create different color tones, acidic liquids can be added to the powder, such as vinegar or lemon juice.  Hot water is added to the powder to form a mud-like paste, which can be directly applied to your hair.  Since henna is a temporary dye, the color will last up to about 6 weeks or more, depending on how much you wash it, and then fade into your natural hair color.  As it fades away, it will not leave any lines, stripes, or roots like synthetic dyes will.  Tip: During those 6 weeks, please make sure you use a darker toned towel after the shower or washing your hair!.. The dye will slowly "bleed" off your hair each time you wash it. Here is a great Henna hair dye company to consider, that I love and have been using for almost 3 years: 

Henna Color Lab