Hair to Dye For

I stumbled upon this article about hair dye in the September 2013 issue of Natural Awakenings Magazine. It caught my attention because like many women I get very bored with my hair color and have become a frequent client in the beauty salon chair. Over the last few years as I have become more aware and more enlightened on harmful chemicals, I have struggled with continuing to color my hair due to all the risks. There's not just one chemical to be concerned with, but several contained in hair dye. We are taking these products and applying them directly on our scalp to seep straight into our head. Coloring my hair is among one of the last few things to "break up" with. I have pretty much done a beauty overhaul on everything in my house from beauty products, to cleaning products etc.

There are alternatives like Natural Henna that has been around for thousands of years. This wasn't great for me and is very messy. There is however several people that have great success going this route. You can also do natural tea infusions like Chamomile & Calendula for blonde hair, and other teas and botanical ingredients for darker hair. Take a look at the article to hear about the dangers:

Natural Awakening Magazine September 2013

Hair to Dye For

Three-quarters of American women are interested in changing their hair color, particularly to cover gray, according to a Clairol study. But other studies show they should be wary of most traditional hair dyes and consider natural alternatives. A study from the University of Southern California published in the International Journal of Cancer, for example, identified women using permanent hair dyes at least once a month to be at the highest risk for bladder cancer.

As early as 2007, the European Union banned 22 potentially dangerous chemicals in cosmetic and body care products, including hair dyes. In the journal Materials last year, British researchers warned of the increased cancer risk from toxic chemicals called secondary amines, found in European-and U.S-manufactured permanent hair dyes, because they remain on the hair for extended periods long after application and can penetrate skin.

Meanwhile, increasing demand by consumers for safer products has expanded the market for natural hair dyes containing henna, oils and extracts from berries and other fruits, plus vegetables. Many are now available at pharmacies, organic salons and online, including do-it-yourself recipes.