In the U.S., 85% of women color their hair at least once every eight weeks and during the pandemic, a third of women dyed their hair at home.
We spoke with certified trichologist Bridgette Hill to clarify further on whether coloring hair is a health concern and should be a cause for worry.
Coloring hair is a rite of passage for many women.
“There have been vast studies on the carcinogenicity of synthetic pigment hair color and while in the past, ingredients such as 2,4-diaminotoluene may have had carcinogenic potential in rats, they are no longer used. The ‘health factor’ regarding hair color is not simply the ingredients but also, the application, the maintenance, and the hair type and texture the color is being applied to.”
“The most important difference between professional color and at home box color is the shelf life and preservatives in the packaging as well as the quality of the synthetic pigment. Professional color has much more potency and can be formulated to create a spectacular result.”
"Drastically changing hair color should be a gradual process. Highlighting or frequent balayage leads to breakage, mechanical damage, and hair shedding. There should be a minimum of 11 to 15 weeks between a highlight or balayage. Root touch-ups can safely be redone with any type of hair color, every 2 to 8 weeks.”
"To achieve long blonde hair, a highlight or balayage is the better option because it retains the integrity of the hair length and allows the hair fibers to be lifted lighter with nominal maintenance. High-lift bleaching is not the best option for long hair, but is ideal for short pixie hair that gets cut frequently.”