Dyeing their hair is something very common, especially in adolescents who want to make a change in style or in women (and more and more men) who want to cover their gray hair. And, although it is something that has been done for years, we have never stopped to think if dyeing is really healthy or if it affects the condition of our hair.
Relationship with cancer
Several decades ago, some hair dyes (the old ones, not the ones we find today) were found to contain carcinogens. Thus, in the 1970s, scientists found that various chemicals in hair dye (such as toluenediamine) increased the risk of cancer in laboratory animals.
Manufacturers removed this component from their products, although today the relationship between certain components of dyes and cancer is more difficult to determine.
Allergy to dye ingredients
Another big problem with hair dye is that some people are allergic to its ingredients. Most people who have a reaction to the dye are allergic to paraphenylenediamine, a chemical that is quite present in darker hair dyes. Thus, people allergic to this chemical may experience itching, redness of the skin, eczema or even hives, as a study published in the Annals of Dermatology concludes.
For this reason, when using hair dye for the first time or when switching brands, you should first do a test by putting a little dye behind the ear. If after 48 hours you have not developed an allergic reaction, you can apply it normally.
Skin irritation
Hair dye can also irritate the skin if it is not applied correctly. Therefore, it is essential to protect your hands with gloves while you put it on. Additionally, permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes can cause chemical burns to the scalp if left on for a long time, so don’t overdo it.
Likewise, you should not dye your eyebrows, as they are too fine and could be damaged or even fall out if you abuse chemicals.
