Dye to Die For?

by WiredBerries Editors — August 24, 2007

Recent studies have given those worried about the traditional hair dyes they use new reasons to switch to less harsh alternatives. A 1994 National Cancer Institute report found that deep-colored dyes (like dark brown and black), when used over prolonged periods of time, seemed to increase the risk of cancers such as non-Hodgkin=92s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. And a 2001 study by the International Journal of Cancer found that people who use permanent hair dye are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as those who go au naturel regarding hair color.

For those who want to color their hair but find the chemicals in widely available dyes and highlighting treatments too harsh, a new crop of products promises to do the trick without causing allergic reactions or other health problems. While green-friendly permanent hair dyes still require some of these chemicals—such as ammonia and peroxide—in order to be effective, alternatives do exist that contain smaller amounts. Treehugger offers a helpful list of less-harmful dye options:

• Ecocolors—Contains small amounts of ammonia and peroxide, has a soy and flax base, and uses rosemary extract to condition the hair and flower essences instead of artificial scents.
• Herbatint—Ammonia-free permanent dye is biodegradable, but it does make use of low concentrations of p-Phenylenediamine and peroxide.
• Naturcolor and Vegetel—Shorter-lived options that do not contain any damaging chemicals, although their effect will only last a few washes.
• Henna—Made from the powdered leaves of a desert shrub called Lawsonia, henna has been used for thousands of years to color hair and skin. Rainbow Henna makes a variety of 100 percent organic hair treatments ranging from blonde to black hair and everything in between. Light Mountain sells an organic henna application kit familiar to those accustomed to traditional home hair coloring packages.