Links Between Hair Dye Chemicals and Hair Loss

Every day, most of us overload our hair with chemicals which have been approved for use in hair care products, including hydrogen peroxide and ammonia which can be found in hair dye. Ammonia has been shown to cause respiratory problems and skin conditions; it's even been linked to cancer, whilst hydrogen peroxide could cause thinning hair and hair loss.

Frightening salon experience

A customer at a beauty salon in Dubai noticed her hair falling out in clumps after an out-of-date dye was used to colour her hair. The wrong tube of colourant was used on the customer's hair and when it was rinsed out, her hair began to fall out in clumps. The customer experienced diffuse thinning all over her scalp. The salon owner and hair stylist were later convicted of posing a risk to customer safety and were heavily fined.

Hair loss at home

But it's not just salon products that could be damaging your hair and causing hair loss. Box dyes sold in supermarkets and pharmacies can cause damage too. Most permanent colourants contain hydrogen peroxide, a powerful chemical used to lighten hair, which you'll often hear referred to as bleach. The type found in hair colourants is usually around 97% water, 3% peroxide, so it's heavily diluted.

Hydrogen peroxide works to lighten hair by breaking down melanin in the hair shaft, and repeated use can weaken the hair, leading to extreme damage and breakage. Whilst this kind of styling damage can cause temporary hair loss, using peroxide continuously could also damage your hair follicle. In some cases this has led to patches of baldness or even total hair loss.

What's the alternative?

Using natural, organic hair dyes which don't contain ammonia, peroxide or PPD may reduce your risk of allergic reactions, which can in themselves cause an itchy, sore scalp and damage to your hair. Using these types of colourants should also help to reduce breakage and damage to the hair shaft and follicles. It is important to remember to always carry out a patch test prior to colouring your hair, whether you are doing it yourself or having it done professionally.

Treatment for temporary hair loss

If you are concerned about thinning hair or bald patches from bleaching or dyeing your hair, it is best to stop colouring your hair further and seek expert help immediately. Whilst most temporary conditions will correct themselves in up to six months' time, in line with the hair's normal growth cycle, a hair loss specialist will be able to provide you with a professional diagnosis and plan of action. If needed, they can also recommend a hair loss treatment plan as well as giving personalised hair loss advice tailored to your specific situation.

If you colour your hair regularly or frequently use heat styling equipment, it is a good idea to keep your hair in the best possible condition by ensuring it gets the necessary nutrients for healthy hair growth. You can do this through eating a varied diet featuring the various vitamins and minerals that benefit hair health, or by taking nutritional supplements such as our exclusive Hair Vitalics.