FACTS TO CONSIDER:
The average salon customer is in contact with hair color ammonia about every 4-7 weeks while hair stylists have daily contact with ammonia.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ammonia is listed as a hazardous substance that has related negative health effects including headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue due to the ammoniated smells.
Nearly all professional and “box” hair color contain ammonia. If a color line claims to be a “non-ammonia base,” the product most likely contains its “silent scented,” even more toxic friend ethanolamine.
About 400 (86%) out of the 456 hair colors ranked in the Skin Deep cosmetics database of the Environmental Working Group are considered high hazard.
Is There a Healthy Alternative in Hair Coloring?
There are healthy hair coloring alternatives available, but be sure to read the labels carefully or ask your stylist to see the ingredients list of their products. Many over-the-counter and professional hair color products claim to be gentle and contain botanical extracts. The few included botanical ingredients don’t necessarily make it a safe or “non-toxic” product. Many of these colors contain ammonia, ethanolamine, and/or resorcinol. Several very popular hair color lines contain both ammonia and ethanolamine.
Kassie Kuehl is a health coach and consultant, in addition to being a professional stylist and colorist who specializes in natural and organic products. To learn more about natural salon services visit kasiasalon.com.
