Are you planning to highlight your hair? Do you know what are the side effects of hair coloring? Are you aware of the precautions that you should take before coloring your hair?

Brown!! Burgundy!!Red. 

Coloring the hair is a trend now. People use hair colors to hide gray hairs or to change the way they look.  Hair colors have the ability to give you an entirely new look. They are easy to apply and are available in a range of colors.

Do hair colors have any side effects?

Most hair colors claim to contain conditioners and polymers that are not only safe but also protect the hair. But medical practitioners are worried over the rampant use of hair colors and their side effects on our health.

In some countries over 60% of women apply hair colors on their hair. Even young girls are also dying their hair. Men are also not much behind with over 10% of men been reported to use hair dyes regularly. As consumers we must be aware of the chemicals present in the hair colors and their effects.

The side effects of hair colors

The most common after-effect of hair coloring is:

1)      Allergic reactions: Hair colors contain ingredients which work as allergy inducing sensitizers. Elements like PPD are known to cause itching, swelling, scalp puffiness and even difficulty in breathing. They can also lead to arthritis, hay fever and leukemia.

2)      Irritation: Some people get only mild forms of reaction like irritation on the upper eyelid or rims of the ear. A severe form of such irritation is anaphylactic shock. In this the mouth and tongue gets swelled which constricts the airways. This can be fatal and several such cases have been reported which have been caused by hair dyes.

Irritation of the skin is another after-effect of hair dyes that is quite prevalent. Redness of the skin, itching and burning sensations is often reported by people. It is recommended that you perform a skin patch test before using a hair color.

3)      Hair breakage: People who use hair colors often suffer from hair breakage. Excessive use of hair dyes makes the hair dry and fragile which may break off easily. You must deep condition your hair and use products specifically meant for dyed hair.

Some people develop patches of discolored skin around the hairline. This is caused by hair dyes. It is essential that you take special precaution while coloring the hair around the hairline.

Hair stylists who are exposed to persulfates and PPD of hair dyes have increased chances of getting asthma attacks.

Studies are being conducted to find links between hair dyes and the risk of cancer. It has been found that hair dyes are linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Women who have been using hair colors for longer period have an increased risk of developing this cancer.

Hairstylists are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. They also have increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.

In view of the side effects of hair colors you must think twice before getting your hair dyed. Is coloring the hair worth the risks associated with it? Ask yourself and then decide to go for hair dyes.

Also Read: Types of Hair Damage 

Short-term hair damage is one that you can overcome as soon as you leave using that brand of hair dye. These are not dangerous and cause damage to your hair that can be rectified. However, there are long-term effects of these hair dyes also. Also, you will see allergic reactions even after you have used it for a long time. It has been observed that people develop and allergy even after a long time in life.

Another type of permanent damage is done to a women's hair when she straightens and colors her hair. Apart from this, overuse of dyes or leaving the dye for longer period of time and so on, also has bad impact on your hair and its health. If you can take precautions, hair dye is good for you.

Surprising Facts About Dandruff

Dandruff!!! Is that a headache for you? If you have an itchy scalp or flakes in your hair, you may be tempted to just reach for the nearest dandruff shampoo. Before you do, read on to find out common misconceptions about the irritating condition.

Dandruff is not caused by dryness.

It’s caused when the skin on your body or face becomes scaly or itchy .When your scalp is flaky, it’s usually the result of too much oil rather than too little. It’s a common misconception that dandruff is caused by dryness; in reality, it’s usually due to an overgrowth of harmless yeast.

You should wash your hair more often.

Generally, dermatologists warn against shampooing your hair every day. The concern being that you’ll strip the scalp and hair of natural oils and cause irritation. Dandruff poses the opposite problem. Not shampooing enough will only make your dandruff worse. It causes more oil and dead skin cells to accumulate on your scalp.

A flaky, itchy scalp does not always mean dandruff.

There might be a situation when you don’t see any improvement after washing for a week or two with a medicated shampoo. In this case you could have psoriasis or a skin inflammation. Some hair treatments and certain products with harsh chemicals can create an allergic reaction or sensitivity that dries out your scalp. When dandruff shampoos aren't cutting it, you’ll want to see a dermatologist, who’ll be able to diagnose your specific condition and prescribe the right remedy to treat it.

You can get dandruff on your face and body too.

Those oily flakes are not necessarily restricted to your scalp. It’s not uncommon for women to discover dandruff flakes in their eyebrows, around their ears, and along the sides of their nose. Usually such scaly patches occur in addition to a flaky scalp — if you have these extra skin-shedding spots, use your dandruff shampoo to gently clean them when you wash your hair.

Dandruff can’t be cured, but it can be controlled.

If you’re prone to dandruff, it’s most likely a problem that will continue to recur. Still, you don’t have to wait for flakes to make an appearance to start treating them — you can take preemptive action to avoid flare-ups. Diet is very important, you should consume saturated and trans fats that will cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which makes dandruff worse. Avoiding these fats, as well as incorporating varied fruits and veggies that contain zinc and B vitamins, will help keep the flakes at bay.

Ways to Prevent Moonsoon Hairfall

The monsoons may be romantic but in reality, the weather takes a toll on your hair. Monsoon humidity leaves hair worn out, lifeless and brittle; as a result, you lose clumps of hair during this season. Another reason that adds to the issue is the presence of  enviormental pollutants in rainwater that culminates in fungal infection on scalp that weakens roots and causes hair fall. We give you few effective tips that will help you prevent monsoon hair fall!

1. Shampoo & Conditioning your hairs daily.

If only we could sit at home and enjoy the serenity of the rains. We all know this is wishful thinking, but what you can do is wash and condition your hair as soon as you get home. This is the only way you can keep your hair and scalp clean. Regular shampooing won’t lead to hair loss or dry scalp, provided you use a mild shampoo. The elevated levels of humidity in the air lead to hair becoming coarse and dry, which in turn makes the hair frizzy. Conditioning them regularly helps to get rid of the frizziness making it easier for you to manage.

2.  Keep your hair dry

Try and keep your hair dry for as long as possible. Usually we lose around 50-60 hair but during monsoons we lose somewhere around 200 strands without even knowing it. It will stand you in good stead to dry your hair since it helps prevent hair and scalp problems such as excessive hair loss and dandruff.

3. Diet?

Lots of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, litchis, limes and pears contain lycopenes and vitamin C which are great for hair. Have milk and soya protein to boost up the protein content of your diet. Supplements like Vitamin A, Calcium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and Zinc. Oily, fried stuff are absolute no-nos.

Water. Drink lots of it. At least 2 litres a day or atleast 8-12 glasses of water daily is another tip to prevent hair loss in monsoon. Water helps wash off the toxins from our body.

Also, restrict your consumption of junk food such as burger, fries, chips, sugary etc., to a bare minimum as it contributes to hair thinning.  Start including protein-rich foods in your diet including soyabean, eggs, low-fat cheese, beans, salmon and yogurt to prevent hair fall in monsoon.

4. Oil and wash

Hair turns rough, dry and frizzy during monsoon. A quick and natural oil massage followed by a hair wash results in smooth, frizz-free and manageable hair. It also becomes necessary to give a hot oil massage to your hair every weekend or twice in a week, as scalp turns itchy and flaky in rains.

5. If you want a haircut, now is the best time.

Short hair is easiest to manage and takes the least time to dry. Wet hair can lead to a host of problems. Chop off your locks for a chic new do, and make your life easier.

6. Avoid hair sprays and heavy gels.

Again, try and stay away from too much hair spray, gels and mousse, a little bit of serum should handle any frizz without weighing it down.

Just in short–

Drink plenty of water

Oil your hair at least once a week

Use wide-toothed comb

Don’t tie your hair when it’s wet

Pat your hair dry before using a blow dryer

Do not share combs

Go for short hair cuts if your hair is long

Health diet