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.