When it comes to altering our appearances in a drastic yet inexpensive way, there is no better method than dyeing your hair.
People have been dyeing their hair for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians used to use henna to help cover up their pesky grays.
These days, we can cover up gray hair or find out whether blondes have more fun in a matter of minutes, all thanks to the hair dye aisle at our local drug stores.
Dyeing your hair may be easier than ever, but it still isn't always the best idea. Anyone who has suffered a disappointing dye job knows that they don't always come out new and improved on the other end.
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In fact, there are a lot more reasons why you might want to avoid dyeing your hair in the future. Unfortunately, some of them are even more serious than a brassy hue.
Thumbnail Photo: Instagram/ kellie_browne
What Does Dye Do To Your Hair?
How hair dye works varies depending on the color and how temporary or permanent it is.
However, generally speaking, hair dye and its chemicals penetrate your hair cuticles to alter the color, according to Clairol.
In turn, this process also changes the structure of your hair, which is why it might feel like a different texture after you dye it.
This is particularly true if you lighten your hair using bleach, which can make each individual strand of hair a bit rougher.
1. Dye Can Cause Hair Loss
No one wants to lose hair as they grow older, especially if you're a woman.
According to Dermatology Times, hair loss from permanent dyes is technically hair breakage, but can happen in such quantities that it looks more like loss.
Harsh chemicals in permanent dyes can make hair brittle and more breakable, especially over time.
While this hair loss is unlikely to be permanent, it is likely to get worse over time with continued dye usage.
2. It Can Cause An Allergic Reaction
Most at home hair dyes or salons will recommend a patch test before you get going on your hair.
The National Health Service reports that many hair dyes contain the chemical paraphenylenediamine, which is a known skin irritant.
3. Some Hair Dye Chemicals May Be Linked To Cancer
These days, it can seem like everything is linked to cancer. However, hair dye could be a legitimate concern.
The National Cancer Institute explains that over 5,000 chemicals are used in hair dyes. Not every single one of them has been linked to cancer, but a number of them are thought to be carcinogenic.
To be as safe as possible, stay away from the harsh chemicals in hair dye by not using them.
4. Dye Dries Out Your Hair
Dry hair is an issue for a lot of women regardless of whether they dye their hair or not.
Blow-drying, curling, straightening, and any activity involving heat can do a number on your hair.
Things can be made worse by the use of peroxide on your hair, which is often used as a base for other color.
While peroxide is great for lightening your hair and making it available for a new color, it is also what can cause it to feel straw-like.
5. Upkeep Is Expensive
If you dye your hair, you know that it can get expensive. In fact, it's exactly why I've put my hair appointment off for the past couple of months!
The average women's haircut is already way more expensive than a men's cut. If you add hair dye into the mix, you could potentially be tacking on hundreds of dollars.
Even coloring your hair at home gets expensive with upkeep — not to mention the emergency salon visits when something goes awry.
Just think of all the money you could save by ditching the dye altogether.
6. It's Time-Consuming
Dyeing your hair not only costs money, but a lot of time!
There's nothing worse than losing a whole Saturday to the salon chair to let the color take.
We're all too busy for our own good, so saving a few hours here and there is always a welcome surprise.
7. You Can Go Gray Gracefully
It's completely normal to wish you could turn the clock when your hair starts to go gray. Hair dye is certainly an easy solution, but an even better solution is going gray gracefully.
Plenty of women rock their gray, and it can go a long way toward improving confidence and body image. Besides, gray hair is surprisingly beautiful!
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