Dyes and bleaches in winter

Chemical dyes create hair dryness through the oxidation process the hydrogen peroxide and alkalizing agent, ammonia, to be able to cover the hair with the new color, plus the cold in the winter time will increase the hair dryness through chemicals dyes.

Here’s how the three main types of hair dye works so you can make the most convenient decision for your hair:

a. Dye with Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, the worst combination, together it can create intense dryness on hair.

b. Dye with Hydrogen peroxide only, can create moderate dehydration

c. Henna. Natural from plant, vegetable dye, (I recommend it!) much less dehydration.

How long can the chemical color last in the hair?

Amonia plus hydrogen peroxide, color remains in place up to 5 weeks

Hydrogen peroxide color remains in place for at least 3 weeks

*Both cases, the color is gradually removed with each shampoo.

Dyes with ammonia plus hydrogen peroxide.

Possible toxicological problems due to ammonia hair dyes

A dye with ammonia opens the hair’s outer layer or cuticle so that the synthetic pigment penetrates deeply, the cuticle will not close again later and the hair will remain fragile and prone to split ends.

This is because ammonia is highly corrosive and oxidizing and very alkaline its ph is somewhere between ph:11 to ph:13.

Dyes with hydrogen peroxide and ammonia free.

It is a less aggressive type of dye compared with amonia but it also oxidizes the hair so that the new color can cover.

The dye with only hydrogen peroxide does not open the cuticle so the hair doesn’t lose its protection and the damage and dryness is quite less than with amonia. Furthermore, hair looks healthier after color application, achieving a more natural color tone.

Vegetable Dyes 

Vegetable dyes have been known and used since ancient times.

The best known and most used vegetable dyes are from henna, chamomile and less is the Indigo plant, they are non-toxic and last for several weeks.

The best known and most used vegetable dyes are from henna, chamomile and the less common is the Indigo plant, they are non-toxic and last for several weeks.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.)

The good cover of the new color are its main assets. Henna protects the hair fiber and at the same time, provides nutrition due to the minerals and vitamin E, which helps soften hair as well as antioxidants that support strength and healthy hair.

It is, therefore, the ideal type of coloring for people allergic to the usual chemical hairdressing dyes.

German Chamomile ( Matricaria).

Chamomile is known for its high content of yellow pigments (apigenin) found in flower petals. This yellow pigment helps to enhance the blonde tone and adhere to the hair scales without penetrating the hair cuticle.

Chamomile works quite well to naturally lighten hair, beautiful golden reflections without having to resort to coloring or dyeing that weaken the hair fibers.

German chamomile also has soothing properties making it perfect for use to relieve an itchy and dry scalp.

Índigo (Indigofera Tinctoria Extract).

Its pigments between bluish and violet tones, reduce the yellow color in gray or white gray hair. Mixing the Indigo with the Henna, it serves to achieve a darker brown hue and it is very useful for women with dark hair who want to cover their gray hair, or for women who want to reinforce the intensity of their chestnut.

Conclusion

The main difference between a vegetable dye to a chemical dye is that the vegetable dye does not alter the color of the natural melanin in the hair. The vegetable dye acts as a repairing treatment thanks to the minerals and vitamins present in it.

The dye with ammonia + hydrogen peroxide or dye with only hydrogen peroxide, both are aggressive for the hair and can create different allergic reactions on our scalp and not to mention the increased hair dryness and several damage from the outermost hair layer until the cortex or the innermost hair layer.

Ammonia is not only irritating and corrosive to hair, high concentrations of ammonia can also cause immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract.

P.S. If you don’t have a need to dye your hair in some color such as purple or blonde and if you want a black, brown or red color then I recommend a vegetable dye, it will give your hair a very good coverage and nutrition through its minerals and vitamins of the plant.