About Hair Dye

Image and the way we present ourselves is becoming increasingly important in our lives, whether we want to admit it or not. It may be considered vain, but people who spend time on their appearance generally exude more confidence and a better attitude than those who don't. For women and men both, a certain sense of pride can be found in the way they style their hair, and also the way they color it. Hair dyes have been around a while and are used increasingly by average people and beauticians alike.

Types

Four different types of hair dye dominate the market, categorized by the length of time it stays in the hair. Hair dye types include temporary, semi-permanent, demi-permanent and permanent hair dye. Temporary hair dye does not penetrate hair follicles and can therefore be removed after one wash with shampoo. Semi-permanent dye lasts for about five washes, while permanent dye lasts forever because it gets into the hair shaft. The color may fade over time, but hair either needs to be redyed or grown out to get rid of it. Demi permanent is made with a mix of permanent and semi-permanent and lasts a while longer than semi-permanent dye, but still washes out over time.

Function

Hair dyes are found in a couple different forms, but most commonly come as a liquid gel. Wet your hair and then towel dry it. Coat hair with the dye and rub it deep into your scalp so that the color is strong and even. Leave the dye in for a while, around 30 minutes depending on the type, and it begins to settle pigments of color onto your hair. Semi-permanent and permanent hair dye uses hydrogen peroxide to get the dye deep into the hair follicles. This lightens hair as well, which can make for better use of darker dyes or enhance lighter colored dyes. As you leave the dye in, it works itself into your hair to give lasting color. Wash out the excess dye and you're left with a fresh new mop of hair on your head.

Effects

While the obvious effect of hair dye is that it changes the color of your hair, it's important to note the way these dyes affect the hair follicles and roots. Temporary hair dye uses large pigments that just coat the surface of hair, so that the effect is like painting a wall. As dyes get more permanent and stronger, they contain chemicals that allow pigments to go deep into the hair. The strong insides of hair follicles will also be died, giving the entire effect a more thorough and natural look.

Considerations

While most dyes are made to resemble a natural hair color, there are some exotic dyes that turn hair other colors, such as blue or purple. These dyes usually do not contain a developer and therefore do not come out correctly when applied directly to dark hair. For people with dark hair to get the desired effect of an exotic dye, they should bleach the hair first to give the blue, purple, green, or other colored dye a blank slate to work with. This enables the bright colors to stand out.

Warning

While hair dyes can achieve great results and make your hair look great, it can also cause damage if you're not careful. Some people have allergies to certain dyes and can break out in a rash or have irritated skin because of them. The chemicals in hair dyes can also cause hair to become brittle. If dyes are used often, the hair can break off completely.

Resources

• Find more information on hair dye products at the FDA.