I think natural hair, if you have a flattering color, is the way to go. For myself, I prefer dark hair, and recently set about finding a healthy alternative to the toxin laden hair dyes you see all around you! Care to join me on this journey?!
First some history:
I first dyed my hair with a temp. red dye, around the age of ten. It was fun at the time, but I knew dye was bad for you so I left my hair natural and let it be. Somewhere around 16-17, I decided to dye *just* the tips of my hair bright neon red! It was fun and daring, and I wasn't getting those toxins on my scalp!
Then somewhere along the way, the bug to try black hair bit me. Since then I have had a relentless love affair with rich, exotic, super dark hair color!
I used Natural Instincts, which at the time was healthier, and had no ammonia, but it did have the bad guy of this story, the wretched toxic chemical PPD!!!!
PPD, (para-phenylenediamine) is a coal tar that is used to make hair dyes permanent. It's most prevalent in darker hair colors, and it's so bad, people have died from major allergic reactions to it. Though you may not initially be allergic, the allergy can build up over time as PPD deposits and stays in your system. You go to dye your hair like normal when WHAM you suddenly swell up like a balloon, get serious chemical burns, or worst case scenario, get anaphylaxis and go into a coma.
A few other chemicals to look out for that are overall bad and may be possible allergens: toluene, PPGs, Ammonia.
So here's what I did, and what you *shouldn't* do. I dyed first with black. Let that fade over a year. Then dyed it with Natural Instincts red. That was fun; then it faded quickly as all red pigment does. I dyed over with a medium brown Natural Instincts. Then I finally went and had my hair done professionally for the first time, in mahogany with blonde streaks. I did that twice, then made my biggest hair mistake. I picked out Nutrisse Garnier in some red shade, not realizing that um, it would come out freaking clown orange! I then used a product called Color Oops and that ended up turning me blonde and frying my hair. I dyed over that with two Natural Instincts semi permanents in dark brown colors, which didn't cover it, and then was stupid again and thought I could recreate the mahogany color the stylist put on my head, with Redken Violet/Red. It came out magenta. Ugh. Then yet again, I colored that over with Revlon Colorsilk Dark Brown because it was cheap and had no ammonia. By this time, my hair was so fried it wouldn't hold color anymore. It just washed right out and my hair was this reddish golden brassy brown and it was so unflattering. My scalp was burned and I felt incredibly foolish. I had put so many toxins in my body and ruined my hair in the process.
So I grew it out. Over two years. It was AGONIZING. Cutting off a teeny bit of ugly, ruined, fried hair an inch at a time, waiting for all the pretty natural color to come back. And finally when I had my hair nice and natural again...I ended up going through some health changes that made my hair turn golden light brown, then reddish golden brown, all unflatteringly warm on my cool toned skin. It was heartbreaking.
But I wasn't about to make the same mistake and use something terribly unhealthy. So, thus began my search for the natural and healthy alternative hair dye!
1) *Henna and Indigo*
Henna, or Lawsonia Inermis, is the most natural, plant based colorant/dye in existence. So far, it can't be beat. And by combining Henna, Indigo, and other natural plant derivatives like Cassia and Amla, there are a variety of color stains
one can achieve with their hair. If you want to go natural and have healthy, thick hair, this is the route I recommend.
*However* for sensitive individuals such as myself, *Indigo* can sometimes cause reactions. Either allergic, (though not that common) or a migraine side effect, as was the case with me.
To achieve the most flattering color, I needed Henna with a high quantity of indigo, because Henna by itself is a red/orange (not flattering on a cool skin tone such as myself).
But as it turned out, to get that darker color, I needed to leave the Hendigo on for a long time, 4-6 hrs. at least. And the more someone who is sensitive is exposed to Indigo, the higher chance of migraines.
So, Hendigo was not for me. But that doesn't mean it won't work for you! It has worked for many a person, so I encourage you to give it a try, and see for yourself.
I purchased my Hendigo 100% organic and pure from www.mountainroseherbs.com .
A word of advice: be VERY careful whom you purchase Henna and Indigo or Hendigo combos from, as some companies choose to corrupt their product by putting ***PPD*** (AUGH!!), and/or metallic salts in the mix. Metallic salts you also want to stay away from, because if they end up mixing with a previous chemical component on your hair, it can end up MELTING your hair.
A great website to learn more is www.hennaforhair.com.
Before (Virgin Hair) After (Dark Brown Hendigo Mix)
2) *Organic Color Systems*
After trying Hendigo, I really wanted to try OCS. I had heard about how it had only the tiniest trace amounts of PPD in it, to make the dye permanent and how it seemed to be the only other healthier alternative that I could find. The other "organic" dyes such as Herbatint, Naturtint, etc. ALL have PPD in normal amounts, and reviews online warned of how drying and damaging they were, as well as the colors not being true.
It turned out a stylist in my area had it available, so I set an appt. asap! I went in all excited and picked the second to darkest color, and she lathered it on. She used what I believe was a regular chemical developer.
After a few minutes though, my scalp started to tingle and burn. I did the stupid thing and ignored it, since I was paying nicely for this appt., and left it on the full amount of time. When it was finally washed off, the cold water on my scalp felt so good
and when she put the hot blow dryer on my hair, YIKES! I knew it had burned my scalp and it hurt. No redness, bumps, or sores, but I could feel the burn for a few days after. Maybe it was because of having tried Hendigo again for only an hr. this time, a few days earlier. (No migraine, but no change to hair color either). Maybe it was the developer she used. Either way my scalp didn't like it! Neither did my wallet.
It was only later that I researched and read that OCS does have some other chemicals in it as well, (though in small amounts), that aren't the best for you, besides PPD.
My hair though, was in great shape! It wasn't dry or damaged. But for someone who washes regularly, it faded very quickly and only a month or so later, I was sad to see there was barely any darkness left.
I was nervous to try it again, but what else could I do? I scheduled another appt.
3) *EcoColors*
A few days later, while talking about hair dye, my Mom showed me some of her old box dyes, and the EcoColors stood out. I was sad to see it too had PPD and was going to go to spend lots of money on a stylist again, but I decided to look it up online. To my surprise, on the EcoColors website it stated that they had found a way to remove PPD and it was now a PPD free line!
Yay for me! So I cancelled my OCS appt.
I ordered my box of EcoColors, which with S&H came out to $27. I was nervous but also excited to possibly have found a way to go dark without poisoning myself and breaking the bank! On their website they state that EcoColors uses traces of diluted aqua ammonia (non-toxic) and hydrogen peroxide to get enough lift to make it permanent.
But it claimed no PPD! It came in the mail and I had my sister apply it for me. Did it burn? Nope! It did itch and tingle a teeny tiny bit, and my scalp was slightly sensitive after but it was nowhere near as bad of a reaction I had to the OCS!
I used their darkest shade, black. But it didn't come out quite black, more like a really dark brown with a violet/red undertone. But I am very pleased! The staying power is much better, my hair still has darkness to it after many washings.
Since it's more natural, the colors seem to run light. Dark Brown is more a Medium Brown, etc.
For myself, I plan to keep using EcoColors as it worked best for *me*!
To learn more: www.ecocolors.net.
EcoColors in "Black"
The End....for now!
