Are Hair Dyes Related to Development of Cancer?
Cancers develop due to a combination of many factors damaging the DNA of a cell in the body. While there is proof that hair dye chemicals do cause cancer in laboratory animals at high doses, it is still debated whether the low doses from hair dyes are sufficient to cause cancer in humans.
Minimizing the Health Risks if you Do Dye your Hair
If you are really unhappy with your hair color and want to continue or start dyeing your hair, there are some ways of minimizing the potential health risks.
First, darkest color hair dyes carry the most risk, due to the types of chemicals they contain. Do you really want a very dark shade? If you are covering gray, remember that as we age, our skin tone changes, and so even if your hair was naturally very dark when you were young, that very dark shade may no longer suit you. Often, a very dark shade on an older person can make their skin look washed out, and a lighter, warmer shade would suit them better and actually make them look younger than their original dark shade. Hair colorists will be able to advise you on the best shade for your skin tone.
Second, minimize your exposure and damage to your hair by dyeing it as infrequently as possible. When you do dye, make sure you always wear the gloves provided in a home kit, and while dyeing your roots, try not to rub the dye into your scalp. Make sure your bathroom is well ventilated to reduce the dye fumes you breathe in.
Finally, investigate some of the more natural, less chemical hair dyes available on the market today!
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