Hair Dye?

MarcieB

I just read a blog posted by letlifehappen that deals with all the extra chemicals we are exposed to these days and how they can increase our hormone levels. For those of us with hormone driven cancers, this is a bit scary. The blog said some of the chemicals, which act as aromatase activators are found in personal care products such as hair dye. (?) This is timely for me because I had planned to buy some hair dye today! I had originally decided to let my hair be natural, but grey hair is not good with hazel eyes. I feel like I look washed out and I was planning to go back to my dark blonde. But now? Does anyone have any more information about this?

cak61

I also color my hair. I plan on going grey once I get enough, but right now I just look washed out, like you said. My grandmother had beautiful white hair quite young. And my sister has it now. So, I'm sure I'll get there.
But, what I'm going to start doing is to buy the old frosting caps from Sally's and pull as much hair through as possible, and put the color there, so no color on your scalp. Use gloves to apply color. They come with a hook. Brush hair back and start at the front. It's not hard, just time consuming.
This is a good, blended way to grow out your permanent color too.

Bug

There are definitely differing opinions on this issue. The last time I investigated the issue it seemed that more evidence said it is okay to color one's hair. There are other processes that have proven to be unhealthy practices, though, e.g., Brazilian blowout.

MarcieB

Thank you, both of these answers are very helpful to me. I never heard of a Brazilian blowout so I googled it. I will never need one (my hair is not fizzy), but I do apply a root lifting serum (foam) to my hair after shampooing because my hair is fine textured and just looks limp without it. So I have two that I use - one by rusk and one by Paul Mitchell. I checked the ingredients for formaldehyde and Pul Mitchell does not have it, But the Rusk container has the ingredients listed in such small print, I am not sure I can even read them with a magnifying glass! And the list is much longer than Paul Mitchell's. I think I might just stick with that one.

legaljen1969

I learned after one really bad DIY hair dye experience that I never touch my own color. LOL It may mean I go a long time without color and maybe I look really bad, but DIY hair color is not for me. I can offer no great solution. I do think the old "frosting caps" seem like a good alternative.

ChicagoSandy

IME, coloring your hair DIY never works out well--especially if you can't see the back of your head.

I have long, fine hair with a tendency to frizz. I gave up getting Brazilian Blowouts (or any high-heat-activated keratin treatments, for that matter) after the last one (June 2020, when salons reopened here) didn't "take" because my scalp & neck sweat at night and the salt in the sweat dissolved the applied keratin (putting up my hair off my neck was a no-no till after the first shampoo). A month later I was diagnosed with an ocular melanoma--my ocular oncologist said the formaldehyde fumes released during the ultra-hot flatironing step was not a cause, not even after having 10 years of 3x/year BBs; but the fumes bothered me so much I had to wear goggles (and my nose stung too)--and it couldn't have been healthy for the stylist.

But for you who still have hair, here's how I've learned to do a DIY sleek straight blowout without an expensive (and stinky) salon keratin treatment, and make it last till the next shampoo: patience, technique & tools are key! (And with dark roots all the rage now, don't get touchups too often).

Use a smoothing conditioner in the shower, keep it on for 5 minutes. Use smoothing serum after towel-drying and detangling your hair. Don't rush it--too high heat and too strong airflow cause frizz. Section your hair (those double-hinged plastic banana clips are best). Within each section, separate a subsection and work from the bottom up. Make sure you can see the back of your head (I put up self-stick mirror tiles opposite my bathroom mirror). Don't start to blow-dry till all the steam has dissipated--humidity opens up the cuticle of the hair shaft and makes it frizz. Use a vented brush and a concentrator nozzle on your dryer, and aim the airflow down at the hair & the brush. Once everything is dry (and I do mean DRY--any residual moisture will penetrate the hairshaft and puff the cuticle back up), re-section the dried hair and as you separate each subsection, use a heat-protectant spray and comb it through before you flatiron or use a heated ionic smoothing brush--make only one slow pass per subsection, in one smooth motion. When you're done, smooth with a boar-bristle brush or wide-toothed comb; apply a finishing serum, cream or light oil. If it's a humid or rainy day, apply a little light-hold hairspray to your palms and then pass it lightly over your hair.

To make it last--DON'T wash your hair every day! 2 or at most 3 times a week is best--and if your hair is delicate, you can wash weekly and use dry shampoo in between. If you shower daily, always tuck all your hair up under a shower cap on days you don't shampoo. Sleep on a satin pillowcase, preferably silk, to cut down on the friction that roughs up the hair shaft's cuticle. And if your neck sweats, as does mine, here's how to put your hair up for sleep, without waking up with waves or bumps in the back where you don't want them: instead of gathering up your hair in a ponytail in back and clipping it to the top of your head, bend all the way over and brush your hair downward at the back & sides till it all hangs down at the top of your head, gather & twist just the ends gently and secure with one of those sectioning clips. (You might need more than one). In the morning, remove the clip(s), shake your head or run your fingers through your hair, and gently brush it into place. If you need to touch it up (smoothing hot brush or flatiron), smooth only the parts that need it and apply heat protectant before using hot tools.

I learned all of this by watching my stylists (my usual guy and a trip to Drybar) and a bunch of YouTube videos. And lots of practice.

petieagnor

I really don't have any answers. When I started getting grey, I hi-lighted my hair; then when It got greyer, I did more. After I lost my hair in '06, it came back in to where my stylist said it looked better than what she did so I went natural. Now, I don't have enough hair to pull through a cap or foil. Good luck, Marcie.