Plant hair dye refers to using substances extracted from the flowers, stems, and leaves of plants for hair dyeing. It is expensive and contains pure natural plant elements, so it is not commonly used. However, it is important to note that many hair dyes on the market are not true plant hair dyes, so don't be easily fooled by the merchants.
1. Plant hair dyes cannot maintain long-lasting effects
The main ingredient of plant hair dyes is a plant called Lawsonia inermis, also known as henna. This ingredient is recognized by the FDA, but it is worth noting that hair dyes with this ingredient may have some effect on dyeing colors like coffee and reddish-brown, but may not be ideal for dyeing black.
The principle of plant hair dyeing is different from chemical hair dyeing. Plant hair dyeing directly colors the hair by attaching dye molecules to the hair, while chemical hair dyeing allows small molecules of aniline to penetrate into the scalp layer, causing chemical reactions to change the hair color. From this principle, it is difficult to maintain the effects of plant hair dyeing for a long time.
Claims such as "using plant hair dye will make the hair black and change the hair follicles" are simply groundless.
2. No approved plant hair dye in China
Plant hair dyes have a certain level of safety, but in order to achieve better dyeing effects, even plant hair dyes usually add p-phenylenediamine to reduce the reaction time of plant hair dyeing, which not only speeds up the dyeing process but also improves the dyeing effects.
In general hair dyes, the content of p-phenylenediamine is 6%, although it is small, it can still cause allergic reactions. People who frequently dye their hair and have excessive exposure to this ingredient can be harmful to their health.
Currently, the Ministry of Health in China has not approved any plant hair dye, so the claim of "safe and reliable" has not been recognized by authoritative organizations.
3. Risks of plant extract ingredients
Many people believe that pure plant extracts, even if the dyeing effects are not ideal, do not cause much harm to health. However, it should be noted that merchants may not produce such products if the dyeing effects are not satisfactory. Therefore, most of the hair dyes on the market that are promoted as "pure plant" actually add some ingredients to the hair dyes, and the majority of these ingredients are consistent with chemical hair dyes. Such hair dyes themselves pose risks to health despite the increase in price.
In addition, not all plant extracts are safe. Some traditional Chinese medicines and plants are explicitly prohibited in the cosmetics industry. For example, plants like Angelica dahurica have certain allergenic properties and can harm internal organs. Therefore, not all plant extracts are safe, and if the merchant does not specify the ingredients, consumers need to be cautious.
When choosing hair dye products, consumers must pay attention to the ingredients. Some shampoo products also claim to have the effect of darkening the hair, and as long as they are used for normal hair washing, the hair will become black. In fact, these products also contain hair dye ingredients, but the merchants only mention the addition of certain Chinese herbal medicines in their promotions.
When dyeing hair in a hair salon, it is important to carefully read the product packaging. A high price for hair dyeing in a salon does not necessarily mean that their products are good. In addition to considering the price and color, consumers should also understand the ingredient labeling of hair dyes, especially those with allergies need to be particularly cautious.
Not everyone is suitable to use hair dyes. If you have adverse reactions to hair dyes, you must stop using them and not assume that "plant hair dyes" are safe and reliable.
Any type of hair dye can have certain health risks, and frequent hair dyeing can directly damage the hair, causing it to become dry, yellow, split, and lackluster, which are common issues. It is recommended that consumers do not exceed two hair dyeing sessions in a year.
