Yes. There is such a thing as eco-friendly hair dye! (Credit: DesolationSmile via Flickr)
Whenever I see that guilty look on the faces of friends or coworkers, I know they've purchased makeup containing Dirty Dozen ingredients or they're about to have their hair dyed.
Jen, owner of Clover Earthkind Hair Salon filled me in on eco-friendly colours. (They do exist!)
What hair dye chemicals should be avoided?
Avoid ammonia, petrochemicals, sulfates, phthalates, parabens and P-phenylenediamine.
It's difficult to find permanent colours that are free of PPD. PPD-free products can use aminophenols, but if you're allergic or sensitive to PPD you may also be sensitive to those, too. Find a hairdresser educated in the prefixes of these chemicals!
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What's in eco-friendly hair dyes?
Many are henna or vegetable-based (from roots and fruits), others are oil-based. Some are paired with hydrogen peroxide to help the colour last longer.
Many hennas won't disclose ingredients, but labels may list aslawsonia inermis leaf, indigoferae tinctoria leaf, walnut, or pure indigo. So-called "black henna" may be derived from indigo (from the plant indogoferae tinctoria), but may also contain PPD. Those sensitive to PPD should avoid black hennas.
Most vegetable-based colours are called "stains"—they coat the hair but aren't absorbed below the cuticle of the hair shaft. Ingredients will be similar to henna but may contain dispersed inks (like pigments used in tattoos).
How long do eco-friendly hair dyes last?
Colours with chemicals have longer staying power. A vegetable stain, like 'Changes' from HERB UK, rinses out a little with every shampoo. A natural-based permanent is longer lasting than your standard, chemically loaded dye. Without harsh corrosives like ammonia, the hair cuticle remains intact—allowing for colour molecules to have a long and healthy life in your hair!
How expensive are eco-friendly hair dyes?
Health food store brands range from $10 to $20—some are 30 bucks for two ounces. Salon brands should be comparable in price to standard brands. But many salons charge 5-15 per cent for a "greener" colour.
Will eco-friendly hair dye cover greys?
Yes. But you need a small percentage of chemicals to have true permanent coverage. Most "natural" colours are grey-blending more than grey-covering.
Where can I get eco-friendly hair dye?
DIY-ers can try health food stores or organic grocers. If you like bright reds, violets or gold and have naturally lighter hair, lily stamens or belladonna flower, turmeric or even beet juice can do a wonderful job of tinting the hair and even refresh older highlights. Always wear gloves!
Aveda contains ammonia (a low percentage). Other professional brands claim to be "ammonia-free" but contain high levels of petrochemicals and ammonium hydroxide.
Before you book, ask the salon about the ingredients in the hair dyes they provide.
Have you switched to an eco-friendly hair salon?
Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, Queen of Green
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14 Comments
10:03 PM
pls give me a soap recipe. thanks
1:47 PM
I have been using Herbatint for years and it covers greys nicely. You can also mix colours (check out their charts) to get some really nice rich results. You can get it at your local health stores, or purchase it on-line for those of you in rural areas. Google it for more info and list of suppliers.
4:48 PM
Beet juice intrigues me. I’m due for a dye so maybe I’ll try this. I’d love it if it were a pinky-purple. I usually dye it purple.
10:58 AM
Sorry, but eco color is still a unicorn. I am not saying that no one out there has nice eco friendly hair color — I am just saying that most either started with nice hair that they just enhanced, or are kidding themselves on how nice it looks. Many over the counter hennas and health food store brands are not even truly eco friendly or toxic-free. They tend not to have 'stop processing' built in so they can ruin your color/texture. And good luck if you ever change your mind — you pretty much have to grow henna out due to the nature of how it sticks onto the hair.
I am pro harm reduction. Use a salon that has strict recycling/waste policies and you will find you will leave an even smaller footprint than if you bought an over the counter "echo" product. The last salon I worked at recycled almost everything and used 1/10 the amount of color due to precise application and measuring.
2:22 AM
Thank you for this post!
What worked best for me is going back to my natural haircolour.
The natural haircolour usually is much more beautiful and lively than you would expect (I had not seen mine for decades
9:57 PM
Would you be able to provide us with te brand names please?
6:52 PM
Would like to know if one used turmeric or beet juice in your hair, how long would the colour last? I am 50, i started colouring in my 20's . By age 40 , i had enough with mess, cost, time, stink , and what I knew could not be good for the environment. I cut my hair short and stopped colouring. I love my brown/ grey hair. It would be fun to add temporary colour, but certainly not neccesary. Embrace the greys, the wrinkles, etc. I still wear my Converses, and love live bands. I may be old , but i am not mature. 50 is only a number. Be proud of your age. It reflects another wonderful year spent with family, friends , nature. Celebrate!
3:01 PM
Hi, I have always wondered if additives in our foods contribute to the cancer that over runns our lives today as oppsed to 50 or 100 years ago?
1:10 PM
We carry Light Mountain Henna products at What's In Store (whatsinstore.ca) and they do have a Cover Your Grey product that I have found is quite effective. I believe it to be the most natural one we could find. The process for using Henna does tend to be a bit longer than conventional dye, and it doesn't have a pretty scent, but it is an effective way to obtain lovely colour without subjecting yourself to nasty chemicals.
12:29 PM
It would be helpful to list brands that are "safe" and where they can be found, instead of just listing what to avoid.
7:09 AM
hey everybody! i just tried this new dye and i think it is way better than the regualar stuff!! thanks for telling me about this.
6:56 AM
Dear: David suzuki foundation. I have just finished reading your article on eco-friendly hair dye. I was very intersested in your opinoin and your ideas about hair dye. but i have a few questions for you. 1: Where do you get these products if you live in a small town.? 2:who has invented this product.? 3:what is more effective "eco-friendly hair dye" , or "regular hair dye".?
2:13 PM
Also, if you are a fan of red, a box of henna powder from an Indian Grocery only costs about $2!!!!! And is pure henna and doesn't contain any of the additives you have to worry about in boxed hair colours.
7:14 AM
Thanks, Lindsay! I have had my hair dyed with organic systems twice and I feel it is a better option than the typical chemical dyes. Also, the salon lets me take my hair to compost and reuses the foils. I wash them at home and bring them back!
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