Dear Color Crew: Is Hair Color Safe to Use?

Dear Color Crew is a recurring blog post where we answer hair-related questions–no matter how hairy they may be–from readers like you. Got a question? Email our team of professional colorists at ColorCrew@Madison-Reed.com.

 

 

We love this question because it truly gets to the heart of why we do what we do here at Madison Reed. Here’s the thing―we totally understand your concerns. We believe that coloring your hair should make you not only look gorgeous, but feel amazing. Which means you shouldn’t have to worry about what’s in your hair color. This is why all of our products, including our permanent Radiant Hair Color, are free of ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), and titanium dioxide.

 

We hold ourselves to the highest standard when it comes to the ingredients in our products. Our color is crafted in Italy, which means that it meets the strict safety standards put forth by the European Union (EU), which bans over 1300 chemicals not proven to be safe.

 

I’m sure you’ve heard of certain ingredients used in both permanent and semi-permanent hair color. Here are the ingredients we will never use, and why...

 

Ammonia is an ingredient commonly used in hair color. It has a strong odor, and exposure to ammonia fumes can irritate skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, causing watery eyes, itchy scalps, coughing, or burning. 

 

We never use ammonia in any of our formulas. Instead, we use ethanolamine, an ingredient that helps give predictable, permanent results, without any harsh odor.

 

PPD is short for para-phenylenediamine, a hair dye traditionally used to create darker shades of hair color. It is known to be an allergen and skin sensitizer. Contact with the skin can cause dermatitis in susceptible individuals. Although many manufacturers use PPD in their products, we have decided to use alternatives. 

 

We never use PPD in our hair color or in any of our formulas. One key ingredient used to replace PPD is PTD, a Para Toluene Diamine (PTD) ingredient called Toluene 2,5-Diamine Sulfate (TDS). Color with PTD creates the same rich, dark shades our clients love. While PTD can also be a skin sensitizer, PTD is generally shown to have a lower likelihood of allergic reactions than one would expect from the use of PPD. Our Color Reviving Gloss, Color Therapy Mask, and Root Touch Up do not contain PPD or PTD.

 

Although it’s used in most permanent hair colors due to its efficacy in coloring hair, we never use resorcinol in our formulas as it is classified as a hazardous chemical and can be toxic to the immune system. In fact, resorcinol has been formally classified as an irritant by the European Union, and has been prohibited in cosmetic products in several countries. Resorcinol is a skin sensitizer, and can be one of the ingredients that users are allergic to in hair dye. 

 

We never use resorcinol in our ingredients. Instead, we use  2-methylresorcinol, which has a different molecular structure, and which the E.U. Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety classified as lower-grade skin sensitizer compared to resorcinol.

 

Widely used in beauty products as a cosmetic preservative to promote longer shelf life, there is concern that parabens may interfere with the endocrine system. 

 

While current analysis concludes that they are safe at the levels presently used in other cosmetic products on the market, the long-term impact of parabens continues to be researched, so we do not use parabens in any of our formulas. 

 

Phthalates are often used as solvents and plasticizers in shampoo and styling products, and many are banned in the EU. Some studies have found that phthalates might have some effects on reproductive hormones. 

 

We do not formulate products using ingredients that contain phthalates.

 

Gluten is sometimes found in wheat proteins used to preserve the structure of the hair. However, for those that are sensitive to gluten, we decided to err on the side of caution, and have removed it from all of our formulas.  

 

We never use ingredients that contain gluten. Instead of wheat proteins, we use keratin, a natural protein found in both hair and skin, to preserve and strengthen hair. 

 

SLS is a surfactant, meaning it lowers the surface tension between ingredients and creates the lather often associated with shampoo and other hair products. However, SLS is also known to strip the protein from hair, depleting the hair and scalp of beneficial protective oils. Products containing harsh surfactants like SLS are also known to contribute to color fade. In severe instances, SLS can also irritate the scalp, causing redness, dryness and itching.

 

For this reason, we never use sodium lauryl sulfate in our products, opting instead to use sodium laureth sulfate, a gentler alternative. Sodium laureth sulfate is also used in our formulas to ensure a full, even application of color, and total removal of color from the scalp and hair while rinsing. 

 

Some evidence shows that in high concentrations pigment-grade (powdered) and ultrafine titanium dioxide dust may be linked to cancer, allergies, immunotoxicity and organ system toxicity, among other problems. 

 

We never use titanium dioxide in any of our formulas. 

 

We love animals. Nothing we make is ever tested on them. Everything we make is Leaping Bunny certified, the international stamp of approval that recognizes no animal testing is used or commissioned in any phase of product development by our company, its labs, or ingredient suppliers.

 

Here are just a few extra precautions to take when you dye your hair…

 

•Always conduct a skin sensitivity test 48 hours before each time you color your hair, even if you have already used coloring products before.


•Don’t mix different hair dye products—you never know how they might react to each other. Only use products that are meant to be used together, like our permanent Radiant Hair Color for your roots, and our semi-permanent Color Reviving Gloss on your mid-lengths and ends.


•Always wear gloves when applying your color, and don’t leave the dye on longer than the recommended processing time.


•It seems obvious, but it needs to be said—always follow the instructions.


•Don’t use hair color to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. The FDA actually bans the use of hair color for your eyebrows and eyelashes—yes, even in salons! Hair color was not meant or tested to be used near your eyes, and you could get an allergic reaction that could cause swelling or infection, or even cause blindness.

 

Here at Madison Reed, we love that you are as concerned about gorgeous hair color as you are with the ingredients in that dye and how to color your hair safely. We feel the exact same way. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Color Crew!