Back-To-School? Chemical Hair Color Dyes -for Your Preteen?

Parents: Are you “Old School” or “New School” on whether to let your preteen use permanent and semi-permanent synthetic hair dyes?

“Old School”:  “Definitely NO way… They will grow up too fast... That’s too much pampering... Parents need to set boundaries that their children will learn to respect –until they are older and more responsible... They can wait until they're old enough to pay for it themselves...”

“New School”:  “I’m okay with it... Why not? It’s fun...Other parents are okay with it… It allows my children to express themselves... All the other kids are doing it... Their natural hair will grow back... It’s cute! It’s cool!”

No matter what school you find yourselves in, it’s wise to heed the warnings for the sake of your young children and their healthy growth. 

Permanent and most semi-permanent dyes contain harmful chemicals that have been proven to cause adverse damage to an adult scalp and hair shaft. How much more so is the potential for damage to the developing skin and hair shaft of a young, preteen child?

WedMD states the following information for adult women:

“The decision to change your hair color may be a hard one. Some studies have linked hair dyes with a higher risk of certain cancers, while other studies have not found this link. Most hair dyes also don't have to go through safety testing that other cosmetic color additives do before hitting store shelves. Women are often on their own trying to figure out whether hair dyes are safe.

When hair dyes first came out, the main ingredient in coal-tar hair dye caused allergic reactions in some people. Most hair dyes are now made from petroleum sources. But FDA still considers them to be coal-tar dyes. This is because they have some of the same compounds found in these older dyes.”  Read more at: "Are Hair Dyes Safe?"

According to the FDA, adults using chemical hair dyes have suffered serious problems such as: hair loss, burning, redness, itchy or raw skin, swelling in the face, trouble breathing, permanent scarring and more.

Read more at: "What Problems Can Hair Dyes Cause?"

There also have been several young dematological patients that have suffered terrible skin reactions from chemical hair color dyes containing harsh ingredients such as  Para-Phenylene Diamine (PPD), coal tar, peroxide, ammonia and much more.  There are also studies that link prolonged use of such dyes to cancer. (See above links).

So what's a "New School" parent to do?

If you are still determined to dye your preteen child's hair:

• Use safe and all natural alternative hair coloring that coats the hair and does not penetrate the hair shaft.
• ALWAYS do a patch test, regardless of what you choose. (Anyone can be allergic to even natural plant products, i.e. bananas, nuts, etc.)
• Have lots of fun throughout the school year.

Whether "Old School" or "New School", all parents should:

Cherish each child's inner beauty, joy and love.

That's really what's most important.

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Want to view our website? Go to: www.SabaBotanical.com

Author: L.J. O'Neal, freelance writer and researcher.

L.J. is also a Lustrous Henna® user. ==========================================================================