Hair Dye Demand Met by Chemicals
A wide variety of dyes, dressings, and conditioners are available to men and women to enhance the color of hair or to alter its condition, providing the "feel good" factor. Natural hair dye such as henna and mineral salts are still used, but the hair dye process increasingly involves careful chemical manipulation of the chemistry of hair fibers through bleaching or enhancement of natural colors. Additionally, social and cultural customs have led to the increasing demand for exotic colors (reds, greens, blues, yellows, etc.). Hair coloring is a well-defined science with intense study of the interaction between hair keratin and highly reactive organic dyes, oxidizing agents, and conditioners.
Available Hair Dye and Chemical Processes:
- Minerals such as lead acetate (<1% aqueous), lead sulfide (kohl); silver nitrate; salts of bismuth, copper, and cobalt (commonly called "gradual" colorants)
- Synthetic dyes including a large number of organic dyes to provide permanent, semipermanent, temporary, or progressive color changes or to enhance natural colors
The hair dye process provides for temporary, semi-permanent (direct dyes), and oxidation-type reactions (semi-permanent or permanent colors). It may involve absorption or adsorption (electrostatic) of the colorant into/to the hair structure, bleaching or otherwise masking the natural melanin colors, or alteration of the structure of the hair shaft, allowing deep penetration of the colorant. The hair cuticle provides a barrier to the absorption of hair dyes, particularly those of high molecular weight, but damaged fibers exhibiting higher negative charges and reduced phospholipid content are more porous.
Mineral Hair Dyes. Of the mineral dyes, only lead acetate is commercially available.
Temporary Hair Dyes. Temporary hair dyes are frequently acidic and provide short-term coloration (i.e., wash out after one shampoo). They are of low penetration and do not involve melanin bleaching or structural changes in the hair fiber. They are commonly identified with a color index (CI) number or as U.S. Certified Colors; they are water-soluble, high-molecular-weight pigments. Temporary hair dyes are employed in water-thin color rinses, colored hair-setting lotions, colored styling gels, lotions, and shampoos. Hair dying is improved when the colors are applied under moderate heat. Hair dying and color balance is difficult to control with temporary methods because of the inconsistency of dye delivery systems and instability of the dye-keratin "bonding."
Semi-permanent dyes. Semi-permanent dying systems are designed to last for several weeks. They impart darker colors without the use of oxidizing agents or structural changes in the hair shaft or papillae. Melanin may be partly masked but is not bleached. These hair dyes diffuse more readily into and out of the hair (aided by solvents and surfactants) and are progressively lost with hair shampooing and normal growth. The method employs dyes that are already colored, and in general is without the toxic risks associated with semi-permanent or permanent methods, which involve de novo color production and strong oxidizing agents. When the dye is lost through shampooing, the hair resumes its natural color.
Henna Hair Dye. The Naturally Safe Alternative.
As noted in prior paragraphs, chemical dyes first damage the outer layer then fills the cavity and stays in the natural hair shaft; also a permanent dye thins natural hair which reduces the strength of hair shaft. Therefore, it is safer and healthier to use an all-natural plant-based hair color dye to promote natural hair beauty. Fortunately, a nontoxic alternative to synthetic hair colorants does exist: Lustrous Henna Hair Dye.
Lustrous Henna® is 100% natural, vegetable hair dye. Lustrous Henna hair dye gives coating on your hair shaft and stays on the hair shaft, as a semi-permanent, natural hair color dye. Lustrous Henna hair dye thickens and nourishes your hair shaft while increasing its strength.
Lustrous Henna hair dye is non-toxic and does not contain chemicals such as para-phenlenediamine (PPD). It is PPD-free! Lustrous Henna® also does not contain ammonia, peroxide, or other synthetic dyes. Therefore, Lustrous Henna® should not be compared with other chemical dyes in effects as they totally differ in the mechanism of dying. Protect and Save your natural hair by avoiding chemical dyes.
Resource:
Alan B. G. Lansdown. Hair Dyes and Hair Treatments - Chemistry Encyclopedia. Portions Reprinted.
“I am very happy to have found this brand of henna (Lustrous Henna). I was all ready to quit dying my hair. I had used countless chemical dyes on my hair and always got a reaction from them. Even another popular brand of henna caused a rash on my palm while applying it and gave me an irritated scalp.
Also, I tried the facial mask which softens my skin. I thought I would get a reaction from it, but was pleased that it left my skin soft, smooth and thoroughly cleansed. Thank you very much!”
-Genie C. Albany, CA. USA
Read other real customer testimonials.
Author: L.J. O'Neal, writer and researcher. (L.J. is also a Lustrous Henna® user.)
©2012. L.J. O’Neal. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Do not copy or reprint this article without the consent of the author or Saba Botanical of USA.
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