Treating your hair with color can be fun especially if the colors are bright and vibrant. It is a way to express your style, personality, and mood all while exuding your confidence for the world to admire. However, there are harmful side effects of hair dying that you should be aware of before you color your hair and natural methods to protect your hair during the coloring process and after. In this blog, I will discuss types of hair dyes, side effects of hair dyeing, benefits of castor oil in your hair, and how to apply castor oil in your hair.

Types of Hair Dyes

·      Permanent Hair Dyes: These types of dyes permeate all the way through your hair shaft and reaches the cortex. The recommended care with these dyes is that your hair should be touched up once very 12-weeks. Most of these permanent dyes use ammonia to seep through the hair shaft and increase the pH level.

·      Semi-Permanent Hair Dyes: They coat the hair shaft cuticle while partially penetrating the cortex.

·      Temporary Hair Dyes: These dyes do not reach the hair cortex and need to be touched up every few weeks. 

·      Bleach: It is used to lighten hair and color dark hair like black and brown to lighter hair colors like blonde or red.

·      Ammonia-Free Hair Dyes: These dyes do not contain ammonia but include hydrogen peroxide, para-dyes, and resorcinol. These dyes are also referred to as demi-permanent hair dyes and considered softer on the hair. 

 

Negative Effects of Dyeing Your Hair

 

·      Allergic Reactions: Commercial hair dyes ingredients include paraphenylenediamine which is a common allergen. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to the hair dyes that is why it is recommended for those with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis to refrain from using hair dyes. 

·      Irritable Skin: Dermatologist have been advising people from some time now to abstain from using hair dye at the slightest hint of any skin reaction. Some common symptoms include burning sensations, redness, and flaky skin, itchiness, and discomfort.

·      Conjunctivitis: It is important to exercise extreme caution when dyeing your hair can result in the chemicals contacting the sensitive parts of your face. In some cases, when chemicals from hair dyes contact your eyes, it can lead to pink eye.  In other cases, it causes inflammation and severe discomfort. 

·      Fertility Issues: Lead acetate is prevalent in many commercial hair dyes. Researchers have found that there is a possible link between this chemical and fertility issues in men and women. It is advisable for pregnant women to refrain from using any kind of hair dyes as the chemicals present may cause malignancy in their unborn child. 

 

 

The Benefits of Castor Oil in Your Hair

 

·      Reparative & Hydrating: Castor oil will protect your damaged ends from becoming overly parched to chemicals found in dyes.

·      Moisturizes and Cleanses a Dry Scalp: If you suffer from a dry scalp, castor oil great to cleanse the skin because it dislodges dirt and serves as a humectant which helps to lock in the moisture. 

·      Improves Blood Circulation: Castor oil has a high ricinoleic acid that can enhance the blood circulation in the scalp, which strengthens the hair follicles and helps with hair loss.

·      Improves Absorption: Castor oil is known to increase the absorption of other products. If you include castor oil as part of your hair regiment, other products might penetrate more effectively.

·      Prevents Hair Loss: Castor oil contains several nutrients that consist of a powerful mix of proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants. Castor oil provides the scalp with the nourishment it requires that prevents hair loss and ensures healthy hair growth.

·      Maintain Color longer: Castor oil will assist in keeping your hair color maintaining it for longer than usual. Castor oil has high concentrations of omega-9, which moisturizes your hair and keeps color-processed hair color from fading. 

 

How to Apply Castor Oil to Your Hair

 

·      Fine to Medium Straight Hair: Castor oil can be used as deep treatment to protect the very ends of your hair fiber, the last 2-3 inches of hair. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment to help keep tangles away. 

·      Medium to Thick Straight/Wavy Hair: Apply throughout the entire head for an intense pre-shampoo treatment. Add heat or steam for deeper penetration into the hair cuticle. 

·      Wavy to Loose Curls: Mix drops of castor oil into conditioners during the hot and humid summer months.

·      Curly to Tightly Coiled: Use castor oil as needed throughout your regimen, as a pre-shampoo, added treatment, or as a weekly moisturizer. 

 

You can find premium all-natural castor oil here  https://www.soielle.com/shop/p/castor-oil and use the discount code “CASTOROIL” for 10% off your first purchase of castor oil.