Green Living Works!

So, you aren’t satisfied with the hair color God gave you or those gray hairs that insist on reappearing? Why not dye your hair then? Well, there are plenty of reasons to not dye your hair if you use conventional hair dyes. Hair dyes and colorings are extremely toxic. Many of the product boxes warn that the ingredients can cause cancer, skin irritation, or lead to blindness. Some of the terrible ingredients that appear in hair dyes are ammonia, benzene, coal tar, lead acetate, p-phenylenediamine, and toulene. The ingredients are toxic to human and the environment.
Even the most eco-friendly, green-living citizen has a vain side, so, thankfully, there are greener, less toxic alternatives to traditional hair dyes and colorings. Henna is a non-toxic semi-permanent dye made from a shrub that is native to India, Sri Lanka, and northern Africa. It stains the hair, coating and sealing the strands, which actually protects the hair from the weather and harsh elements. Henna is also used as an ink for body art on the nails and skin. There are also new non-toxic hair dyes and colorings that use plant botanicals and are free of synthetic and chemical ingredients.
Six Tips for greener and safer hair coloring:

1. Dye your hair less frequently. This will reduce your exposure to chemicals and toxic ingredients if you are using a conventional hair dye.
2. Choose safer coloring products. Select plant-based and henna-based products.  Look for products that are low in p-phenylenediamine and other toxic ingredients.
3. Keep the process short. Don’t prolong your exposure to toxic chemicals and ingredients by leaving hair dyes and colorings in your hair any longer than necessary.  If you go to a salon to get your hair colored, make sure you tell your stylist that to keep the process short, as well.
4. Use less-intensive processing. Try foiling and streaking techniques to expose your scalp to less product.  You’ll also have less maintenance.
5. Rinse completely. Do a thorough wash after processing to make sure no product residue is left on your head.
6. Find a natural salon. A natural salon will use natural, less toxic products and less harsh treatments.  Your hair and body will thank you!