
My hair is naturally blonde but as I get older, it gets darker and darker every fall. The week before school starts back after fall break, my mother would take me to the hair salon to get highlights to make my hair blonde again. While my hair is being highlighted I have noticed the smell of the chemicals in the dye, and the after effects of my scalp stinging and itching. I just figured the reason that happens is because my hair is not used to having that product on my hair that often so when it is on there it is becoming accustomed to the product. Little did I know that the product actually is hurting my body. I chose this topic because women and men all over the world dye their hair. The reality is not many people actually realize the consequences of using hair dye. People realize what hair dye physically does (changes hair color) but not many know the physical and chemical effects it has on your body.

There are many controversial opinions on hair dyes and if the chemicals in them are harmful or not, but throughout my research I have found multiple case studies, interviews, labs, and people affected to support my research topic. I am still left wondering why people If they know the risk keep using the hair care products and continue to die their own hair as well as let their children. Millions of people dye their hair, hair dye can cause lasting damage and serious health issues but why do people continue to use the product but know about the risks. Hair dyes not only lead to damage on the actual hair but the health of people as well, because of the chemicals in them which causes these effects. 

When you sit in the chair at the hair salon how much do you know about what products are on your hair and what they do to change the color of your hair. The process of the product hairdressers and beauticians use to color their customer’s hair is composed up of two chemicals. The two chemicals that are used to make a color are not dangerous by themselves, but when mixed together to create the color is when the reaction in the products start. Once the chemicals are linked together they slowly omit color, therefore causing you to have to wait thirty minutes just for the color to “set up.” This is the process that is so dangerous to use hair dye. But the strange thing is that it is more dangerous for people who choose to dye their hair darker colors such as brown, and black. The chemicals in the blonde dyes react differently than the ones for darker dyes. Studies have shown that women who use darker hair dyes have been linked to developing bladder cancer. People everywhere should know and take the time to realize and think about the effects of hair dyes. Who knew that wanting to spice things up and be daring and excited about something you care about end up hurting or affecting the bigger picture, your life.

A recent study was done by the National Cancer Institute going into the detail on the link between cancer and dyeing hair. The study was to prove or disprove the association between personal hair dye use and the risk of leukemia. Among 769 patients with acute leukemia and 623 patients without acute leukemia, it was found that the risks of acute leukemia were higher among people who had used dye products than those who have not. The risk was greatest among those who had used dyes for fifteen or more years. According to the National Cancer Institute, “It is estimated that more than one-third of women over the age 18 and 10 percent of men over the age of forty use some type of hair dye.” How may out of those percentages know what chemicals are in the dyes. The chemicals when mixed creating the overall color are pretty dangerous, then when mixing them on a human head can lead to issues. Studies of the association between hair dyes and leukemia have had conflicting results, but in one case studies have shown that bladder cancer is more likely to be involved. The article states not just one type of cancer hair dyes can lead to, there are three other types that can be linked.

Semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes have scientist believing the dyes are potentially causing cancers such as breast cancer, bladder cancer, leukemia and even lymphomas to form. Early hair dyes contained some aromatic amines, which in the 1970’s were found to cause cancer in lab animals, therefore forcing the dye manufactures too remove and change their products. The American Cancer Society found out that hairdressers that work with the dyes on an everyday basis have a small but have an increased risk in developing bladder cancer. The International Agency for Research for cancer inferred that “some of the chemicals these workers are exposed to occupationally are probably carcinogenic to humans.”

It may give you a fresh new look, but what are the consequences on how the chemicals used in the process overall eat away your hair, causing multiple pieces of hair falling out of your hair every time you dye it. The Ammonia lifts and breaks away the cuticle while on the other hand, the peroxide destroys the natural color of your hair. There are other types of more natural hair dyes but they do not last as long as the ones hairdressers use. Once the hair is dyed, the chemicals have caused the hair to “dry out,” which leads to more hair breaking and breaking.

Not only do most users not know what chemicals are in the dye that they are using, there are over 5000 different chemicals that are used to make up dye products, so using semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes could lead to a severe reaction. The reason for reactions is the strong chemical balances in the hair dye, which if you do not know that you are allergic to a certain chemical in the dye then the only way is to test it yourself, which could lead to complications.  Most people will experience some sort of allergic reaction, which could be something as small as a burning sensation or something a little more dangerous such as swelling to the scalp. Some users could be a little less lucky and experience some of the more dangerous and severe side effects such as wheezing, swollen mouth or tongue, or even unconsciousness. It could even lead to rashes in different types of your body. Would the satisfaction of changing your hair with unsafe dyes really be worth it?

To conclude, In the world seventy-five percent of the women in the world dye their hair. Twelve percent of men dye their hair. This means millions of people all over the world are taking the same risks as I did. Understanding the effects of dyes “isn’t as simple as picking a stylish new color, or as simple as the color wheel.” On a day to day basis, people now are just running around busy all the time not realizing or really thinking about what they are doing. By this statement I want people to have more of a choice when they are about to dye their hair, because how many people really know the effects that one bottle can cause you to have. This is a great topic because it is very controversial with a good amount of positive and negative things such as, Hair dye can make your hair be the way you want it to be, but then again are you okay with what is actually happening to your hair? 
