This is a phenomenon I've discussed with a couple of friends, but I want to get your opinion on it. Whenever I dye my hair a drastically different color — going really red, say — I still see myself with my original color in my mind's eye. And when I try to think about myself objectively, to decide whether a color or a certain hairstyle would look good on me, I have a really difficult time picturing myself as I now look, instead of continuing to see myself as I looked before. Does something similar happen to you, or do you make the adjustment smoothly? And have you ever encountered this problem in other areas?
Hair Dye and Health Safety
Coloring your hair is really common, whether it be to add mahogany highlights or hide strands of gray. In fact, nearly 70 percent of American women religiously visit the salon to alter their look, but, as I'm sure many of you have asked, is the beauty practice safe? Quite a few studies have found no connection between coloring your hair and cancer, and multiple studies have looked specifically at breast, bladder, and brain cancer finding no connection to these specific types either. Hair dye can, however, cause skin reactions like rashes, swelling, burning, and blisters, since many formulations contain chemicals such as p-Phenylenediamine (PPD). The good news is that hair dyes nowadays contain much less ammonia than they did 30 to 40 years ago.
Nervous about putting toxic chemicals on your hair and scalp? Then continue reading
Would You Dye Your Hair at Your Daughter's Request?
Julia Roberts recently sported a lil patch of pink hair and attributed the hued lock to her daughter, Hazel. The three year-old thought pastel tresses would look good on her mommy, so the actress obliged with a few colored strands.
If the look wasn't dramatically different, would you do this for your child?
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How Do You Feel About Dying Your Hair While Pregnant?
Does being with babe mean two-tone hair color, noticeable roots or having to go gray?
While pregnant, I worried about my vanity and any possible implications that chemical hair dyes would have on my growing child. After chatting with my OB/GYN and my hairdresser, I opted for highlights, as they don't saturate the scalp as much as a full coverage dye.
On the topic, WebMD says:
We don't know much about the safety of hair dyes during pregnancy. It's likely that when you apply hair dye, only a small amount is absorbed into your system. So very little chemicals, if any, would be able to get to your baby. In the few animal and human studies that have been done, no changes were seen in the developing baby. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns.
How do you feel about dying your hair while expecting?
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Mom–Me Time: Color Mark
It's Saturday night and you are headed to a glitzy affair. Your hubby is dapper, your frock is smashing, and the kids are sawing logs. One last check in the mirror and you realize, your gray hairs have sprouted out all over the place. What's a girl to do?
For graying moms who are on the go and can't make it to a three–hour hair appointment to touch up those roots, Color Mark temporary hair color may be the answer.
To learn more about this lil lifesaver, read more
Hair Dye and Pregnancy
Being pregnant has its pros and cons. Topping the list on the positive side, in my opinion, is the bundle of joy you get at the end of the process. The cons...well, my list is too long to go into here, but one concern from many women is hair dye. Is it something to avoid when prego?
According to The Mayo Clinic there really is no definitive answer. While it is likely the skin absorbs a small amount of dye, it isn't really clear how much if any reaches the fetus. However, some recent studies suggest an association between dying your hair when pregnant and some childhood cancers, but the evidence is weak. The best bet is to talk to your obstetrician, since he or she will likely have an opinion on the matter.
For me, I went the "better safe than sorry" route and avoided hair dye while I was prego, but there are ways to minimize the amount of hair dye that may be absorbed through your skin. Here are a few tips from the FDA:
- Don't leave dye on your hair any longer than needed.
- Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after use of hair dye.
- Wear gloves when applying hair dye.
Fit's Tip: The texture and thickness of a woman's hair can change drastically during pregnancy, so you might want to skip the process for this reason too.
I am wondering what you all think on this matter - would you dye or have you dyed your hair when pregnant? Let me know in the comment section below.
Beauty Blooper: I Vow Never To Double-Dye Again
Here's a lesson for all of you out there who are looking to dye your hair dark. Thanks to a brave anonymous BellaSugar reader, you can consider yourself all the wiser about double-dying!
"My brother's girlfriend convinced me to dye my hair black. I didn't like the way it turned out, so I tried to dye over it—only to find out that you can't dye over black like you can with other colors.
I was told to go to a beauty supply store to buy something to remove the color. It turned my hair blond at the roots and orange in the length. It looked horrible.
Also, you are supposed to wait a couple of days once you strip the color away to begin dying again. I endured this humiliation, wearing a baseball cap around town for three days, until I tried to fix the color...but to no avail. It didn't take, and it left my hair looking like a wet Barbie doll's—gross!
Finally, I went to a hairdresser for a professional treatment, and we decided the only salvation was to cut all of my hair off. It's been a whole year and finally my hair is just getting back to normal. I will never again do anything to my hair myself again!"
Moral of the story: If you're planning a drastic change, a professional colorist is your best friend.
Manic Panic Celebrates Thirty Years of Wild Colors
If you ever fancied yourself an outsider, a rebel, a rocker or any other sort of daring type, you're probably familiar with Manic Panic hair dye. The semi-permanent colors span the spectrum, going from bright white to lime green to cotton candy pink and everything in between. Manic Panic celebrated its thirtieth anniversary this weekend, and since I hadn't thought about the dye since my teenage days of bright pink hair, I decided to see what they're up to.
It turns out that Tish and Snooky, the sisters who started the company, have opened a chain of salons in Tokyo (and one in Los Angeles). What's more, Manic Panic now has a line of vegan color cosmetics. As you'd expect, the colors are more daring than demure, but even if you're not looking for anything wild, it's worth a look. For instance, the extremely light face powders would work for you pale beauties out there—if you can deal with a compact that reads Vampyre's Veil, that is. I've gotta know: Have you used Manic Panic? Do you use it now? Any disaster stories? (You tell me yours, and I may be compelled to confess the story of How Teenage Bella's Hair Unintentionally Turned Green...)
How Often Do You Dye Your Hair?
Simply Fab: Quick Tint Hair Glaze
Quick Tint Hair Glaze, $13, is a quick, easy and natural looking way to cover up unsightly roots that seem to crop up at the most inopportune times.
So what do you do when you are about to face the biggest meeting of your career and you haven't got the time for an emergency touch up at the salon? QuickTint to the rescue!
It can even blend in dark roots on blondes. The best part is that there is no mixing involved, just apply to your roots with the built in applicator and comb through.
It's even waterproof so you don't have to fear rain, snow, or gym sweat...it should last up to three shampoos. How fab! Simply email Quick Tint to purchase. Available in ten shades.