Hair coloring is the most common cosmetic grooming treatment that people opt for, while getting a quick makeover. Really, nothing changes your personality like a new hair color does! What more, it is absolutely cheap and can be performed within the confines of your home. All you have to do is buy a box of hair color and spare a couple of hours, and you are ready to flaunt your cool new look! But what about the damage to your hair? Do you ever pause to think how much damage your hair dye might be inflicting upon your hair? Hair damage due to coloring is the common cause of hair problems amongst the urban population. Before we take a look at the actual hair damage after coloring, let us see what exactly happens during the process of coloring.
Hair Damage and Coloring
Hair colors are usually classified as permanent, semi-permanent and temporary. Permanent hair colors are the most long-lasting and fade off only when hair grows out of it. Semi-permanent hair colors are formulated to last for 15 to 20 washes, whereas temporary hair colors are the least lasting and wear off within 6 to 10 washes. Depending upon the different hair colors, their mode of working also differs. Permanent hair colors bring out the oxidation of sulfur in the hair by penetrating in the hair shaft. This chemical process renders a new color to your hair. Temporary hair colors only deposit color pigments on the hair cuticle, only to be washed off later. Needless to say, the chemicals in the hair colors bring about quite some alteration in the natural composition of hair. Any treatment, which interferes with the natural composition of any part of body is undesirable.
Hair colors penetrate the hair shaft, through cuticle, which is the outermost layer of hair. Hydrogen peroxide, which is invariably present in most hair dyes raises the cuticle to let the color pigments enter the shaft and bring about chemical reaction. However, the elevated cuticle presents a set of problems for the hair. A raised cuticle means there will be a liberal exchange of moisture in and out of hair. This causes the hair to lose its moisture and become listless and thin.
Hair Loss from Coloring
Apart from the dry, coarse hair, hair loss from coloring is also very common. Almost all the people who regularly dye their hair will experience one of these problems during their lifetime. Those who often color their hair may find their hair frizzy, coarse and thin. A simple sink test will help you to assess the amount of damage your hair has undergone. Pluck a single strand of hair and drop it in a sink full of water. If the strand floats, your hair is healthy, if it sinks to the bottom, then your hair is colossally damaged. Damaged hair is the result of frequent hair coloring in combination with other hair treatments. Hot ironing, hair perms, rollers can further damage the weakened hair. Even daily activities like blow drying can rob the hair off its health.
Hair loss or breakage from coloring is more prominent in older people. This is because as you grow old, your hair shrinks in diameter causing it to become thinner. The damage becomes more noticeable on thin hair. Besides, as the rate of growth is slower, the damaged hair stays there for a longer time. Besides, sun, salt water and dry weather can escalate the damage to hair.
Damage to hair can be reversed to some extent by conditioning and moisturizing your hair on a regular basis. Always make use of good quality hair care products. Using organic hair color may alleviate the damage from harsh chemicals. Hair colors which seal the cuticle are better when it comes to preserving the natural moisture in hair. Similarly, allow your hair to breathe before coating them into a new hair. Avoid doing multiple hair treatments such as coloring plus hair straightening / perming simultaneously, at a go. If your hair breaks or falls off easily or the skin of your scalp gets irritated after hair dye, consult a trichologist at the earliest.
Remember, your hair is far too precious to lose it because of damage due to coloring. Change is acceptable to some extent, but to not embrace an altogether new shade for a lifetime. Learn to love your natural hair color and texture and it will stay with you forever!
