While I was in London, I was shocked to read several news items on severe reactions to hair dye that even became life-threatening and fatal. The Daily Mail report of October 14th, 2011 was about the 17-year-old girl, Tabatha McCourt, who died in agony of a violent allergic reaction to her hair dye. According to news reports, her reaction was so violent that she was screaming and tearing her hair. The reaction occurred just 20 minutes after she applied the dye. It just shows how chemicals not only cause a toxic build-up in the system but can even have such a sudden, violent, and fatal effect.
A month later, the London Daily Mail of November 21, 2011, again reported the case of Julie McCabe, a mother of two, who suffered such a severe reaction to a popular hair dye that she went into a coma. Doctors feared that she would suffer permanent brain damage because her heart had stopped beating on the way to the hospital and her brain was deprived of oxygen. The opinion was that she had reacted to the chemical paraphenylenediamine, or PPD, as it is known. This chemical is present in most hair dyes.
In this case, it was believed that the reaction was due to a cumulative effect of the dye. Doctors gave her only 8% chance of survival. Julie never came out of her coma. After being on life support for a year, Julie gave up her fight for life and died in November 2012.
There was yet another report in the Daily Mail of December 29, 2011, of Louise Henson who ended up with a severe reaction to another popular and well-known hair dye…..all because she wanted to achieve the same golden highlights in her hair as her idol Cheryl Cole. The reaction was so severe that one side of her face was swollen beyond recognition and she could not open one eye. Steroids had to be administered to her in the hospital to control the reaction and it took over a week for her face to become normal. She said that her face and scalp were burning and her eyes had severe itching. For the next three weeks, her hair fell out in clumps.
Such severe reactions to chemical dyes should make us stop to think. Why should we subject ourselves to such risks for the sake of beauty? The incidents of death from allergic and anaphylactic reactions are an important argument against the use of permanent chemical hair dyes. As mentioned earlier, in the news report, the chemical phenylenediamine was the possible cause of the fatal reactions.
I have been crusading against the use of chemicals in beauty care for the last four decades.
My career started with the search for an ideal alternative to chemicals and I found it in the organic ingredients of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of herbal healing. Indeed, an important argument against the use of hair dyes is the harm they are known to cause, sometimes with disastrous effects. Both skin and scalp have an extremely efficient ability to absorb what is applied to it. People do not realize that the skin comes in contact with chemicals, either through exposure to pollutants in the air or with the use of chemical products, like hair dyes. The skin and scalp absorb anything to which they are exposed, even if it is for a few minutes.
Even if there is no sudden reaction, there can be a cumulative effect, with repeated hair dyeing. Whatever is absorbed by the skin and scalp enters the bloodstream, leading to a build-up of chemical residues in the body. This can affect various organs, depending on the chemical. Heavy metals are particularly dangerous and known to have many adverse effects on the body.
I wonder how many people know what permanent dyes are. They are also called “para” dyes because they are based on paraphenylenediamine. According to Philip Kingsley, a world-renowned hair specialist, this chemical (also known as PPD or para) is similar to those derived from coal tar. A skin patch test is done before using chemical dyes for the simple reason that allergic reactions are so common. They can be highly allergenic.
In some dyes, the quantity of lead may be high, and repeated use can expose one to severe lead poisoning. The effects of PPD or “para” have been studied and a great deal of research has been done. Among the reported effects are severe sensitivity and severe dermatitis. In some of these cases, the effects showed up after regular use. This means that the patch test did not show an allergic reaction, but repeated use triggered it.
Research also found the effect of “para” on the eyes. Among the symptoms that were reported by some users are watering, redness, swelling, itching, bulging of the eyeballs, and even blindness. The effect of the chemical on the respiratory system was part of the research. In the case of Julie McCabe, who went into a coma, it was the respiratory system that was affected. Research showed that it can cause swelling of the respiratory tract, leading to breathlessness, vomiting, and a rise in blood pressure. This is because edema is a common reaction to the dye. In this case, the edema occurs in the respiratory tract. A severe reaction can even be fatal. The effect on the respiratory tract was reported by Dr. E.H. El Ansary, and published in the Lancet (1983).
Another result of chemical dyes is equally alarming. This involves the effect of the chemical on the kidneys, according to the report of J.H. Brown, published in the British Medical Journal (1987). As mentioned before, the chemical is absorbed by the scalp, goes into the bloodstream, and then to the kidneys. The build-up of toxins puts a great strain on the kidneys. Kidney failure and kidney disease have been reported after repeated use of dyes.
During my many lectures on skin and hair care, I have asked the audience if they have noticed any hair fall associated with using hair dyes. Most of them individually agreed that since they have been dyeing, the hair has become less, or the texture has suffered. People have often reported hair loss within 6 months of using hair dye. My advice is to either stop using permanent chemical dyes or use natural alternatives, like products containing henna, indigo, catechu, etc., to give the hair a darker look.
The main reason why I have been advocating natural colourants is that they are completely safe from harmful effects. Natural products are non-toxic and do not harm the structure of the hair. The body is also safe from the build-up of toxins and their harmful effects. A natural dye does not enter the hair shaft. It coats the hair shaft and adds body and strength to the hair. Henna, a natural colourant, also has so many benefits for the scalp.
It restores the natural balance and promotes the health of the scalp and hair. Coffee or “kaththa” (Catechu) can be added to the henna paste to obtain a richer colour.
We have been formulating natural products containing henna and other herbal ingredients like Amla, Brahmi (Centella Asiatica), Bhringaraj (Eclipta alba), Trifala (a combination of 3 herbs), Arnica, flower extracts, and so on, to colour and condition the hair. We have recently launched Colour Veda Natural Hair Colour, a unique innovation for colouring hair naturally. Apart from henna, it contains indigo and catechu to impart a darker colour to the hair. The important aspect is that it is free from chemical colours and offers total safety from the damage caused by chemical colours.
We also formulate Herbal Hair Mascaras for streaking the hair, to add glamour, or to camouflage grey hair. Available in many shades, like black, brown, copper, bronze, gold, and starlight blue, the effect lasts only till the next shampoo. It also offers safety from the harmful effects of permanent dyes.
One of the most important aspects of beauty is to be aware of the damage caused by chemical ingredients. Some treatments, like hair dyes, can have disastrous results. And, the damage can even be permanent. As far as possible, avoid exposing the skin, hair, and body to harmful ingredients. People all over the world are realizing that it’s time to turn back to nature and look at it with enlightened eyes. Yes, the choice is yours……to dye or die!