Hair breakage

Hair breakage

Hair that has been damaged by excessive exposure to chemicals is considered over-processed. This results in dry, rough and fragile hair. In extreme cases, the hair can be so damaged that it breaks off entirely. This is especially true for Afro-Caribbean hair, especially if used in combination with relaxers. Treatments are available but the only real solution is to stop the use of chemicals until new hair grows and the damaged hair is cut off.

It is advised that colored hair be deep conditioned regularly, and washed and conditioned with gentle products specifically designed for color-treated hair. This will help keep the hair intact and minimize color fading.

Skin discoloration

Skin and fingernails are made of the same type of keratinized protein as hair. That means that drips, slips and extra hair tint around the hairline can result in patches of discolored skin. This is more common with darker hair colors and persons with dry absorbent skin.

This discoloration will disappear as the skin naturally renews itself and the top layer of skin is removed (typically takes a few days or at most a week). A good way to prevent dye discoloration is to put a thin layer of Vaseline or any oil-based preparation around the hairline. It is recommended that latex or nitrile gloves be worn to protect the hands.

[edit] Unpredictable color results

Several factors influence the final color of the hair following the coloring process.

• For semi-permanent and demi-permanent color, the final color is a blend of the natural color of the hair and the dye color.

• Bleached hair will often require pre-pigmentation before a color application. Dyeing bleached hair brown can result in grey or very ashy (grey sheen) hair.

• Previously color treated hair can react unpredictably with subsequent color treatments.

• Previous use of shampoos which deposit a layer of plastic on the hair can block the action of the dye.

• Presence of minerals, salts, chlorine or other contaminants in the water used in the coloring process

• Certain prescription drugs can alter hair chemistry

• Coloring dark hair to achieve a desirable shade of blond requires bleaching, followed by a secondary color treatment. Bleached hair can still have a yellow or coppery shade. A violet-based color can cancel out yellow tones, and a blue-based shade will cancel out coppery orange.

Professional hair colorists have a number of products to correct or deemphasize unintended hair coloring outcomes.

[edit] Health concerns

There is ongoing debate regarding more serious health consequences that may result from use of hair coloring.

Recent publications regarding the dangers of hair tints include:

• An FDA study that found lead acetate (the active ingredient in gradual darkening products such as Grecian formula) to be potentially toxic.^[4][5]

• Articles that link the development of some forms of cancer (including leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder cancer, blood cancer, and multiple myeloma) with use of hair color.^[6][7][8] More specifically, prolonged use of permanent dark hair dyes can double a person's risk of getting various types of blood cancer.^[9]

• Recently a known human carcinogen, 4-aminobiphenyl or 4-ABP, was found in some hair dyes that you can get off the shelf.^[10] However, evidence is limited and inconsistent for the link between cancer from hair दए