Hot for Fall: Hair Color and Natural Options

As the leaves change from green to a spectacle of bright colors; highlighted and dyed tresses are popping up as the new hair trend for Fall. For those naturally inclined below are a few tips for coloring with caution. Hair color is one of the most toxic elements in our beauty routines.The Environmental Working Group found that 69% of hair-dye products they tested for their Skin Deep database may pose cancer risks and the FDA doesn’t regulate hair dye ingredients (synthetic or natural).

Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Dyes:
ammonia
peroxide
PPDs (para-phenylenediamines
coal tar
lead
toluene
resorcinol

There are however a few options that can give you the color you crave with less chemicals.

Henna:
The only 100% natural hair dying option is the plant-derived Henna , an aryuvedic powder that can be made into a paste for the purpose of coloring hair. Although safe, this may not be the best option for those seeking full coverage. Henna does not penetrate the hair shaft
like synthetic hair color does and it tends to be inconsistent and semi-permanent.

Vegetable Dyes
Brands such as Naturtint , Tints of Nature and Herbatint are options if you are looking for dyes with lower levels of PPD, parabens and amonium. Aveda salons and other naturally minded hair dressers can offer reduced chemical color options, although there is no such thing as an organic or all natural hair color.

Hair Paint:
These fun colors are temporary, vibrant and fun to experiment with. Brands such as Gemini Naturals has finally made hair color fun and risk free.

Colored hair tends to be easily dried/damaged and takes a lot more TLC and conditioning. Shampooing with a gentle cleanser such as the Beija-Flor Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, and following up with a moisturizing conditioner such as the Maracuja Milk for Kinks Curls and Coils will give your tresses a fighting chance from developing breakage and damage from hair color.

Below are a few of my fave colors for fall. Rose, Lavender, Electric Blues and Platinums!