Can Hair Dye Cause Hair Thinning? Understanding the Risks

Can Hair Dye Cause Thinning? How to Dye Safely

Hair colour won’t cause your hair to stop growing or slow down, but will contribute to thinning hair as a result of damaging colour-treated locks. Hair colour contains chemicals that can cause damage, as well as frequent friction and combing, that can loosen colour-treated hair.

Hair colour does not penetrate hair that emerges below your scalp, so it can’t damage hair that’s not yet visible. But hair loss may increase if you’re dyeing your hair very often.

A fresh hair colour can give you a confidence boost, but the harm it causes to your hair means it can be more trouble than it’s worth. There are certain precautions you can take to protect your hair and minimise the impact of dyeing, however. In this article, we will discuss how hair colour damages your hair and what Hairy Hair can do to help if you have hair shedding.

How Does Hair Dye Interact with Your Hair?

Hair dye typically comes in two forms: semi-permanent and permanent. Semi-permanent dyes work by coating your hair with dye meaning that it slowly washes out and fades over time. On the other hand, permanent dyes bond to the hair at the cuticle and cortex levels for a lasting effect.

Whether you buy a box dye at the pharmacy or get your dye done in a salon, there is always a risk of hair breakage and loss, but the ingredients and application used can affect this potential for increased thinning.

Can Hair Dyes Lead to Hair Loss?

Yes, hair dyes can cause hair loss. Unlike other causes of hair loss, hair dyes won’t impact your ability to create hair growth in the future, like with pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Hair loss is localised to the hair on your head, so the potential for breakage depends on the type and extent of damage experienced during the dyeing process.

Types of Hair Dye Damage

Hair dye damage can happen after just one treatment but it’s usually the result of the regular sessions required to maintain a full head of hair. There’s two main ways that hair dye can cause hair loss, damage from harsh chemicals and scalp irritation.

1.Chemical Damage: Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide that are used in permanent dyes can take a toll on your hair. Hydrogen peroxide is a lightening agent that can cause hair to become brittle and lead to breakage in the hair shaft. The International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that protein was increasingly leached from hair with bleaching severity.

2.Scalp Irritation: People can be allergic or sensitive to the dyes themselves too. Using a dye directly on your scalp to treat your roots can lead to an allergic reaction or irritation that causes breakage at the root.

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair?

While any amount of dyeing can be damaging for your locks, moderation is important for minimising the risk of damage. Your hair is stronger than you may think. Healthy hair is made up of a strong protein called keratin that’s also found in nails. Hair can typically hold up to the chemicals used in hair dye in small doses. Single treatments are less likelty to cause significant damage or thinning.

Using dyes regularly can lead to hair loss and scalp irritation though. Sustained use can lead to hair that’s more brittle as breakage travels up the hair shaft. This is particularly the case if you’re trying to maintain a lighter shade than your natural hair colour.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends a time frame of 6-8 weeks between dyeing usually but 8-10 weeks when the air is dry like during winter.

Damaging Ingredients in Hair Dyes

Some chemicals used in hair dyes are worse than others but they are unfortunately also the ones that give you the most effective results, particularly for lightening your hair. Limiting your use of these chemicals on a regular basis can help mitigate ongoing damage.

Ammonia

This chemical is used to open the hair cuticle and allow for dye to deeply penetrate for a more defined colour. It can also severely dry out your hair but there are ammonia-free dyes available.

Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide works by oxidising and breaking down melanin pigment responsible for giving hair its colour. A first use can leave your hair dry but consistently using hydrogen peroxide can lead to hair loss.

Parabens

These are preservatives that help to improve the longevity of your hair colour. They can also lead to scalp irritation and hair loss if you’re allergic to them.

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD)

PPD is a colouring agent that is often found in hair dyes. Many people are allergfic to it even if it’s not directly damaging your hair as scalp irritation can lead to hair loss. The Journal of Asthma and Allergy reported that PPD is the most frequent cause of hair dye contact dermatitis.

Can You Minimise the Risk of Thinning from using Hair Dye?

There are a few ways that you can help to mitigate the risk of shedding from using hair dyes. These include using gentle formulas, patch testing, and using regular conditioner. Let’s take a look at these more closely:

• Gentle Formulas: Look out for ammonia-free hair dyes if you can. You may be sacrificing a more vivid colour or long-lasting results if you opt for less chemical heavy dyes. Choosing a dye that’s within three shades of your own hair colour or going darker will be less taxing on your hair.
• Limit Frequency: Don’t rely on dyeing your hair too often. When it comes to touch ups then make sure you’re only targeting the new natural strands at the roots and not your whole head to minimise breaking strands.
• Patch Test: One of the most important steps that many people skip is a patch test. You may become complacent if you’re frequently dyeing your hair but companies can switch up their formulas regularly even if you’re using the same brand. Apply a small amount of dye behind your ear and wait 24-48 hours to see if there is any irritation on your skin.
• Conditioner: Using a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask on colour treated hair can help keep your strands hydrated. Ideally you should be using one that is tailored to your pigment requirements. For example, violet pigments are frequently used for conditioners designed for bleached hair since they work to neutralise brassy tones and promote a brighter hue.

How Can Hairy Hair Help with my Hair Loss?

Hair dyes can cause thinning and breakage. While it may not always be avoidable, using chemicals that are less harsh, spreading out your dyeing sessions, and ensuring to keep your hair well conditioned can help to limit the damage. If you’re noticing that you’re losing hair consistently even if you stop dyeing your hair, there is likely an underlying cause to your shedding.

Hair loss can affect anyone, regardless of whether you dye your hair or not. Whether it’s genetics, stress, or nutritional imbalances, there are a lot of reasons why your hair can fall out. And unfortunately, if you’re not tackling the problem head on, your thinning will only continue and it can lead to permanent hair loss.

If you’re ready to take on your hair loss today, contact Hairy Hair. We offer a comprehensive hair loss treatment that contains a powerful combination of ingredients to help stimulate new hair growth. This includes a vasodilator to help increase nutrient delivery to your follicles and a DHT blocker to assist in preventing hormonal hair loss from pattern baldness.

When you want to get started, just take our short online quiz. Once we get to know you and your hair loss, a qualified Australian GP will review your information and create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs. They’ll give you a call to outline the details and answer any questions you have before your prescription is ready to ship directly to your door.