Which is the least harmful hair dye?

Discover the Safest Hair Dye: Least Harmful Options

When choosing the right hair dye for you, it’s important to understand what can and will damage your hair. Ultimately, which is the least harmful hair dye? The least harmful dyes are natural, organic, chemical-free, and non-toxic to people and the environment. Promote well-being and good health by discovering safe choices and alternatives throughout this article. 

In short, buying the first dye you see in stores is very easy. Everyone has different needs for their hair, whether you have a dry or sensitive scalp, grey hair, or allergies. So, it wouldn’t hurt to do a bit of research first. 

To get you started, here's a list of some of the least harmful mainstream hair dyes: 

  1. Arctic Fox Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Colour Dye: PPD, ammonia and sulphate-free. 

  2. Mysteek Naturals Color Pop Temporary No-Bleach Hair Colour: Hair wax, doesn’t require damaging your hair to achieve vibrant colours. 

  3. Hair print: Biological hair color with Hydrogen peroxide: sodium carbonate and food grade ingredients 

  4. It’s Pure. Organic 100% natural Henna dye without  artificial additives

Types of Harmful Chemicals in Hair Dye 

Understanding the impact of the chemicals used in hair dye can change what you decide to use. It’s important to keep your hair and scalp as healthy as you can for as long as you can. 

Listed below are some of the more common chemicals found in hair dye: 

  1. Ammonia: Often used to penetrate the hair shaft, it causes dryness, irritation and breakage. 

  2. Peroxide: Used to lighten hair or help colour bond to it. It can damage the scalp and also cause irritation and breakage. 

  3. PPD (p-Phenylenediamine): Common in darker dyes. It can cause reactions. PTD (toluene diamine sulfate) is a close cousin of PPD and has more artificial pigment than PPD, as it takes up to twice as much pigment as PPD to colour hair.

  4. Resorcinol: This also helps the colour bond with the hair. It can potentially lead to hair loss. 

  5. Lead acetate: Linked to several health problems, including reproductive issues and cancer. 

Least Harmful Dye Options 

Natural, organic, non-toxic and chemical-free dyes all have one main thing in common: There are no chemicals at all (which you probably could’ve guessed). They provide subtle and natural-looking colour to hair whilst nourishing and protecting it. Organic dyes tend to be the most long-lasting, meaning fewer touch-ups and extra costs to maintain the colour. 

To start achieving this, here are a few healthy hair dye options: 

  1. Herbatint: Organic/Vegan; 8 herbal extracts to help protect the scalp. 
    Naturtint: Plant-based; Provides long-lasting colour, made from seed oils proven to benefit hair health. 

  2. Madison Reed: Non-Toxic; Uses keratin, argan oil and ginseng root extract to fortify and nourish hair. 

Tips for Choosing a Safe Hair Dye  

Choosing a safe hair dye can be a challenging task, so to make it easier, these are some tips to help you make the best choice for you: 

  1. Keep an eye out for natural ingredients: 

  2. Avoid ammonia and peroxide: If you can’t find any that don’t have these chemicals in, try and find them in reduced concentrations. 

  3. Check for PPD, particularly PTD content: To help reduce reactions, look for dyes that do NOT have this in. 

  4. Test before using: Do a test on a strand or patch test to check for any allergies or sensitivities. 

  5. Seek professional advice: If you’re unsure about which hair dye to choose or how to apply it safely, seek advice from a professional hairstylist or colourist. 

Using the least harmful dyes is important as it can reduce damage to the scalp and hair. As an alternative, natural dyes, which are plant-based and free from harsh chemicals, are a safe option for those who want to dye their hair without health risks. By choosing this safer option, you could achieve your desired colour while keeping a healthy head of hair and scalp. 

Ready to try a safe and natural hair dye? Check out Natural Colour Works for high-quality, gentle options. Say goodbye to dry hair, and hello to healthy hair! Get in touch today to book your next appointment.


Scott Carey