How Bad Is Box Dye For Your Hair? Find out in the article below if even ammonia free hair dyes are bad for hair or not.
Do you love switching up your hairstyle or colour? Do you often reach for boxed hair dye as an easy and economical way to do so? Well, it’s time to think twice before making that box dye purchase.
Many don’t understand the damage it can do to their hair and scalp, leaving them with more than they bargained for.
Today we’ll take a deeper look at the potential harm of using box dye, as well as suggest some healthier alternatives to give you the look you desire.
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It’s no surprise that at-home hair dying kits are everywhere. They promise salon-quality, vibrant hair coloring at home, for a fraction of the price and time.
But is box dye really worth the risk? To find out, we must look beyond the easy promises made on the box labels and delve into how bad box dye can be for your hair.
How Bad Is Box Dye For Your Hair?
From unappealing results to avoidable damage, there is much to consider before using box dye.
For those brave enough to take the risk, it’s important to learn how to use it properly and understand just how bad the consequences can be if things don’t go according to plan.
Keep reading to get to the bottom of the box dye debate and to find out exactly how bad box dye for your hair can be.
Why is using box hair dye bad for your hair?
The use of over-the-counter box dyes is not especially damaging to hair – that is, if you’re using the right one. However, even the most advanced, non-ammonia dye formulas can damage hair – yes, even if they’re supposedly ammonia-free.
These dyes can strip the protective barrier of your hair’s cuticle and leave it dry, brittle and much more susceptible to further damage. They also change the chemistry of your hair by breaking down the sulfide bonds that give hair its natural durability and shine.
This crumbling of the hair’s strength and integrity can cause long-term damage that is near-impossible to repair.
Using box dyes to lighten your hair may be especially harmful. These bleaching products contain harsh chemicals and developers that harden the cortex of your hair shaft and can leave it dry, stiff, and flat.
These chemicals can strip away valuable moisture and shatter any glimmer of shine that you might have had before, leaving you with parched and brittle strands.
Not only that, but in some cases, this could also cause allergic reactions or scalp irritations, so if you’re already prone to having sensitive skin, then it’s best to be cautious.
Box dye can also easily lead to dye with a colour that’s hard to remove, or damage that’s extremely difficult to repair. You should always try to go to the salon or professional stylist to help you out with any hair colour changes.
Why is using box hair dye bad for your hair?
Using box hair dye may sound like a convenient and inexpensive way to update your hair colour from the comfort of your own home. However, before you reach for that box of dye there are important factors to consider.
Box dyes often contain harsh chemical ingredients which can be damaging to the hair and scalp, causing dryness, breakage, and even hair loss when used incorrectly or overused.
Box dyes usually contain a high concentration of ammonia or an ammonia-like compound; an effective chemical agent for opening up the hair cuticle to allow the dye to penetrate.
Despite being effective, this chemical can be very abrasive to your hair and scalp, dehydrating it, leading to excessive dryness and breaking. In a worst case scenario, when left on the scalp for too long, excessive ammonia can lead to hair loss.
Box hair dye also tends to contain fewer conditioning agents which are less nourishing and protective, and in many cases more intense colourants to achieve the desired level of color.
This intensity can cause colour to fade much quicker and also cause breakage as the weaker hair strands can’t support the increased colour intensity.
Chemical colouring also strips away your natural oils and protective layer, so it’s important to use a deep conditioning treatment regularly to replenish this moisture and prevent damage from occurring.
Using box dye is not the best option for keeping your hair healthy and strong – it’s important to be aware of the risks before you apply it to your own hair.
If you decide to use a box dye, make sure you use it correctly and don’t overdo it, and opt for a colour that is close to your natural shade so it doesn’t cause too much stress to your hair.
Does even an ammonia-free dye damage hair?
The answer as to whether or not an ammonia-free dye damages hair is difficult to define in a single word.
While they are definitely the lesser of two evils when compared to traditional box dye products that contain ammonia, there is still potential for damage. The ingredients in ammonia-free dyes can still be quite harsh on the hair.
Many of the chemicals used to create ammonia-free dyes are similar to those used in other hair care products.
They may be slightly gentler than ingredients found in ammonia-based dyes, but are still capable of pulling water out of the hair, leaving it dry and brittle.
Even if an ammonia-free dye isn’t overly abrasive, the act of colouring and stripping the hair of its natural pigment can dry out hair and weaken the cuticles.
There’s also the risk of fading when using an ammonia-free dye. This can happen if you don’t follow the instructions properly or use the wrong type of shampoo. If a product containing sulfates is used, it could strip away some of the colour and leave your hair looking dull and drab.
Chemical dyes of all types can cause damage to your hair, so it’s important to use them sparingly and follow the instructions to the letter. It’s also wise to make sure that your hair is in the best possible condition before subjecting it to any type of coloration.
Will using hair dye without a developer prevent damage?
The answer to this question is that without a developer, the dye will not react at all with the hair, rendering it mostly useless.
A lot of heat needs to be applied in order to activate the dye pigment and changing its chemical structure so that it can bind to the hair shaft, and this cannot occur without the presence of a developer.
So, while you may end up saving a few dollars on not buying the complementary developer, it sadly won’t do anything to your hair.
Additionally, depending on the dye you’re using, it is possible that it could cause more harm than good.
Many dyes contain harsh chemicals that can dry out and break away at your hair strands, leaving them brittle and likely to split further down the line, so it’s important to be mindful of what you’re using.
All in all, while not using a developer in tandem with hair dye won’t cause immediate damage, it does have the potential to cause more damage down the line due to the chemical content of the dye, meaning it’s best to use a product-kit than try to improvise
Is professional salon hair dye better than box hair dye?
Is professional salon hair dye better than box hair dye? The short answer is yes. Using a professional hair colorist and salon hair dye can improve the overall health and condition of your hair.
You’ll have access to a specialist who can assess your hair type and needs, apply the dye correctly and offer advice on aftercare. Professional dye isn’t usually as harsh as box dye that you can buy off the shelf.
It often has additional moisturizing and conditioning properties and can look more vibrant and glossy.
Professional coloring products used in salons contain fewer harsh chemicals than those from box dye, helping to protect your hair from further damage and breakage.
You’ll also end up with a more uniform color with professional dye. This is because the shade is mixed precisely to match the color you’re looking for and applied in careful layers, as opposed to haphazard splodges of color from box dye.
With a salon dye job, you can be more confident that the color won’t look patchy or multi-tonal in the end.
Your professional dye job may even include treatments that protect your hair from the damage of coloring while helping to prolong the life of the dye.
By getting your hair colored at a salon, you can be sure that you won’t have unforeseen, damaging consequences to your locks in the long run.
Conclusion
Ultimately, as with anything, it’s best to go in with caution. If you can’t avoid using box dye, make sure you’re using the correct level for your hair type and follow the instructions carefully.
If possible, stick to the same brand of hair dye each time and try to avoid lightening your hair more than one level at a time.
Also, if you’re especially concerned, it is always safer to use hair dye at a salon, rather than at home.
Also Read:
Does Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Actually Wash Out?
To Summarize