Posted by elektros (other posts) on February 18, 2014 at 19:36:28 Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Hair Dyeing posted by DonInOz on February 18, 2014 at 04:00:01:
: Dear Anthony, I'm one of the few guys on this board who colours his hair. I do it to cover the grey. I've thought about stopping, but I don't want to cut it short; my hair has finally reached the sort of length that I'd like to continue wearing. I don't want to start over again! Also, I expect to be looking for a new position later this year, so I want to look more youthful...
: I've done a little research into henna dye. One of members here, 'Hairball,' uses it. It does not work on hair that has already been coloured with a 'normal' dye. It also sounds like quite a chore to use. But maybe Hairball will chime in here...he seems to like the results.
: Most of the dyes used in salons today have little or no ammonia in contrast to a typically higher content a few years ago. They have learned to make dyes that are not so injurious to your hair, or your scalp. I have my regrowth done in a salon about monthly. It doesn't seem to hurt my hair, which is pretty healthy and thick. Although I have very sensitive skin generally, the hair dye does not irritate my scalp.
: Sometimes it's difficult to find the right hairdresser. They're not all really skilled in colour. I've tried a few until I found one that I like and trust. I let her trim my hair recently; like some of the other guys here, I've decided to go with a one-length hairstyle, but I only cut off about an inch so will make the transition from layers in about three stages over the next few months.
: Colouring your hair is just another journey on top of that of growing it long. Far more common among women; I guess on men it's considered to be an effete thing to do, just like growing your hair out long...
: Nu, all the best from the Land of Oz!
This is a slight over-simplification. Pure henna can in fact be used on hair that has had synthetic dye used on it. Even henna mixes can be used in that way, but only provided they contain no metallic salts.
This is not really an issue for me. I have used henna mixes on my hair in the past, and probably will do so again, but I have never used synthetic dye on my hair, and have no intention of doing so.
OTOH, henna mixes can only produce a limited range of colours, and that is the reason why metal salts were added before synthetic dyes were invented, even though the range of possible colours is not much increased by doing it. Unfortunately, the effects of synthetic dye and metal salts mixing together can be to dye your hair green and/or produce an exothermic reaction. If you remember high school chemistry, that means a reaction that produces heat, which will likely damage your hair.
The alternative to henna is regular trips to a hair salon to get your roots 'done'. And there you are completely in the hands of the stylist, who is quite capable of destroying your hair if he/she is incompetent.
However, if you dye it yourself with a synthetic 'box dye' you will be doomed to stay at shoulder length forever, as repeated application of synthetic dye to the same part of the strand always causes damage.
OTOH, if someone has used synthetic dye and wants to use henna to dye their hair whilst preserving the length, they either have to use pure henna, which is readily available but only produces a red/orange colour, or use a henna mix that only contains herbs and pray that the vendor is telling the truth about that.
I am neither a hair stylist nor a chemist, but this question comes up repeatedly on hair boards.