Which? survey questions hair dye chemicals

By Simon Pitman

- Last updated on GMT

A Which? magazine survey has once again brought to the fore the
potential hazards of certain chemicals used in hair dye products,
suggesting that there are several highly allergenic and potentially
carcinogenic chemicals still widely used in products that are
not properly labelled.

The Which? report underlines the fact that manufacturers have to warn consumers over potentially allergenic chemicals that might be included in hair dye products, but stresses the fact that there is no guideline to advise on how strong sensitisers might be.

The magazine consulted five experts, including a toxicologist, a consultant dermatologist, an allergy expert, a trichologist and a professor in colour chemistry.

The team tested 15 permanent hair dyes - which usually contain the harshest chemicals - all bought from UK retailers in July 2007 in shades of red, dark brown and blonde, including dyes for men, own brands and ranges with natural ingredients.

Six of the main sensitisers were found in a number of the products, each with varying degrees of strength, which none of the product labels conveyed.

Those ingredients included P-Phenlyendamine, an extreme sensitiser found in all but three of the products tested; Phenlymethylpyrazolene, a strong sensitizer found in three of the dyes; m-Aminophenol, found in six of the dyes; N,N-bis, a strong sensitiser found in four dyes; 4-Aimon-2-hydroxytoluene, a strong sensitiser found in six dyes and Toluene-2.5-diamine, a sensitiser of unclassifiable strength found in two dyes.

The report stresses the fact that these chemicals can contribute to a range of reactions, including severe swelling and rashes as well as links to a range of cancers, including breast, bladder and leukemias - although the latter has not been conclusively proven.

Having said this, the report also highlights the fact that such adverse reactions are few in number and that the vast number of hair dye users continue to use these type of products without ever having a reaction.

Ultimately the report says that further research needs to be carried out on the links between hair dyes and both allergies and skin cancer, particularly as there are no widely accepted alternatives to the highlighted ingredients.

Which? suggests that darker shades are potentially more dangerous as they often contain stronger amounts of the potentially dangerous ingredients.

Likewise, the report also suggests that consumers switch to semi-permanent or natural-based hair dye products, as these formulations tend to use fewer of the harsher ingredients, ultimately posing less of a problem.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Discover Peptan for Beauty & Diverse Skins

Discover Peptan for Beauty & Diverse Skins

Content provided by Rousselot | 05-Sep-2024 | Product Brochure

As beauty from within solutions soar in popularity, manufacturers need to be able to serve everyone, no matter their ethnicity or skin type.

FucoSkin®: Ocean-Inspired Sustainable Beauty

FucoSkin®: Ocean-Inspired Sustainable Beauty

Content provided by Hi-Q Marine Biotech International Ltd | 28-Aug-2024 | White Paper

FucoSkin® is a fucoidan-rich extract derived from the brown seaweed Laminaria Japonica, known for its excellent anti-aging and photoprotective benefits....

See our latest innovations in personal care

See our latest innovations in personal care

Content provided by Covation Bio™ PDO | 02-Apr-2024 | White Paper

At CovationBio PDO, we’re helping the world achieve its sustainability goals by enabling better performing, better-for-the planet products across a range...

Collagen Reimagined, Discover Biodesigned Type XXI

Collagen Reimagined, Discover Biodesigned Type XXI

Content provided by Geltor | 20-Mar-2024 | Product Brochure

Collagen is the body’s most abundant protein and a mainstream ingredient for beauty. Type XXI collagen transcends a common protein into a powerful bioactive

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Podcast