Hair Dyes

pinky104

I've been wearing a wig for a couple of months now as my chemo thinned my hair.  I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on it.  I'm 68 years old, nearly 69, and my own hair is a silvery brown.  My wig was labelled as light brown, but it has a definite red cast to it.  People tell me I look much younger with the wig as I don't have a lot of facial wrinkles.  The problem is that I don't find it comfortable.  It's hot in the summer weather and it keeps riding up on me, so I have to keep yanking it down. I thought I needed a bigger size, but when I tried one of those on, there was too much extra material in it for it to sit flat. The one I got is much thicker than my natural hair was before chemo.  I want to ditch the wig when my own hair fills back in, but I'm thinking I might want to dye my own hair, which is something I've never done before.  I'm worried about getting cancer from hair dyes, though.  I've read that dyes, especially dark dyes, can cause cancer. I've been wondering if there are any dyes that are known to be safe.  I don't want to go with a bright red, maybe just something similar to the color of the wig, with just a slight reddish cast to it. Has anyone done any research on this?  Are there any safe brands?  I think henna is supposed to be a natural coloring, but I don't want to go that bright.  My hair used to be a medium brown color with blonde or reddish highlights depending upon what shampoo I used and how much I was out in the sun.  My complexion is very pale.  I tried on a blonde wig and was surprised that looked terrible on me.  I thought it would look great with my fair skin.  The reddish light brown looks much better and is closer to the color of my eyebrows.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.  

NoTimeForCancer

pinky, I asked Mr. Google

pinky, I asked Mr. Google about permanent dyes and here is what he said:

Ammonia is the alkaline chemical that opens the cuticle and allows the hair color to penetrate the cortex of the hair. It also acts as a catalyst when the permanent hair color comes together with the peroxide. Peroxide is used as the developer or oxidizing agent.

So with that said, it looks like it is ammonia and peroxide that make up most of today's permanent coloring agents.  There are semi-permanent that wash out over a few shampoos, but I think those have been harder and harder to find - maybe a beauty supply shop???  Maybe one of the other ladies will have a better suggestion.

I used to color my hair before cancer and when it fell out I figured it was my opportunity to go au-natural.  Ha!  I would like to try a semi-permanent myself and am "in the search".

GoodLuck15

I haven't had to use hair

I haven't had to use hair coloring, but I have seen packages in health-food stores. I don't know if the brands they stock there are any safer, but it may be worth a trip to take a look. 

pinky104

Thank you

Thanks for your replies, ladies.  I think I would prefer a more permanent color than one that would wash out.  I'd like to complete the process as infrequently as possible.  The health food stores are a good suggestion.  I'll have to look into them.

pinky104

Editgirl

That's good to know.  Since Ive never shopped for hair dyes at all, I had no idea there were multiple shades of dye with henna.  I'll be looking the next time I go shopping.

Editgrl

I used henna for several years before my hair turned gray for reddish highlights.  There are henna colors that are not as "red" as others, so I wouldn't completely rule them out.  You can probably find them at the health food stores as well, though I always bought mine at the beauty supply shop.

Kvdyson

 

 

I had mine colored around 3 - 4 months after the end of front-line, once it was long enough for a trim. The hair dresser used an organic product. My hair soaked up the dye way more than I expected. I ended up stripping it out and re-coloring it within a week. Thankfully, it didn't do any damage! I'm back to using plain-old OTC hair dye now.

 

Tethys41

Safe Hair Dyes

There aren't a lot, but there are a couple.  You can find the safest health and beauty products by looking on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database.  Look for products classified as zero or one. www.ewg.org/skindeep.

There are also sites online that have recipes for home made hair color, using food products like chocolate or coffee.  

pinky104

Kvdyson said:

 

 

I had mine colored around 3 - 4 months after the end of front-line, once it was long enough for a trim. The hair dresser used an organic product. My hair soaked up the dye way more than I expected. I ended up stripping it out and re-coloring it within a week. Thankfully, it didn't do any damage! I'm back to using plain-old OTC hair dye now.

 

Kvdyson

Your hair looks very natural in your picture.  I wouldn't even know you were using a dye.  Was it way too dark when it soaked up too much?  I don't know the first thing about doing this.

pinky104

Tethys41 said:

Safe Hair Dyes

There aren't a lot, but there are a couple.  You can find the safest health and beauty products by looking on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database.  Look for products classified as zero or one. www.ewg.org/skindeep.

There are also sites online that have recipes for home made hair color, using food products like chocolate or coffee.  

Tethys41

I never would have found that site on my own.  I've never even heard of that group or that website.  There isn't a lot of information available where I live here in upstate NY on healthy beauty products.  Thank you for the link and the info.

Double Whammy

I say stick to the wig

We're about the same age and ALL of my friends struggle constantly with their hair.  I don't.   I pay a lot of attention to women's hair, believe me, and the majority of women our age have less than ideal hair.  Cut, color, whatever.  They are always trying to make it better.   Only about 30% of my hair came back after chemo with Taxotere (a not uncommon side effect) and I felt horrible for the longest time about myself.   My self esteem was really in the ditch. I look like the crypt keeper.   I still don't like it, but I don't like being 70, either.  What hair I have, I shave off.  I can't stand to look at what little hair I have.  Wigs fit better with no hair underneath.  I am currently sitting here bald as I'm in my house and it's just more comfortable, although none of my wigs are uncomfortable or any hotter than a full head of hair - because I don't have that extra insulation of hair underneath.  Just my head.  With early growth, it sort of acts like velcro.  Sure, I worry about it falling off or being knocked off.  I never ever go out in public with out a head covering.  I wear hats a lot, too.  It is what it is.   There are many reasons women wear wigs.  I wear one because I have to, but others do it for a change.  They're not like they used to be in the 60's.  I actually like changing styles, colors, etc.  I have become quite comfortable with my situation - because my "hair" looks better than most women my age!

Suzanne

oldbeauty

Double Whammy said:

I say stick to the wig

We're about the same age and ALL of my friends struggle constantly with their hair.  I don't.   I pay a lot of attention to women's hair, believe me, and the majority of women our age have less than ideal hair.  Cut, color, whatever.  They are always trying to make it better.   Only about 30% of my hair came back after chemo with Taxotere (a not uncommon side effect) and I felt horrible for the longest time about myself.   My self esteem was really in the ditch. I look like the crypt keeper.   I still don't like it, but I don't like being 70, either.  What hair I have, I shave off.  I can't stand to look at what little hair I have.  Wigs fit better with no hair underneath.  I am currently sitting here bald as I'm in my house and it's just more comfortable, although none of my wigs are uncomfortable or any hotter than a full head of hair - because I don't have that extra insulation of hair underneath.  Just my head.  With early growth, it sort of acts like velcro.  Sure, I worry about it falling off or being knocked off.  I never ever go out in public with out a head covering.  I wear hats a lot, too.  It is what it is.   There are many reasons women wear wigs.  I wear one because I have to, but others do it for a change.  They're not like they used to be in the 60's.  I actually like changing styles, colors, etc.  I have become quite comfortable with my situation - because my "hair" looks better than most women my age!

Suzanne

What brand(s)?

 Suzanne, what are the brand names of the wigs you have? I have one Raquel Welch and one Gabor, and they are OK but I don't think they look all that natural on me.  I admire your picture with your wig that looks so natural and such a good style for you.  Please share.  Thanks. 

One word about henna.  I used it in my youth on my brown hair and it was wonderful.  It was a product from Nestle called "Egyptian Henna."  Later, I saw ground henna root in bulk in health food stores.  You would mix it with boiling water and mix it into a paste and then apply.  It smelled bad but it conditioned and colored beautifully.  You never really knew what you were going to get, timing was important.  But I liked it.  The only thing is I do not believe natural henna will cover gray hair.

Oldbeauty

Soup52

I have my hair colored at a

I have my hair colored at a salon and so far it has worked. My hair is actually a little thicker than previously and unfortunately curliest. I have always had curl in my hair and fought it all the way. The growing out process has been painful. I have already decided should I require chemo again that I will stick with A very short style and not bother growing it out. I'm praying my hair will look decent by next June when my daughter marries.

Kvdyson

pinky104 said:

Kvdyson

Your hair looks very natural in your picture.  I wouldn't even know you were using a dye.  Was it way too dark when it soaked up too much?  I don't know the first thing about doing this.

The dye was super dark brown

The dye was super dark brown - almost black. My natural color is a medium brown with some honey-red hightlights so the flat, dark color from the dye was just too much to handle, especially after not having hair for so long! Neither my hair dresser nor I thought about how my "virgin" hair would react. If you get yours done professionally, ask them to adjust the strength down. If you do it yourself, you may want to test a small patch first and not leave it on too long.