Disadvantages Of Hair Dyes

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Hair dye is usually a soluble substance for staining or colouring hair. There are mainly two types of hair dye which are fully chemical based, partially chemical and natural based dyes. Under chemically based hair dyes there are permanent, demi-permanent, semi-permanent and temporary hair dyes. On the other hand, natural hair dyes are of two types which are henna based and organic based.
Henna is a plant that grows in dry, hot climates. When its leaves are harvested, dried and powdered and then mixed with a mildly acidic liquid, it will stain skin, hair, and fingernails. Like demi-permanent dye, it will deposit colour and wear-down over lots of time if it is not reapplied. Because henna comes from a plant, it is said to be a healthier option for hair colour.
Organic hair dyes are composed of natural ingredients but almost all use active ingredients or chemicals that were synthesized in a laboratory.

2. Chemical Concepts
The following are the basic equations of chemical based hair dye and the examples of their chemical structures.
C11H14N5Cl is the generally accepted chemical formula for hair dye.

3. Point of Views
3.1 Ammonia Based
Advantages:
Ammonia has the ability to alter hair colour without washing out after only a few shampoos. Ammonia also allows the colour to easily enter the cortex by raising the pH of the hair sufficiently so as to open the cuticle and allow the colour to enter the cortex of the hair. In addition, ammonia neutralizes the existing pigments to a greater degree, which happens when ammonia is mixed with peroxide.
Disadvantages:
Although, the colour swells the cuticle to easily enter the cortex, there is significant protein and moisture loss. This is how the hair is damaged during colouring when using a...

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...e additional coating henna adds to strands, which will invariably thicken hair strands, this can be a disadvantage. This means that new hair growth will have a different texture and structure to the hair treated with henna. Which if the henna treatments are not continued on the new growth will lead to a demarcation line or point on the hair strands, this demarcation point or line becomes a point of weakness. Just like someone with chemically processed hair, this issue of two hair types can lead to excessive breakage and/or damage of the hair.
4. Conclusion
Henna dye would seem like a better choice of hair dye, taking into account its natural based composition and positive impact to health of the scalp. However, further development and awareness promotion is needed in this range of dyes to overcome its shortcomings and make it more appealing to the general consumer.

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