What makes hair dye 'color' your hair. Learn how these ingredients 'get the gray out.'Safe hair color for commercial use has been around since the beginning of the twentieth century. The first safe chemical used in commercial dye was paraphenylenediamine discovered by French chemist Eugene Schueller in 1909. He began a company, which later became know as L'Oreal. Today over three-quarters of the population of women color their hair and now many more men are doing it also. A change in the color of the hair is produced through a series of chemical reactions between the hair itself and the chemicals in the dye.
Hair is made up of keratin, which is a protein also found in skin and fingernails. Other proteins in the hair known as different types of melanin are responsible for the natural color. Gray or white hair has no melanin. The outer layer of the hair is called the cuticle and looks like patches or scales. The inner layer is called the cortex.
Different types of hair dye vary in the way in which they color the hair and the level of permanency of the color. Temporary, acidic dyes coat the cuticle sitting on top of the shaft. These dyes do not contain ammonia, which opens up the hair shaft in permanent coloring, without ammonia dyes can't penetrate the cuticle so the pigment washes out after a few shampoos and the natural color still exists. These temporary colors may also be known as rinses. Semi-permanent dyes do penetrate the cuticle of the hair but not as deeply as permanent ones. These types of dyes usually start fading and washing out after several shampoos requiring more overall maintenance. Permanent dyes are just that, permanent. Ammonia is used to open the cuticle layer, peroxide, which is an oxidizing agent helping to decolorize the natural melanin, coupled with pigments (new color) are deposited at the cortex. These ingredients are usually packaged separately and mixed together just prior to application for simultaneous action. Maintenance is only required at the roots to keep the same color as the rest of the shaft is permanently changed.
Progressive dyes also known as gradual dyes contain lead acetate. Color is achieved by rubbing the solution onto the hair. It penetrates the cuticle reacting with the proteins forming lead sulfide, which creates a dark color. Frequent applications tend to produce darker color. These types of dyes are usually marketed and used by men.
Natural colorants such as henna or other vegetable dyes deposit pigments onto the hair shaft much the same way as temporary color washing out after several shampoos. Other natural components such as vinegar or lemon juice are bleaching agents causing reactions with the hair changing or lightening the color.
Bleaching or making the hair color blonde removes color irreversibly. A high level of hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the melanin rendering it colorless or pale yellow, which is the natural color of keratin. This is achieved by leaving the bleach on over a period of time with the hair going through a process of color from say, brown to red to orange to gold to yellow to white. How light the hair gets depends on how long the bleach is left on. Darker hair would need it left on longer than lighter hair.
With all these options out there anyone can have any hair color they want at any level. Do blondes really have more fun? There's more than one way to find out and only your hairdresser knows for sure. She can help you take the plunge any way you want.
Related Posts
Skin beauty tips: How to get rid of freckles
Skin Care: Inside Information on Moisturizers
Gardening Tips: Choosing the Right Garden Lighting
0 Yorumlar