To dye or not to dye? I’m afraid there’s no easy answer for you health-conscious beauties. By now, you’ve heard that repeatedly coloring hair with dark dyes (particularly brown and black) increases the risk of cancers like non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma. So you should be looking for natural haircolor, right? Well in truth, going dye-free is the best 100% natural choice to make right now, as all hair dyes (except henna formulas) contain some percentage of chemicals. Morrocco Method, Light Mountain, Rainbow, Lush and Aubrey Organics’ Color Me Natural all offer safe, natural henna dyes, though you should keep in mind that henna is not permanent (it should wash out gradually over a few weeks) and comes with a margin of error (the exact results of henna vary with different hair conditions). This is important to note if you usually use conventional dyes and plan to switch to henna- you should wait for your chemical color to fade before applying henna dye. All in all, henna can provide an easy, natural change of color, especially for you dark-hared ladies. For blondes, henna adds gloss and a layer of golden tone.

Advanced Cosmetic Technologies (ACT) made a breakthrough with dyes that contain henna and other plant-based colorants, but deliver results similar to a permanent color kit. The brand’s dyes (read our past review here) won’t lighten your locks, but they will provide safe, longer-lasting color if you’re going dark or deepening blonde.

Here’s the part where I‘d usually give you other permanent hair dye options that are natural, but it’s really not that simple. When you pick up a box of natural at-home dye, you’ll still find peroxide (even in milder doses, used to prepare the hair shaft for color), ammonia (some dyes are ammonia-free, but others still use it to open the hair shaft before coloring), and oxidative dyes (necessary for permanent color), plus dangerous chemicals like ethanolamine, p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and tetrasodium EDTA, albeit in small doses. I just can’t call these natural.  Some consider them to be a better alternative to harsh, conventional dyes, as they’ve been formulated to contain as few chemicals as possible. So if you’re coloring your hair, make sure that you’re aware of the ingredient dangers, even if you choose brands that claim to be packed with botanicals. For salon-quality color, Aveda and John Masters are popular options, or consider bringing a natural dye kit to your regular colorist if natural coloring options aren’t offered. It’s also worth noting that highlights or lowlights are always safer on your body than a whole-head dye that comes into contact with your scalp. So stay informed, and cross your fingers for healthier haircolor choices in the future! Writer :: Jolene Hart