To Color or Not to Color…
I’m now choosing NOT to color my hair… not anymore. For the past year or so, I’ve begun cleaning out every possible source of toxin in my world, in order to create an ideal body and environment for getting pregnant. I switched to all organic bedding. I threw out chemical-laden cosmetics and body care products. I bought the best-rated water purifier I could afford. I eat an extremely healthy organic, all vegan, high raw diet. I even had my amalgam fillings removed! The last thing was coming face-to-face with the most challenging change yet — don’t laugh, but it was my hair color!
Until now, neither the world nor I had known my true color since I was, seriously, eleven years old. I was a blonde for so long that it had been inseparable with my self-identity. But no more. That’s right, I’ve gone all natural in the hair department. Not only are the harsh chemicals for color-treating hair potential toxins for pregnant and nursing mothers, but — more significantly — those same chemicals do so much damage to hair that you must use even MORE chemicals (polymers, basically) to make color-treated hair soft and silky. There’s more truth to the Barbie metaphor than people realize… I literally had blonde, plastic hair!
So as a big part of my going green, I went brown! Haha! When I decided to go natural, one of the defining moments for me came after spending a lot of time on Kris Carr’s forum, MyCrazySexyLife. It absolutely broke my heart to see so many young women with health challenges. It was at that point I realized a clean diet is not enough. All stressors have a cumulative effect on the immune system; I want to do as much as I can to reduce that accumulation. A little here, a little there — it all adds up, and then leaps into the stratosphere when you make a dramatic change like going vegan or stopping the monthly chemical bath required to change hair color.
I realize that reducing total environmental toxicity (internal and external) can never guarantee I won’t get cancer, but I can’t help but feel that it helps — it’s a numbers game, after all. I know there are toxins out there that I cannot really control (most notably, air pollution — not just from cars, but outgassing from toxic chemicals in carpet, paint, adhesives, and other construction materials that are all around us). So to combat all these things I can’t control, I’ve gone total mad-dog against all the things I CAN control. I’m eating an ultra-healthy diet, getting lots of exercise, making sure I rest and have good quality sleep, and using the healthiest hair and beauty products. It might not be an issue you hear about very often right now, but I expect we’ll all be hearing about it more as time goes by and data come in about the additive effects of toxins on the body.
I am avoiding as many synthetic chemicals as possible, not only because it’s bad for my health, but also because they are bad for the environment. Many people forget that the environment suffers, not only when coloring products wash down the drain and into our water supply, but also from the impact of all the other products needed to maintain the colored hair so it doesn’t look processed (shampoos, conditioners, hair balm, gel, etc). All of these have a detrimental environmental impact. So, for me, coloring my hair was more than just a little procedure every few weeks. I can no longer rationalize what I was doing using that logic.
The fact that some hair treatment processes don’t touch my scalp doesn’t let me off the hook either… it still damages the shaft of my hair. Bleach-damaged hair is so porous that it requires a chemical soup of products to make it appear healthy. My hair feels so amazing now. Gone now are the days of seeing so many frizzed-out rogue hairs flying around my face. No more breakage! No more brittle ends snapping off (hair isn’t supposed to do that)! My hair is now fuller, beautifully soft and shiny and healthy — my husband calls it “luxurious.” It now feels right, both literally and figuratively.
What’s funny (and was unexpected) is that, since going back to my true brunette self, I feel more natural overall than I have in 20 years. My overall attitude and aura are noticeably different. I now walk by a mirror and I feel beautiful. It’s still quite new to me even though I’ve been working on this transition for over a year. And, even though it’s not my ideal length, I’m proud of it and I know it’ll get there eventually.
I should mention that I DO believe there is a natural, sustainable way to color your hair, and that is with henna, which is generally used for coloring hair darker brown, black, or red. I’ve not experimented with it yet because I’m happy with my natural color. But, as I age, when I start getting a lot of grays, I might give henna a try. We’re also starting to see specialized hair salons cropping up that offer organic and less toxic alternatives to traditional treatments. It would be great if these innovative green businesses really caught on, so look in your area and consider giving one of them a try.
So how about all of you out there? If you color your hair, or have ever considered doing so, did toxicity play any role in your thinking? Please share your story!
71 Comments
Great posts! The last time I dyed my hair was to get closest to my natural color for grow-out. It’s going to be hard because my greys look like pubes! They are strange and wirey…don’t match the rest. But my hair has been falling out so I have been concerned. Going “natural” brings up vanity issues, but they are good issues to get in touch with – very character building. Thanks for all your posts…loved them! It helps.
So many inspiring comments. Love to all of you!
Cheers XOXO,
Kristen
I haven’t seen my real hair color since 1994. I’ve been vegan for the last 2 years, have cleansed myself of many toxic food additives and have recently come to the conclusion that I need get rid of the hair dyes as well. I’m in my late 50′s and I have no idea just how grey I am. I have resisted the temptation to color my hair as close to my natural color as possible, opting instead to go “cold turkey” I do believe that if the grey is too much, I may try the henna approach, but for now I am at peace with the decision to go natural.
I was surprised to see so many people going through the same kinds of changes over hair color – thanks for so many insightful comments.
Hugs to all
Barbara
I stopped bleaching and coloring my hair about 5 months ago and while it’s a bit mousy now, I know that the abundance of leafy greens in my diet will restore my original color eventually. You are a lovely brunette!
Hi Kristen,
I’m glad that you are doing this and have written about it. It gives others the courage to do the same. I’ve been grappling with this issue myself over the years. I’ve gone from the better quality hair colors to just wanting to let it all grow out (and then use henna). I haven’t done it yet, but I’m working my way there.
Thanks for the post, encouragement and example you are setting!
Recently I heard Dr. George Yu, MD, an oncologist from Maryland who follows patients who use plant-based diets as part or all of their treatment. He said that when we color our hair the toxins go directly into our head and from there go directly to the fat to be stored. I’ve heard it before in so many words, but this really struck a chord in me … and I stopped for a while.
You’ve reminded me I have to rethink or research for better products.
HI Barbara,
I’m sure you’ll be as gorgeous and confident as ever. More power to ya!
Hi Hanlie,
I bet the leafy greens will help. Truth be told… when I first went natural, I swear I saw about 10 grays throughout the course of a couple of months. But, now, they’re gone… so go figure.
Hi Meg,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for chiming in and THANK YOU for that awesome quote from the doctor. I’m going to share it with my mom. She’s still lightning her hair with stuff from the health food store.
Cheers and Love to ALL of you!
Kristen
Amanda wrote:
“What about some of the more natural hair dye alternatives available at Whole Foods, etc.? Like Naturtint or Tints of Nature or Herbatint? I tried henna and despise it! Any opinions or experience? Thanks!”
I’m bringing this up again because I too would love it if someone would share her experience with these products. Thanks!
growing hair out tip : Try new styling products on your newly textured hair. Greys can be wiry , or course; or curly or straight in contrast to your other hair.
What works for me now is air drying my short hair while i put on make-up/ get dressed. To style for sleeker look I mix a couple drops of jojoba oil and a spritz of hairspray in the palm of my hand, rub palms together, pet over and through hair, and comb into place.
To style for curls or choppy look mix the jojoba oil with a spritz of curl enhancing spray and run hands through hair, twirl it, mess it , scrunch it into place.
The jojoba oil conditions your hair and scalp all day, gives shine which makes the grey seem to sparkle, and the other product gives some staying power. It takes less than two minutes!
My mom uses those hair coloring products to keep her hair blond. Yes, they have fewer chemicals than traditional colorings… but I don’t consider them off the hook, from what I’ve heard. But, check the ingredients and then check the Skin Deep website for details.
Cheers XOXO,
Kristen
I was playing around on the Internet tonight and found this link which might be useful to some of you… rating various hair coloring products:
http://www.natural-living-for-women.com/natural-hair-color-review.html
Kristin, great topic! It has been great reading about your experience and all of the comments as well! This is so pertinent to what I am going through right now! I colored the hell out of my hair all through my 20′s, and wonder how I had any hair left! Then at 31 I got breast cancer and going through chemo lost all of my hair. Wow…that was some reality check! So I vowed that when it grew back I would never color it again. And it was like brand new hair. I actually didn’t even know what color it would be since I hadn’t seen my natural color in years! I did good for 6 years and then 2 years ago freaked when I saw too many greys popping up and went back to color. Since cancer I changed alot about my life especially my diet and cleaned alot of chemicals out of my food and cosmetics. So I was concerned but decided to go with highlights thinking they weren’t as bad because they don’t touch the scalp. Well, I was ok with it for awhile but then I noticed alot of hair breakage. My hair was so damaged and dried out that now I am trying to grow out the highlights. Although I see many grays at my roots I am trying to embrace them! I keep thinking about losing all of my hair when I had cancer and realizing that it is just hair. But alas, I am still a girl so I want to look good. I am now considering going really short to cut all of the color out and just start over! I am no stranger to short hair so it shouldnt be that hard for me to do. Now I am 40 and as I get older I realize that certain things don’t matter as much as they once did. I think it is great that you shared this part of your journey! You have inspired me to keep going with the tough growing out phase!!
If your tooth fillings had mercury in them you might want to keep an eye on your mercury levels or be aware of symptoms of mercury toxicity. My father had his mercury fillings removed only to find out that the act of having them removed exposes you to much more mercury than just keeping them in your mouth. For your sake, I hope this is not true but you may want to do a little research on this (especially since I am just providing anecdotal information here). Best wishes.
Amanda wrote:
“What about some of the more natural hair dye alternatives available at Whole Foods, etc.? Like Naturtint or Tints of Nature or Herbatint? I tried henna and despise it! Any opinions or experience? Thanks!”
I’m bringing this up again because I too would love it if someone would share her experience with these products. Thanks!
I think you should post a picture of yourself, Kristen, with your natural hair color. :) Thanks for the excellent article.
Hey Kristen – We thrilled for you. Hey I thought I would chime in…with grey hair I color my brunette – I don’t like the henna so much and am very concerned about using as natural as possible…..Lorina my colorist uses the best products without the harsh chemicals etc – I’ll just post her website here for anyone interested
http://www.puresalonaz.com
Lorina 480-318-7555
and great article
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2009/04/09/20090409sr-hair0410.html
enjoy and sending lot’s of love Andrea
okay – did that quickly so excuse the english on that last post! xoxo
Hi Emily,
As I’ve noted above in the comments, there are pictures of me on Facebook and throughout my blog with my natural color.
I have shingles in my head. Besides being painfull, my hair color growing in is grey, silver, and some brown. I have been a frosted brown blond for about 10 years, and before that had brown hair until it started to turn red when I had to start coloring it.
I am 70, but look younger,(good genes) and hate the idea of turning grey. I notice many women my age are grey ,while many look good that way, I hate to go grey. I’ve read all your readers comments and they do make going grey sound not so bad.
As I cannot try anything on my head to irritate it, I am considering the tea treatment.
Can anyone tell me if this treatment can be irritating to the scalp?
i want to meet people in today’s world who are just happy with the way their hair is.
i want to meet people who won’t even think about asking whether to colour or not to colour their hair, because it’d be out of the question or whole concept (in my opinion) of living a crazy, sexy life.
Out here on the west coast I notice more hair stylists starting to use more plant based products.
What about some of the more natural hair dye alternatives available at Whole Foods, etc.? Like Naturtint or Tints of Nature or Herbatint? I tried henna and despise it! Any opinions or experience? Thanks!
September 24, 2009