CAN HAIR DYE CAUSE ITCHY SCALP?

Hair dye can allow people to live out their quirks and wants, almost like another way to adorn yourself. You might want subtle highlights or deep red hair. But if this same hair dye causes an itchy scalp, your dream look can slowly turn into a nightmare.

How does hair dye work?

Why do you have an itchy scalp after hair dye?

How do you prevent an itchy head after hair dye?

There are various types of hair dye available in the market, but they all usually contain chemicals that can help break open the hair strands and add colour to the hair shaft. The common chemicals found in hair dye are Ammonia, Hydrogen Peroxide and p-Phenylenediamine (PPD). Ammonia opens up the cuticle of the hair strand, allowing the hydrogen peroxide to remove the colour within. PPD is then used to dye the hair strand to the required shade.

However, you have a multitude of options available which have different chemicals in them. Permanent dyes, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, temporary, ammonia-free, paraben-free, gradual, natural, etc. All of these can have distinctive reactions, one of those being hair dye itching.

Anybody who’s used hair dye before, knows that there is always potential for a problem to pop up. An itchy scalp after hair colour is probably the most common. It can affect people for a short period of time or even turn into a chronic problem - It all depends on what dye you use and your sensitivity towards it.

Some of the reasons for an itchy head after hair dye are:

• PPD–

  The usual suspect in an itchy scalp, PPD is a known allergen that can cause scalp irritation from hair colour.

• Reactions–

  Hair dyes can have ammonia, parabens, formaldehyde, fragrances, etc., all of which can lead to allergic reactions on your scalp.

• Lead Acetate–

  This is a toxic chemical found in certain hair dyes, which can trigger breakouts and burning on your scalp.

• Removal of natural oils–

  Hair colour chemicals can break the lipid layer on your scalp and dry out the natural oils. This makes your scalp vulnerable to germs and pollutants, which can bring about an itchy scalp.

• Dandruff–

  Hair dye cannot cause dandruff , but it can spike oil levels to compensate for excessive dryness. This allows a dandruff causing fungus to grow, giving you an itchy scalp after hair dye.

• Overexposure to scalp–

  Hair dye is meant for your hair, but people often end up coating their scalp when aiming for the hair roots. This overexposure can lead to chemical burning and scalp irritation.

Sometimes people could be suffering from an itchy scalp and still consider dyeing their hair. If you want to take this step, it’s important to first determine the cause of your scalp itching. It could be dandruff, dry scalp, psoriasis, allergic reactions, or eczema. The general recommendation would be to find an answer for your itch, maybe shampoos for itchy scalp, and only then apply hair dye.

The good news is that you can avoid hair dye itchy scalps by following a few steps:

• Clean your scalp–

  Keep your scalp healthy and clean before applying hair colour.

• Follow instructions–

  If you’re doing it at home, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and don’t mix different dyes.

• Patch test–

  This is probably the most important step. Apply the dye on a small part of your skin for 48 hours and check for any reaction.

• Choose correctly–

  Find a hair dye that contains the right set of chemicals for you.

• Rinse out–

  Ensure that no hair dye is left behind on your scalp or hair, as this can cause itching.

• Hydration–

  Colouring can dry your hair and it’s important to use oils or serums that can protect from excessive moisture loss.

• Shampoo–

  An important itchy scalp after colouring hair remedy is selecting the right shampoo. Find one that attacks the reason for your itch, like the Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky which removes dandruff and keeps your hair silky.

• Avoid heat treatment–

  Give the curlers, straighteners and blowers a rest. Heat styling can dry out your scalp and damage your fragile hair.

• Cover your hair–

  Protect your hair from UV rays and pollution when you’re out and about. Additionally, you must cover your hair when swimming in chlorinated pools.

• Conditioners–

  Moisture and condition your hair to bring back the normal functioning of your hair and scalp ecosystem. You can even try products like the Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 Cool Menthol , which combines the benefits of a shampoo and conditioner.

If your problems don’t reduce, you might need to visit a doctor for an itchy scalp remedy. They might recommend anti-allergy creams or even medications in extreme situations. Hair dyes can give you the look you always wanted, but approach it carefully and take adequate steps to prevent an itchy scalp breakout.