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No Ammonia Hair Dye

No Ammonia Hair Dye- Animal Testing and Ethical Policy in Hair Colour
Most big brands remain to test on animals for all of their products. Smart Beauty’s message is clear: They do NOT test on animals and believe it is no longer necessary for cosmetic companies to test products in this way.

§ They use high-performance, innovative formulations with carefully selected natural ingredients that take care of the hair (organic certified ingredients and other natural sources including vitamins E&C).
§ They use environmentally friendly packaging, which is all 100% recyclable, including non-PVC mixing trays and sustainable sourced cardboard packaging.
§ All components are sourced in Europe in order to reduce our carbon footprint for environmental conservation.
§ Additionally, they support various charities and are now THE ONLY Hair Colouring Brand to be certified by The BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) and listed in The Little Book of Cruelty Free. This is a book produced to help like minded consumers find companies such as Smart Beauty which offer products that have not been tested on animals throughout the manufacturing process. They work very closely with the BUAV to support this cause.

Adverse effects of hair colouring

Hair coloring involves the use of chemicals capable of removing, replacing and/or covering up pigments naturally found inside the hair shaft. Use of these chemicals can result in a range of adverse effects, including temporary skin irritation and allergy, hair breakage, skin discoloration and unexpected hair color results.

Additionally, there is ongoing debate regarding more serious health consequences of hair colour usage, including lead poisoning.

Skin irritation and allergy

In certain individuals, the use of hair coloring can result in allergic reaction and/or skin irritation.

Symptoms of these reactions can include redness, sores, itching, burning sensation and discomfort. If any of these symptoms occur, alert your hair colorist immediately so that they can remove the color. Symptoms will not always be present right at the application and processing of the tint but can also arise after hours or even a day.

To help prevent or limit allergic reactions, the majority of hair color products recommend that the client conduct a patch test before using the product. This involves mixing a small quantity of tint preparation and applying it directly to the skin for a period of 24 hours. If irritation develops, manufacturers recommend that the client not use the product. A skin patch test is advised before the use of every coloring process, since allergies can develop even after years of use with no reaction.

Adverse reactions can result from both at-home and salon hair coloring products, as similar chemicals are used in both settings.

In some cases, allergic reactions are caused by the aniline derivative and/or p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) found in permanent hair color.

Hair breakage

Hair that has been damaged by excessive exposure to chemicals is considered 'over-processed'. This results in dry, rough and fragile hair. In extreme cases, the hair can be so damaged that it breaks off entirely. This problem can be fixed by discussing possible solutions with a hair-care professional, or simply by giving your hair a break from the procedures which caused the breakage in the first place.

Skin discoloration

Many hair colors will color skin almost as well as they color hair. Skin, fingernails and hair are made of the same type of keratinized protein. That means that drips, slips and extra hair tint around the hairline can result in patches of discolored skin. This is more common with the darker hair colors and persons with dry absorbant skin.

This discoloration is temporary; it will disappear as the skin naturally renews itself and the top layer of skin is removed. This typically takes a few days or at most one week. A good way to prevent dye discoloration is to put a thin layer of Vaseline or any oil-based preparation around the hairline as it prevents the tint from touching your skin. It is recommended that latex gloves be worn to protect the hands.

Unpredictable colour results

In some cases, the hair color a person has after coloring their hair is not what they expected to get. In general, this is more likely to happen using at-home dyes, as professional colorists are more aware of what can realistically be achieved with tints and what will distort results. They also typically have a range of products available (such as toners) to correct unintended results before the client sees them.

Some of the things that can cause unintended results include:

* Trying to lighten or darken hair more than three shades using at-home products
* Coloring already-colored hair
* Previous use of henna and "color restorers", which can react unpredictably with industrial tints.
* Presence of minerals, salts, chlorine or other environmental contaminants usually from residential water supplies or sea water
* Certain prescription drugs will be excreted in hair and alter hair chemistry, causing unpredictable interactions with hair color

In the event of unfortunate unintended results, an immediate visit to a professional hair colorist is generally recommended.

Health concerns

There is ongoing debate regarding more serious health consequences that may result from use of hair coloring.

Recent publications regarding the dangers of hair tints include:

* An FDA study that found lead acetate (the active ingredient in gradual darkening products such as Grecian formula) to be potentially toxic.
* Articles that link the development of some forms of cancer (including leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder cancer, blood cancer, and multiple myeloma) with use of hair color. More specifically, prolonged use of permanent dark hair dyes can actually double a person's risk of getting various types of blood cancer.

* Recently a known human carcinogen, 4-ABP, was found in some hair dyes that you can get off the shelf.

So it makes sense to use a reputable, ethical, safe hair colouring for your requirements. Smart Beauty is the award winning market leader- and the even better news is that their products are very competitively priced. You can see for yourself at the Smart Beauty Online Shop .
No ammonia hair dye