Can I dye my hair?

Although I am in my early 40s, my hair has started greying. I want to know if hair dyes are safe and cannot injure the body.

Halima (by SMS)

According to experts, the safety of Hair dyes depends on the dye’s ingredients, how often you colour and the hue you choose. Even your genetic composition makes a difference. More than 5,000 chemicals are in hair dye, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The number of times you dye your hair may increase your risk of injury. Women who colored their hair with permanent dye at least once a month for a year or longer doubled their odds of developing possible ailments including cancer. It is also advisable to keep the mixture on your hair only as long as recommended on the box, wear gloves when applying the mixture.

Some chemicals are toxic, so minimize exposure and try to keep the colour off your scalp. Skin exposure also raises your risk of an allergic reaction. Applying with a brush or comb may help keep dye from your scalp. Don’t combine different hair dye products; they may have harmful reactions and rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after dyeing.

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