Healthier Hair with Alternative Products

My clients are often torn between choosing to have healthier hair by leaving it natural  and using harsh chemicals to color their hair. Chemicals used in hair coloring products and the fumes produced are just plain yucky to both the client and hairdresser. There are now healthier hair coloring products on the market for those who are fed up with fumes, chemicals and un-healthy hair.

“Healthier Hair Products don’t Cost any More”Organic Color Systems is just one of the brands that offer a healthier hair alternative to traditional hair coloring products. L’Oreal INOA Hair Color is another as of January 2010.

Organic Color Systems contains no ammonia and no parabens as well as other chemicals that can cause negative reactions for both the client and hairdresser. This particular brand also offers a perm that has organic ingredients and is ammonia and thioglycolate (a common ingredient in many hair color products) free. I spoke to Matthew, from Organic Color Systems who answered a few of my questions regarding their hair colors.

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Kristle: Will Organic Color Systems cover resistant gray hair?

Matthew: Organic Color Systems is used in 30 countries, has been around 12 years and has been covering gray for all that time and for all those hairdressers. Organic Color Systems uses a moisturizing oil base in their hair color which helps to soften resistant grays so that the color can penetrate.

Kristle: Is Organic Color Systems  a better choice than other hair color lines for someone sick from cancer or other illnesses?

Matthew: Although Organic Color Systems cannot recommend a hair care product for any particular person, they did say that their product is a less toxic hair coloring product than others. They also will supply an ingredient list by request so that anyone suffering from an illness can check with their doctor.

Kristle: Does Organic Color Systems offer the same amount of lift and deposit as traditional hair color systems such as Redken or L’OREAL Professional?

Matthew: You will  get the same lift or deposit as traditional hair color systems with a few adjustments.

Matthew also told me they market their hair colors to professionals at a comparable price to other leading hair color product manufacturers. He says they are priced right in the middle, which is good news as it shouldn’t cost any more to get this color service compared to any other!We should be seeing more and more of these healthier hair alternatives that offer less toxic chemicals in products available soon.  Maybe your hair salon already has a healthier hair care product offer for you . . . be sure to ask the question!!

You can find out more about Organic Color Systems on their website

Don’t miss our complete guide to hair coloring for more in-depth information.

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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Even celebrity hairstyles can go bad!

Celebrity hairstyles change as often as the seasons come and go . . . but do they always get it right? These recent hair color changes struck-out in my opinion. Change isn’t always a good thing!

“I’m Bored with Celebrity Hairstyles”Rihanna, forever the style risk-taker, recently went from black to blonde. Adding in chunky blonde high lights to her dark hair gave her already rocker hairstyle an even edgier look. My take on this celebrity hair color change . . . I think that the blonde is all wrong and should be red or purple instead. This blonde is brassy and in great need of a toner. If Rihanna wants her hair to look rocker-chic, red or purple where the blonde is would give her exactly what she needs.

Celebrity hairstyles transform repeatedly

Jessica Alba changes hair colors faster than we can keep up with! A few months back she was a brunette, then morphed into a blonde and now she has taken on this auburn red hue. The red reminds me of another celebrity hair color change, namely Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s. The shade is flattering on Ashlee, but I can’t say the same for Jessica Alba. I would like to see Jessica go back to brunette this season.  Brunette is the most flattering hair color I’ve seen on Jessica Alba for her skin tone.

Drew is a chameleon!

Just when I was loving Drew Barrymore’s big blonde hairstyle, she goes and switches it up on. Her new hair color of choice is blonde with black tips. This look reminds me of vintage Gwen Stefani when she colored the tips of her hair pink. I’m not sure what prompted Drew Barrymore to do this to her hair, but I am not a fan. She should go back to a honey blonde color for now and ditch the black hairstyle!

Boy, I really wish Hollywood would just give us some more beautiful fall hair colors to write about! What do you think of these celebrity hair color switches?  Leave your comments on Rihanna, Jessica and Drew’s new hues.

You might also want to checkout these other articles featuring Rihanna Hairstyles:

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Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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African-American Hair Harmed Says Dermatologist

We’ve all known for years that the ingredients in hair relaxers, hair straighteners, perms and hair colors can be harmful to our hair and scalp. But, this doesn’t deter us from our quest for beauty.

Hair straighteners, hair relaxers and hair extensions can break, burn and otherwise damage the hair and scalp. It’s easy to believe that when you can buy these hair care products off the shelves that they must be safe, or at least safe to use at home . . . but it’s simply not always true.

“African-American
Hair Warning”In a recent article in Dermatology Times, by Paula Moyer, Dr. Marta Rendon M.D. associate clinical professor at both the University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, sums up her warning by saying, “They need to know that if something itches or burns, it’s not good for them.”

Pay Attention

“Several of the hair straightening products and practices can make things worse, because they break, burn and irritate the hair, and can cause allergic dermatitis of the scalp,” Dr. Rendon says. So-called “hair relaxing” agents are also often used by patients of African-American heritage or others with very curly hair. In these black hair care products, which loosen the curl and make the hair easier to blow dry and comb, the active ingredient is typically lye, which can also cause allergic contact dermatitis, dry scalp, and scalp infections.”

Some of the newer hair straightening products and procedures, like Brazilian treatments or Japanese straightening treatments are advertised as “formaldehyde-free.”  Earlier hair straightening products contained formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen and can cause life-threatening allergic reactions.

Hair care for black hair is much more fragile than Asian or Caucasian hair. African-Americans have fewer follicles per inch on the scalp making the hair less dense. The African-American hair type also has less strength, breaks easily and is difficult to comb.

“Patients who use hair straighteners, hair relaxers, hair dryers and flat irons can eventually lose their hair, Dr. Rendon says. “The hair just can’t tolerate all these procedures.” Other procedures that can cause traction alopecia are the gluing of hair extensions to the scalp and the fusing of hair strands to give the illusion of more volume. Some hair extensions are now fastened with clips, which create less traction than glue.

I learned early on in beauty school that any scalp disorder needs to be referred to a dermatologist immediately. Dr. Rendon points out that timing is critical to being able to influence the ability to treat the condition. “We get them very early or very late,” Dr. Rendon says. “Problems that are fairly new are more likely to be reversed, but those of long duration can cause permanent hair loss due to scarring.”

“Brazilian treatments are often smuggled in and done in someones kitchen, often with disastrous consequences,” Dr. Rendon says. “We can teach patients to ask their hairdressers to tell them the manufacturers of the hair care products they use, and to stick with reputable companies.”

“The major cosmetics companies have done their homework to make sure that their products are safe,” Dr. Rendon says. Dermatologists can also teach patients to be suspicious of discomfort, she says. “They need to know that if something itches or burns, it’s not good for them.”

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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