Anyone who wants to have beautiful, healthy and shiny hair but the arrival of the first white hair or the desire to change its natural color makes us arrive at the complex world of dyes: there are of course different types of hair dyes, but if we do not choose the one that best suits our hair the result can be to see our hair turned off and emptied. Here’s what we’ll talk about in this article:
There are several types of hair dyes available on the market, each with its own characteristics and results:
When it comes to dyes, the first ingredient that comes out is always her: ammonia. It is a chemical compound composed of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3) that is used in hair dyeing as an alkaline agent to open the cuticles of the hair, which are the small scales that protect the hair shaft. The opening of the cuticles allows the dyes to penetrate inside the hair and change its natural color.
It has been used in hair dyes for several decades, and has long been considered an essential ingredient for achieving long-lasting and intense results. In recent years, however, due to growing concerns about the health of hair and scalp, have been formulated more and more hair dyes without ammonia. These formulas use other less aggressive alkaline substances, such as ethanolamine or monoethanolamine (MEA), to open the cuticles and allow dyes to penetrate the hair.
It is important to note that although ammonia is still present in most traditional hair dyes, more and more brands are introducing ammonia-free product lines to meet the demand for more delicate and natural solutions, that can preserve hair health and reduce the risk of scalp irritation.
Often people come to this conclusion on their own: they go in search of a natural dye without ammonia because after prolonged use of ammonia dyes see hair dehydrated and dull. However, there are also objective reasons to look for alternatives to ammonia dyes.
Ammonia is an aggressive ingredient that can cause dryness and dehydration because it subtracts the moisture naturally present in the hair leaving them brittle and susceptible to damage and breakage. It is not by chance that we often speak of "treated hair" as a type of hair. The so-called treated hair are nothing but brittle hair that have undergone aggressive treatments and therefore need to be restructured.
Ammonia can also cause scalp irritation and skin sensitivity, causing itching, burning and redness.
Choosing a natural hair dye without ammonia offers many benefits. First, it eliminates the risk of damaging the hair structure and preserves their health. Of course not all formulas without ammonia are the same: it is not enough that a hair dye has this feature to be a good dye. In general, however, we can say that dyes without ammonia are less aggressive on hair and scalp.
Do not forget that in any case, the choice of a natural hair dye without ammonia is also an ecological gesture. Many traditional hair coloring products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the environment when they are rinsed. Opting for a natural dye without ammonia such as herbal dyeing, means reducing the negative impact on nature, contributing to a more sustainable approach to beauty.
The main difference between a hair dye with ammonia and one without ammonia lies in the effect they have on the hair and scalp. Here are some key points that distinguish the two types of colors:
Cuticle opening: ammonia is used to open the cuticles of the hair, allowing the pigments to penetrate inside the hair. Ammonia dyes have a greater ability to lift the cuticles than ammonia-free dyes. This can allow better penetration of the color, but can also make the hair more vulnerable to damage.
Hair health: ammonia-free dyes are considered more delicate for the hair than dyed with ammonia. Because ammonia can remove natural moisture from hair, ammonia dyes can cause dryness, dehydration, and hair weakening over time. On the other hand, ammonia-free dyes are formulated to be less aggressive and less harmful to the hair structure.
Odor: Ammonia is known for its characteristic pungent odor, which can be unpleasant when applying dye. This is a disadvantage especially for those who apply the dye: think for example to a hairdresser who every day several times a day applies ammonia-based dyes. This could also have a negative impact on your health
Each dye has an impact on the hair. If we use chemical dyes, even without ammonia, we can achieve a color lasting over time but not always beautiful, healthy and healthy hair. We can then turn to natural dyes: but when can a dye be considered natural?
A dye to be 100% natural must meet the fundamental characteristics:
To be sure that a dye is really natural, it is therefore necessary to read the INCI list very well, making sure that there are no chemicals but only dry cleaning herbs: dyeing herbs are the ideal natural dye without ammonia to have colored hair of the color that we want without damaging the hair structure, but rather having a positive impact on the health of the hair lengths and exponential growth, as well as on the skin.
What we observe when we use dry cleaning herbs:
To learn more about dry cleaning herbs you can read this in depth on our blog.