Can Hair Dye Cause Hair Loss?
9th December 2020
The use of hair dye is very common, with approximately 69 per cent of women in the UK having used some sort of hair dye in the past – 19 per cent admitting they use it at least once a month*.
Plus, with lockdown and tiered restrictions in place over the past several months, many people – both men and women – have attempted DIY hair dying at home, to varying degrees of success.
One question, however, that puts off many is whether hair dye can cause hair loss. And, the simplest answer is yes, it can.
Although dyeing your hair doesn’t inhibit hair growth, it can result in more shedding and cause hair loss by damaging the hair, particularly if you dye your hair too often and especially if you are using bleach.
You may not realise, but the rubbing and combing associated with hair dying can loosen hairs in the shedding phase (telogen) causing increased shedding. Also, dye products contain both ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which can similarly loosen telogen hairs and result in more shedding.
A key concern is that the chemicals in hair dye can also physically weaken the hair shafts (i.e., the part of a hair projecting beyond the surface of the skin) increasing breakage-caused hair loss.
In simple terms, the hair becomes very dry and brittle, which can result in uneven layers and a lack of volume caused by strands that have snapped, which can also make thinning more obvious.
If you’re worried about some hair loss due to hair dye use, we would recommend taking a break and allowing your hair time to recover. Some also find conditioning treatments beneficial as they help to keep your hair hydrated.
Another option may be to switch to a semi-permanent colour or trying highlighting and balayage techniques, which can also be less harsh on your hair.
If you’re worried about your hair loss and want some expert advice, our team are happy to talk through your options.
*Frequency of hair dye usage in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, Published by Alexander Kunst, Sep 3, 2019
