Many people regularly dye their hair, whether for a change of pace or to cover gray hair. Have you ever heard that dyeing your hair can negatively impact your vision? In reality, many people report discomfort in their eyes after dyeing their hair. Those with poor eye health or preparing for eye surgery often postpone their hair dye plans. Could hair dye negatively affect your vision even if it doesn’t directly contact the eye?
Why do eyes sting after dyeing hair?
Hair dye is a blend of various chemicals designed to penetrate the hair strands effectively. Key ingredients include ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and paraphenylenediamine. Ammonia, a strong alkali, helps the dye infiltrate the hair, while hydrogen peroxide destroys the hair’s melanin pigment, aiding in bleaching. However, these substances are volatile and can irritate the eyes during dyeing. This discomfort is usually temporary, and symptoms typically improve within one to three days.
Can hair dyeing lead to imagination loss?
There is no direct correlation between hair dye and vision. However, it’s wise to be cautious as harmful components in hair dye can cause eye inflammation if they come into contact with the eyes. Additionally, ammonia’s strong and volatile smell can temporarily cause eyes to feel heavy or sting.
Is it okay to dye hair before or after eye surgery?
If you’re preparing for eye surgeries like LASIK or cataract surgery, avoiding hair dyeing is best. The chemical components in hair dye can irritate the eyes, cause dryness, and even lead to conjunctivitis or keratitis. Waiting at least a month after surgery before dyeing your hair is recommended.
Always test before self-dyeing
Before dyeing your hair, testing for an allergic reaction to the dye can help reduce allergic reactions. Apply a small amount of the dye behind your ear or inside your arm and wait 48 hours. If there’s no reaction, it’s safe to proceed. If you dye your hair without testing and experience itching or burning in your eyes or skin, stop dyeing immediately and seek medical attention.
Avoid using a hairdryer to speed up bleaching
Bleaching agents, which pose a risk of burns, contain hydrogen peroxide that helps bleach by destroying the melanin pigment in the hair. However, hydrogen peroxide is a strong alkali that can cause chemical burns when it contacts the skin. Severe symptoms can include red scalp patches and a burning or stinging sensation. Using a heating cap or hairdryer to speed up the bleaching process can make the scalp hot and accelerate the reaction of hydrogen peroxide, exacerbating the burn reaction. This is one behavior that should absolutely be avoided.
Henna dyeing can be an alternative
Henna is a natural dye extracted from shrubs native to India and Pakistan. The powder is mixed with water or aromatic oil to create a hair dye. Skin side effects from henna itself are rare. If you need to dye your hair frequently, why not try henna? However, some commercial henna products may contain added chemicals, so check all ingredients before use.
Avoid shampooing on the day of dyeing
Ammonia infiltrates the hair’s surface, inflating and roughening the tissues to allow the dye to penetrate. One way to reduce irritation from ammonia is to avoid shampooing on the day you dye your hair. If you shampoo on the day of dyeing, you risk over-cleansing your scalp and removing the sebum that serves as a protective barrier.
Is natural dyeing okay?
The rising trend of water dyeing involves hair dyes that only use water and herb color powder, without unsafe chemicals or henna. These dyes have no smell and are not irritating. They have been certified by the Food and Drug Administration and recognized as possible cosmetics. They have also passed dermatological hypoallergenic tests, making them popular among those who want to dye their hair healthily.
Who shouldn’t dye their hair?
The irritation caused by hair dye affects the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye. If you have a wound on your conjunctiva, the irritation can be more intense, so it’s best to dye your hair after the wound has healed. Also, those with severe dry eyes may feel more irritation, so it’s recommended to apply artificial tears or dry eye treatment before and after dyeing.
How do you protect eye health while dyeing hair?
If hair dye gets into your eyes, it’s important to rinse it out with artificial tears or running water to ensure no dye remains in your eyes. Try to reduce the frequency of dyeing and use dyes with plant-based ingredients instead of harsh chemicals. Even if the dyeing effect is slightly reduced, you can minimize the side effects of the hair dye.
By. Jeon Shin Young
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