Hair thinning and hair loss are common concerns for many people. Some believe that dyeing or coloring one’s hair can contribute to hair becoming thinner or falling out. But is there any truth to the idea that hair color makes your hair thin? Let’s take a closer look at what experts have to say.
Does permanent hair dye cause hair loss?
Permanent hair dyes use chemicals to alter the structure of the hair. This opens up the cuticle layer to allow the color to deposit inside the hair shaft. There has been some concern that this process could damage hair or lead to breakage and thinning. However, most experts agree that occasional use of permanent dyes is unlikely to significantly impact hair thickness or fullness.
One 2007 study tested the effects of permanent hair dye use in more than 200 women over a 5 year period. They found no correlation between frequency of permanent dye use and increased hair shedding or thinning. As long as the hair is in good condition beforehand, permanent dye itself does not appear to cause hair loss.
How permanent hair dye could indirectly impact hair thickness
While the permanent coloring process itself won’t directly make hair thin, there are some indirect ways it could contribute to the appearance of thinning hair:
- Overprocessing with permanent dye can damage the hair cuticle. This can lead to breakage and split ends, giving the appearance of thinner hair.
- Opting for a permanent dye that is several shades lighter than your natural color requires pre-lightening the hair. This uses bleach and higher volume developers that dry out and weaken hair over time if done repeatedly.
- Metallic salt dyes found in some cheaper permanent hair colors have been linked to gradual hair thinning if used excessively over time.
- Leaving permanent dye on too long or applying it to already damaged hair increases chances of breakage and hair loss.
So while high quality permanent dyes applied properly won’t intrinsically make hair thinner, they could potentially contribute to thinning indirectly if misused or overdone.
What about semi-permanent and temporary hair dyes?
Semi-permanent and temporary hair colors coat the outside of the hair shaft rather than penetrating into it. This makes them gentler on hair overall. Studies show semi-permanent dyes have no observable impact on hair loss or breakage.
In one study, over 250 women used a semi-permanent dye regularly for over 3 years. No increased hair shedding was observed in these women compared to non-users. Other research has found similar results.
Temporary rinses and color sprays deposit color that washes out within several shampoos. These also do not interact chemically with the hair, and have not been linked to hair thinning.
Tips to minimize damage from hair dye
While most research shows hair dye doesn’t directly prompt hair loss, minimizing chemical processing can keep hair in the best condition. Here are some tips:
- Do a patch test each time you dye to check for irritation.
- Follow all timing and processing instructions precisely.
- Choose semi-permanent or demi-permanent colors instead of permanent dye if possible.
- Use a deep conditioning hair mask before and after coloring.
- Wait at least 6-8 weeks between permanent coloring services.
- Use Olaplex or similar bond-building treatments when bleaching or coloring.
- Avoid bleaching/coloring if hair is already damaged from chemicals or heat styling.
Can hair dye cause hair loss for those predisposed?
While hair dye doesn’t trigger hair loss on its own, some research indicates it could exacerbate thinning for those already predisposed. Individuals with a family history of female or male pattern baldness or medical hair loss conditions may want to exercise caution with use of permanent dyes.
One theory is that the trauma of permanent dye chemicals on already-sensitive follicles can worsen genetic hair loss. However, more research is still needed.
Those with autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata that cause sudden hair shedding may also want to avoid chemical processing as it could increase chances of flares. Speak to your dermatologist if you have concerns.
Can hair color cause hair texture changes?
More than impacting hair density, some find that hair dye affects texture – becoming drier, more brittle, or coarser feeling after coloring. This tends to happen most with permanent dye resulting from cuticle damage during the lifting and depositing process.
Repeated bleaching when lightening hair color can also remove moisture, elasticity, and suppleness from the hair over time, leaving it feeling dry and frizzy after coloring.
Additionally, the chemicals interact with the hair’s protein structure. This can gradually make hair more porous, causing it to get frizzy or coarse feeling faster when wet or humid.
These texture changes happen slowly over many dye sessions, becoming more noticeable in those who color frequently over many years. Using demi-permanent or semi-permanent options instead of permanent dye can help mitigate the drying effects.
Protecting hair health when coloring
If you color treat your hair, focus on regular conditioning and protective steps between salon visits. This helps counteract any subtle cutting damage or drying effects over time. Try to:
- Shampoo less frequently – opt for a cleansing conditioner instead.
- Use a weekly nourishing hair mask.
- Apply an anti-frizz serum or oil to smooth the cuticle.
- Protect hair from heat styling and UV exposure.
- Get occasional deep conditioning salon treatments.
Does bleaching make your hair thin permanently?
Bleaching referrs to the process of using bleach powder or cream with developer to strip out the natural pigment from hair. This allows for dramatic lightening so hair can be dyed a lighter color.
When done correctly, a single bleaching session will not cause permanent hair loss. However repeated bleaching can potentially lead to irreversible thinning and damage over time.
Bleach works by forcibly opening the cuticle layer and degrading the hair’s melanin pigments. This leaves hair extremely porous and prone to breakage, especially with overlapping lightening sessions. Hair may feel gummy, stretchy, and look thinner from the loss of integrity to the internal structure.
Minimizing thinning from repeat bleaching
Here are some tips if you plan to bleach your hair regularly:
- Space out bleaching sessions by 6-8 weeks to allow hair recovery time.
- Use Olaplex or similar bond-building additive in bleach to prevent cuticle damage.
- Avoid overlapping lightener on previously bleached sections.
- Use lower volume developer and watch hair carefully during processing.
- Deep condition after each lightening service.
- Avoid bleaching if hair is already color-treated or heat damaged.
- Consider balayage or highlights instead of full head bleaching.
Can hair dye cause hair loss at the root?
Hair dye only affects the hair shaft that has grown out of the scalp. It does not penetrate down to impact the roots, where active hair growth happens.
Any increased shedding from hair coloring would occur further down the hair strand, not at the roots. Shedding that seems to occur at the root after dyeing is likely coincidental based on the hair growth cycle.
What causes root hair loss?
Seeing more roots than usual come out with the bulb attached can indicate active hair loss happening at the follicles. This is called telogen effluvium if sudden and anagen effluvium if caused by toxicity to the follicle.
Some potential causes of root shedding include:
- High fever or severe illness
- Extreme stress 3+ months prior
- Childbirth
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Medications like blood thinners
- Autoimmune diseases
- Hormonal changes like hypothyroidism
Rather than the hair dye itself, factors like stress at the salon visit or allergy to hair color chemicals would be a more likely link to root shedding, if experienced.
Can natural hair dyes cause hair loss?
Natural hair dyes use pigments from plant sources like herbs, fruits, and vegetables to color hair rather than synthetic chemicals. Henna is one of the most popular natural dyes.
When used correctly, natural hair dyes are believed to be gentler on hair than chemical options. However, some plant pigments, especially henna, can be very potent and permanent on hair strands.
Natural dyes still coat the outside of the hair shaft, so incorrect use leading to dryness and breakage is possible. Very porous or damaged hair may still show thinning or texture changes from frequent natural dyeing.
For most people with healthy hair, occasional use of natural dyes is unlikely to cause significant shedding or thinning. But be cautious if you already have fine, thinning hair.
Patch testing natural hair colors
As with any hair dye, it’s smart to do a patch test each time before a full application. For 24-48 hours, apply a bit of the mixed dye to skin near your inner elbow or behind the ear.
Look for signs of redness, itching, swelling or irritation, which would indicate allergy. Henna in particular has been linked to allergic reactions in some users.
Does hair color cause hair loss for guys?
Hair dye is less commonly used by men, but some do utilize it to cover greys or change tone. The popular belief is that hair color only causes thinning issues in women.
However, research hasn’t found any difference in how hair dye impacts hair health for males versus females. When used properly, hair color doesn’t appear to instigate hair shedding or thinning for either gender.
For those genetically prone to male pattern baldness, hair dye would not cause the condition. However, if hair is in poor condition already, coloring could exacerbate hair loss issues similarly to women with genetic hair thinning tendencies.
Precautions for men using hair dye
Men using hair color should take similar precautions as women to avoid potential damage from dyes:
- Opt for semi-permanent or demi-permanent colors instead of permanent dye if aiming for subtle changes.
- Avoid bleach or high volume lightening products near scalp.
- Follow all timing directions precisely to prevent overprocessing.
- Use a deep conditioner immediately after coloring.
- Allow 6-8 weeks between coloring services.
Being cautious with use and limiting chemical processing will help keep hair healthy and minimize any thinning.
Does hair color cause cancer?
No conclusive link has been found between personal use of hair dye and cancer risk. However, some recent studies have raised concern over increased chances for certain cancers, particularly with long-term and more frequent use.
In one large study, regular users of permanent hair dye were found to have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, while other studies found associations with bladder cancer and leukemia. Participants using darker shades of hair color also showed moderately higher cancer rates.
More research is still needed, but the thinking is chemicals in permanent dyes over time may interact with DNA and contribute to cellular mutations that could raise cancer risk. There is less evidence of risk from semi-permanent and temporary dyes.
Minimizing cancer risk from hair dye
While evidence is still limited, women concerned over the potential carcinogenic effects of hair dye may want to:
- Limit use of permanent dye to only occasional touch-ups
- Wear gloves during application to avoid skin absorption of chemicals
- Rinse hair thoroughly after coloring
- Avoid chemical straightening or bleaching on top of permanent dye
- Opt for semi-permanent or temporary dyes instead of permanent color
More research is still needed to better understand if there is a direct cause and effect relationship between hair dye chemicals and cancer. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors.
Does hair color affect hair growth?
Hair color does not inherently change the growth rate or growth cycle of your hair. The hair follicles in the scalp where active growth happens are unaffected by dye applied only to the hair shaft.
However, damage from bleaching or permanent dye over time could potentially affect the look of hair growth. Hair may appear to grow slower and thinner following chemical processing if the strands become very porous and prone to breakage.
Very damaged hair takes longer to reach length goals. But the actual growth rate within the follicle is unchanged. Limiting chemical processing helps avoid excessive damage that slows down visible hair growth.
Conclusion
While hair dyes, especially permanent options, have the potential to damage hair over time, research shows they do not directly cause hair loss or thinning for most users. When chosen carefully and applied correctly at moderate frequency, hair color likely has minimal impact on hair health and fullness.
Those already experiencing genetic hair loss may want to exercise more caution with permanent dyes or bleaching to avoid worsening hair shedding. Overall, sticking to gentler semi-permanent or demi-permanent colors and allowing proper processing times minimizes risk of thinning hair from hair color.
