Why Box Hair Dye is a Risky Choice – The Better Alternative

In the colorful world of haircare, the allure of box hair dye presents itself as a quick and accessible route to a new look, tempting individuals with promises of dramatic change at a fraction of salon prices and saving time. However, this convenience comes with its fair share of risks, particularly to hair health and overall well-being. Navigating the complexities of at-home hair color requires a discerning eye, as the ingredients and application process involved can pose significant challenges. Fortunately, our team here at Ippodaro Natural Salon has created an alternative to at-home box dye using our safe, go-to hair color and will still save time and money — the Express Color Service (more on this below)! But before we dive into that, let’s discuss the risks associated with traditional at-home box hair dye!

 

Ingredients of Box Hair Dye

Common Harmful Ingredients

Box hair dyes often contain a cocktail of chemicals that can be harsh on both hair and health. Among these, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide are prevalent, used to open up the hair cuticle and strip away natural color, respectively. These ingredients are known for causing hair to become brittle and losing its natural luster. Another concerning chemical is Para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a dye derived from coal tar, which is notorious for causing allergic reactions and has been linked to severe health issues like respiratory failure and even cancer. Additionally, preservatives like DMDM Hydantoin release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that can irritate skin and affect the immune system. Lastly, traditional box dyes contain metallic salts which dries out the hair. Metallic salts will never wash out of the hair, and will cause build up. When trying to correct box dye color, the metallic salts will weaken the hair. Now it is possible to strengthen the weakened hair, it just takes time. Fortunately, our hair healers are experts when it comes to navigating the hair healing process!

Pro Tip: Here at Ippodaro Natural Salon, some of our customers prefer to use products that do not contain PPD. If that is your preference, just request it. Please note that our go-to color does have a small trace of PPD in the darker shades.

Effects on Hair and Scalp

The generic formulation of box dyes does not account for individual hair types and conditions, leading to potential damage and unsatisfactory coloring results. Ingredients like ammonia can cause scalp burns and lung irritation, while PPD may lead to dermatitis and swelling on the scalp and face. Continuous use of these dyes can exacerbate the damage, leading to chronic hair brittleness and breakage. The presence of harsh surfactants like sodium Laureth sulfate can further strip hair of essential oils, weakening its structure.

Lack of Customization

Unlike salon-grade products that are tailored to individual needs, box dyes adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, individuals often expect a specific hair color but the results are very different! Additionally, box dyes are formulated for healthy (or relatively healthy) hair that hasn’t been colored, bleached, or styled with heat. So for anyone that does not have perfectly healthy hair, box dye will just exacerbate hair damage due to inappropriate chemical mixes for different hair types. This generic approach disregards the unique history and texture of an individual's hair, often leading to uneven color application and increased susceptibility to hair health issues.

 

Application Issues

Difficulty of Self-Application

Applying box hair dye at home can be a tricky endeavor, especially for those attempting to achieve complex color changes. Without the expertise of a professional hair colorist, individuals often struggle with mixing the right proportions and applying the dye evenly. This can lead to patchy results, as the dye may not be distributed uniformly across all sections of the hair.

Potential for Uneven Coverage

The heat from one's scalp can accelerate the dye's development, causing the roots to process faster and appear lighter than the ends. This often results in a reverse balayage effect, which is far from the desired outcome. To mitigate this, it's advisable to start applying the dye on the ends and move towards the roots, balancing the color absorption throughout the hair.

Common Application Mistakes

One major pitfall is leaving the dye in for too long, thinking it will intensify the color. However, this can lead to over-saturation, making the hair darker than intended. Moreover, uneven application can result from not sectioning the hair properly or failing to use enough dye to saturate each section fully. These mistakes not only compromise the look but can also exacerbate hair damage due to excessive exposure to harsh chemicals.

Costly Long-Term Consequences

Correcting DIY Dye Jobs often leads individuals to seek professional help after unsuccessful attempts to achieve the desired hair color at home. Our hair healers emphasize that color correction is a specialized skill requiring deep knowledge of color theory and the use of professional-grade tools and materials, which are not readily available to consumers. The process can be complex, particularly if the dye job resulted in uneven color or severe damage.

Financial Cost of Damage Control

The financial implications of correcting a botched dye job can be significant. Individuals might face the choice between attempting another boy dye or paying a premium at a new salon specializing in color correction. In many cases, the latter is chosen to avoid further damage, leading to expenses that can far exceed the initial cost of the box dye. The use of color removers and additional treatments to fix the undesired results adds to the overall expense. Additionally, customers are encouraged to purchase products designed to heal damaged hair. 

Time and Effort Involved

Correcting a dye job is not only costly but also time-consuming (which is ironic given that many people opt for at-home box dye to save time). It requires multiple salon visits and lengthy sessions that can span several hours, depending on the severity of the damage. For instance, transforming a botched purple dye to a blonde shade might involve over seven hours in a salon chair. This commitment of time, coupled with the required aftercare, including deep conditioning and potential temporary solutions like wearing a wig, underscores the substantial long-term consequences of using box hair dye.

The Express Color Service

As mentioned above, our team wanted to provide an option for clients to color their hair while saving both time and money. So we just launched The Express Color Service! This is a service where clients come into the salon, we apply the color and send them on their way to wash it out at home. (Note that we send each client home with instructions!) The benefits include:

• Our hair healers study the clients' hair and scalp before mixing the color. By doing so, they choose the products that are safe for the individual’s hair and scalp!
• Our hair healers mix the color based on the individual’s current hair color to achieve the desired result.
• Our hair healers apply the color! This eliminates the concern of uneven application or missed spots!
• This service saves a lot of time! Each client will spend 30 minutes in the salon. 
• THIS SAVES MONEY! The Express Color Service costs $55! (Additional costs may apply depending on the amount of product required for an individual’s hair).  

Ready to schedule an Express Color Service? Book here!

 

Final Thoughts

Though at-home box dye may seem convenient and affordable, you are now aware of the downfalls! If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call or schedule a free consultation.