TO DYE OR NOT TO DYE IN A SALON? By Annie Berthold Bond The first time I dyed my hair I used a dye product I bought at the health food store that was made of roots and seeds. My sister helped me, and we followed all the directions exactly. When I stepped out of the shower after washing out the dye, I could tell in one glance at my sister that the result was a disaster! My hair was as orange as a carrot. Thank goodness my daughter wasn't yet a "tween," or she wouldn't have gone out with me in public (although as a teenager she might have been proud!) I tried one more natural plant dye brand to use at home, and while the results were nice, they were inconsistent, and it wasn't long before I began to research dyes used in salons, for convenience and better results. I quickly discovered that as of yet, there are no salon hair dye brands that are 100 percent plant-derived. I didn't want to put toxic, petroleum-based ingredients in my hair and on my scalp because petroleum products can be a risk to your health and are nonrenewable for the environment. In my research to find an acceptable alternative for a hair dye that could be provided within the ease of a salon, I discovered that Aveda salon dye products seem to be the best solution available today. Ninety-nine percent of Aveda's demi-permanent dye is plant- derived, and the permanent dyes are 97 percent plant-based. The results are nice -- the hair color is surprisingly natural looking, and the dyes aren't nearly as drying to the hair because they don't contain harsh petrochemical solvents. More details: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/4117 ANNIE'S EVERYDAY SOLUTIONS - THE HEALTHY HOME Simple Solutions for a Healthy and Healing Home Brought to you at your request from Care2.com Vol. 2, Issue 21 - May 2, 2002 "Care2 Ask Annie" is bi-monthly, and edited and published by Annie Berthold-Bond, the producer of Care2.com's green living channels and the author of a number of books, including Better Basics for the Home. Contact Annie at annie@earth.care2.com Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.