Hair Coloring

Ammonia-free hair color

Published: Sunday, 27 May 2007 09:09:52
E-mail this article | Print this page

By: Marcie Fraser

If you color your hair, chances are you're inhaling ammonia. For most of us it is not a problem. But for some people, it is.

"I have been a hair dresser for thirty years and every time I did color, I would start getting tightness in my chest," said MaryAnne Guerriero.

Guerriero's symptoms are from asthma. Her attacks are triggered by a chemical.

"I thought I would have to stop. I even told my husband Glenn that I am not going to be able to mix the color," Guerriero said.

It was the ammonia in the hair dye that caused those asthma attacks. Her husband was very concerned.

"It's a known fact that ammonia exacerbates conditions such as asthma, emphysema and allergies," said Glenn Guerriero.

Last year alone she was hospitalized several times. She didn't want to quit so they had to do something. Going organic was the answer. The salon began to use Chi 100 percent ammonia free hair color.

"Because they replaced the ammonia with mono-ethanolamine, which is a corn derivative, in this day and age where we are going with corn as a replacement for gasoline, they are able to use it on hair color," said Glenn Guerriero.

It does cost a bit more per tube, but is the product as effective as the dye with ammonia?

"The color lasts longer because it is advanced American technology and it is ceramic technology, the color penetrated deeper in the hair. Plus, it doesn't damage your hair like ammonia does in hair color. The color also maintains its intensity throughout application," said Glenn Guerriero.

When comparing both products, the organic one, without ammonia smells like almonds the other product containing ammonia, you can smell it, it even makes your eyes water, it's the same product that is dangerous for asthmatics and pregnant women.

It's been over a year and MaryAnne is hard at work.

"It's been wonderful. I have not been sick. I am able to come to work and feel as good as I do today, not struggling during the course of the day," said Guerriero.

Source: Capital News 9