Colouring/hair chemical agents-haidresser occupational hazard

[softthings]

@tctrek, i am so glad some people realize how crazy the general public can be. haha. working in atlanta i had that problem of too high of expectations. now in the smaller town i am in, people are so stoked just to have a good haircut. i feel sane again. my quote for most of my time working in atlanta was that "it's a haircut, not a miracle."

@shootingstar, thank you. i do monitor my health due to other health problems. drs never really talk about any of the chemicals i work around. well, maybe one, a chiro i had a few years ago was concerned.

i will say that i do feel the salon i am working in is very well ventilated though. the only time i feel too close to chemicals is when i am mixing them and after i pull out foils from someone who has had bleach highlights. it can take your breath away sometimes. all that ammonia. bleh. somebodys gotta do it, right?

[TriMom217]

My MIL is in her early 60s and has been a hairdresser for 30+ years. She loves what she does and loves her clients as well. I never thought about the chemicals involved to tell the truth......just worried about all the cigarettes smoked between clients!

[kjay]

Before posting, I really should check out some facts first, but for covering gray hair, I go to a salon that uses Aveda products, and the coloring product does not have any fumes that I can detect, and I believe it's more people-friendly than the really strong coloring agents. I believe healthier products are bound to be developed (or maybe already have been).

[bcipam]

I color my own hair, at home, using professional products. I've experienced no problems... that said, I wish I never started. yes I like the look of freshly colored hair for many reasons (it's softer, more manageable, shinier etc) but the routine is a drag. I am 59 1/2 years old. I will stop coloring hair when I hit 60. It may be a shock to see what color my hair really is. I am afraid!

[Catrin]

Oddly enough, coloring my hair is the best way to control the psoriasis on my scalp! It does much better at controlling it than anything the doctors have subscribed. My hair stylist has told me that he knows others with the same experience. An odd, though positive, side-effect

[softthings]

@kjay, aveda does use the same developers as all the other color systems out there. if you are just doing color, you don't get the fumey smell like you would if you were doing bleach or a high lift blonde.

[salsabike]

The American Cancer Society's summary of current research suggests that risk is very limited: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/co...X_Hair_Dye.asp