It doesn’t matter if you’re dying your hair to cover greys, to balance out your balayage or because you heard the rumor that blondes have more fun… you need to be questioning what is in your hair dye. (Especially if it’s coming from a box in a grocery store!)

At Bryony & Birch Hair Loft, we steer VERY clear of mainstream box dyes not only because they physically can’t achieve the standards we’re aiming for, but because they contain a number of potentially harmful chemicals such as ammonia, PPDs, nitro dyes and other various endocrine disrupting chemicals.

With that being said, professional salon dyes aren’t necessarily free of those nasty chemicals either! That’s why we opt for brands who only formulate their dyes, toners and other hair care products with natural and clean ingredients.

Since we’re lovers of hair and know just how transformative a color change can be, we’ve searched long and hard to find the best non-toxic hair dye for our Amesbury hair salon!

To help you achieve the color you’re looking for in the safest way possible, we’ll go over:

PPD and other potentially harmful chemicals lurking in hair dye
Non-toxic hair dye options
The clean hair care brands we trust

Scroll down to learn more!

PPD and other Potentially Harmful Chemicals Lurking in Hair Dye

While some people may be at risk for developing skin, eye and respiratory irritation from exposures to common chemicals found in hair dye, one of the more serious concerns is exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and carcinogens.

Ingredients We Like To Avoid in Hair Dyes + Hair Care Products

Ammonia
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
PPD (Paraphenylenediamine)
PTD (Para-toluenediamine)
Phthalates
Resorcinol
SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
Synthetic Fragrance

Why are endocrine disrupting chemicals bad?
When introduced into your body, endocrine disrupting chemicals can mimic hormones and interfere with your own hormone production. This can lead to infertility, PCOS, a decline in sperm count and even cervical cancer and breast cancer.

Non-toxic hair dye options

If you’re looking for safer hair dye options, the first step is reading the ingredients list to make sure it doesn’t contain any of the above chemicals.

At the Bryony & Birch Hair Loft, we opt for clean hair dye brands such as COLOR.ME by KEVIN.MURPHY. While we love it for being free of known endocrine disrupting chemicals, it also achieves vibrant color without damaging hair.

As stylists who love to go from brunette to blonde to blue, having a product that won’t cost us our hair and body health is incredibly important.

“What goes inside the tube is just as important as the colour it creates. The choices we made are PPD free, ammonia free and naturally derived ingredients like Aloe Vera, Honey, Shea Butter and Pomegranate.”
– Kevin Murphy

The clean hair care brands we trust

Equally as important as your hair dye is your hair care! Think about it: when you’re shampooing and conditioning, you’re usually standing in a hot steamy shower that makes it EXTRA easy for chemicals to absorb into your skin, eyes, mouth and nose.

Just like hair dye, get used to reading ingredients lists, but be sure nothing has anything ending with ‘paraben’ ‘or ‘PEG.’

Chemicals We Like To Avoid In Hair Care Products

Parabens
PEGS
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (and SLES)
Pesticides + Herbicides
Synthetic Fragrances/ Parfum
Dyes starting with FD&C or D&C

At Bryony & Birch Hair Loft in Amesbury MA, we sell clean hair care products that we know, love and trust! We even have a formaldehyde-free hair smoothing treatment!

RPM CBD-Infused Products
CBD-infused products that put hemp to work from head to toe. We love that this brand provides soothing moisture that feels like luxury and is safe on skin.

Sachjuan
Experience the beauty of simplicity. Made with all-natural, simple ingredients that nourish your hair—nothing more and nothing less.

Mr. Smith
High end meets affordable with this Australian brand. Experience clean beauty to condition, cleanse, style, and treat. The Hair Loft at Bryony + Birch is one of the first salons to carry Mr. Smith products on the East Coast.

Cezanne
Cezanne delivers the results of a traditional Keratin smoothing treatment without the harmful chemicals. Cezanne smoothing treatment is 100% formaldehyde-free. It’s also free from any other kinds of aldehydes and harmful toxins and it’s as long-lasting as the current top products. It’s hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested, won’t irritate the scalp and won’t release any noxious gases.

Want to book a hair appointment at Bryony & Birch Hair Loft?

Get in touch! We have three wonderful stylists for you to choose from starting with our owner and lead stylist, Katie Cavic.

Katie has 15 years experience behind the chair, and spent the last 10 years cutting hair at Judy Jetson Salon in Cambridge, Mass. Katie’s skills range from cut, color, balayage, and specialty smoothing treatments. Katie works with clients of all ages, the whole family is welcome!