All the things I know and the things I want to know: So, what does “organic” hair color mean? Here’s how the professionals see it. “Organic hair color” refers to hair color made with as many organic botanicals as possible and as few chemicals as possible. It is the same designation we use for organic food standards.
In essence, it includes botanicals grown without the use of pesticides. Although the pros know the chemistry of hair color and how it works, many of us don’t know. I think I may be able to shed some light on the term “organic hair color” and its invention.
Is there such a thing as 100% organic hair color? The simple answer is no. Even now, professional “organic hair color” must contain a certain amount of synthetic ingredients to work consistently and effectively. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a color line that uses the maximum amount of organic ingredients and the least amount of chemicals.
The only 100% natural hair color is henna. But henna doesn’t cover grey very consistently and the metallic salts can cause the hair to feel dry and damaged over time. It’s also terribly damaging when you try to lighten with it.
What to look for:
So, can organic hair color really work and leave my hair in great condition? If you remember, no professional organic hair color brand is 100% natural. Any organic hair color product has to contain certain chemicals necessary to stick to your hair. When you start looking for an organic hair color, what you need to ask about is percentages. Specifically, what is their percentage of:
- Pigments (PPDs, PTDS)
- pH Adjuster (Ethanolamine)
- Organic Ingredients (botanicals only)
- Natural Ingredients
- Naturally Derived Ingredients
Once you’ve established the percentages of these, you’ll see which brand is the most “organic” and best for you.
Ammonia is not your friend.
The is a lot of talk about ammonia being considered organic. The best professional organic hair colors have zero ammonia in their formulas. Clearly ammonia is a chemical organic compound. Not an organic botanical ingredient. In technical terms, an organic compound means its molecules contain carbon and that is all. Just remember, ammonia found in hair color is not extracted from the soil or our bodies, it’s produced in a lab and has zero natural components.
Ammonia-free hair color doesn’t necessarily mean your hair will be healthier or that you won’t have an adverse reaction. While most ammonia-free hair colors won’t have the fume-like aroma from the ammonia, they can still do more damage than necessary to the hair.
Most organic color brands use Ethanolamine (MEA) to replace ammonia without considering the percentages of the ingredient. Both Ethanolamine and ammonia open up the cuticle layer of the hair so the color molecules can penetrate.
Too much of either ingredient, will drastically alter the pH levels and the cuticle will have difficulty re-closing, even with an amazing conditioner. This will cause dull and dry hair that is a mess to untangle. Also, hair color will fade faster because of the cuticle’s inability to close and lock in molecules.
Check out Modafino Salon.
Why is Modafino organic hair color the best choice? They offer an ammonia-free hair color line that uses a pH adjuster in minimal amounts. They also make sure, all Ethanolamine (MEA) is removed from the hair, while keeping the working pH of the color much lower than any other ammonia-free hair color brand. To learn more about Modafino’s Organic Color system you can book a FREE consultation or stop by the salon.
