The WellBe Organic Salon Guide: How to Find Non-Toxic Hair Dye and Protect Yourself from Harmful Chemicals at the Salon

When it comes to dying or highlighting your hair, you might think the most important question is: what color? But the much more important thing to figure out is where to find the best organic salon near you. That’s because salons are full of harmful chemicals and finding a non-toxic hair dye is super important for protecting your health. But don’t worry, you don’t have to give up your color routine to stay safe (and you might not even have to switch to an organic hair salon). In this guide, we look at the risks you face at the salon, organic salon options in major cities, and steps you can take to protect yourself no matter what salon you frequent.

In this guide to organic hair salons, we look at the risks you face at the salon and steps you can take to protect yourself no matter what salon you frequent. To get our vetted recommendations for organic hair salons near you, you can download our free guide. It includes WellBe-approved salons in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., as well as our advice for those who don’t live in any of those cities.

DOWNLOAD MY FREE ORGANIC HAIR SALON CITY GUIDE!

Why Non-Toxic Hair Dye Is So Important for Your Health

Can you name your best friend’s OG hair color? This question might be tougher to answer than you think because chances are that she dyes, or at least highlights, her hair. In fact, the most recent numbers indicate that 75% of American women color their hair, a number that’s been increasing dramatically over the decades. And while we love the freedom to play around with hair color, we also know that chemicals in hair dye — and other hair salon products — can cause some serious health issues, making non-toxic hair dye something we should all prioritize. 

Think about it: it takes a lot to change the color of someone’s hair, especially if they’re making a drastic change (like from dark brown or black to blonde). So for decades, salons and major companies have turned to harsh chemicals to do the heavy lifting. While the specific formulations vary from product to product, there are a number of particularly harmful chemicals to be aware of when you’re coloring your hair:

• p-Phenylenediamine (PPD): This chemical is incredibly common, found in about two-thirds of conventional hair dyes in the U.S. Despite its ubiquity, it’s extremely dangerous — so much so that it’s banned in Germany, France, and Sweden. Rated a 7 out of 10 for toxicity by the EWG, PPD poses serious health risks, including cancer: a 2001 study from the University of Southern California found that women who colored their hair once a month with a PPD-containing dye for fifteen years had a 50% higher risk of bladder cancer, while a 2008 study showed a link with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There’s also the risk of a serious, potentially fatal, allergic reaction (even if you pass a patch test), as well as lung and kidney problems and even rheumatoid arthritis. Um…what?Is that not terrifying?
• Formaldehyde: Yes, the preservative famous for embalming corpses can be found in hair dyes. If that connection wasn’t creepy enough, there’s also the fact that formaldehyde has been linked to cancer and fetal damage in utero. Today, it’s much less common than it used to be and is usually used in very small quantities these days, but still something to look out for. 
• Resorcinol: Used to permanently bond the dye to the hair, resorcinol is a very common hair dye ingredient that has been shown to disrupt normal hormone function, elevating testosterone levels — i.e., completing throwing your hormones out of whack.
• Ammonia: This harsh chemical has long been used to open up the hair cuticle to allow dye to be absorbed. It’s also known to cause respiratory problems and asthma, as well as eye irritation. 
• Coal tar: Yeesh. This one just sounds bad. This is actually a category of chemicals that are derived from petroleum (i.e. the same stuff that powers your car), and have been known to cause eye injuries and allergic reactions. This category of chemicals is also associated with an increased cancer risk. Yet, these chemicals are almost completely unregulated due to an FDA loophole: according to the FDA, they “cannot take action against a coal-tar hair dye, as long as the label includes a special caution statement.” A statement nobody in a salon getting their hair dyed has ever seen or heard of. Sure…sounds like a very effective warning!

What’s more, due to yet more loopholes, this time in the Toxic Control Substance Act, the FDA has no authority to require that companies test products for safety, meaning that the fact that your favorite salon carries a certain product doesn’t indicate anything about how safe it is. All of this makes finding a non-toxic hair dye both very important, and very difficult. 

Other Harmful Chemicals in Hair Products

Unfortunately, even if you don’t color your hair, you’re probably still exposed to some dangerous chemicals at the hair salon. Just consider the fact that studies show salon workers have a higher risk of cancer than the general population, and it’s clear that there’s something in the air (literally) at most salons.

One particularly dangerous (and popular) salon treatment is the Brazilian Blowout, which contains formaldehyde. What’s worse, the formaldehyde exposure doesn’t end after the treatment: the fumes are reactivated every time heat is applied to the hair — so you not only get exposed to the chemical at the salon, but every time you dry, straighten, or curl your hair afterward. The chemical exposure from Brazilian Blowouts alone has been known to cause bloody noses, sore throats, rashes, and respiratory infections.

Other chemicals in common hair salon products — gels, sprays, mousses — have been associated with everything from asthma to neurological issues to birth defects to cancer. Here are some of the major culprits to look out for:

• Phthalates: A gelling agent, phthalates are associated with a wide range of issues, including asthma, reproductive issues, and even diabetes.
• Methyl methacrylate: Used in aerosol (spray) hair products, methyl methacrylate is rated an 8-9 out of 10 for risk by the EWG, and is linked to respiratory and immune system issues.
• Propylene glycol: Found in everything from styling gels to hairspray to conditioners and shampoos, propylene glycol is also the active ingredient in…antifreeze. Yikes. It’s been shown to cause brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities, and the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing, and goggles when working with it. 
• Hydrofluorocarbons: Commonly found in hairspray, HFC’s can cause symptoms including low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and even coma! 

So given all of the above, it seems pretty clear that finding an organic salon and using non-toxic hair dye should be major priorities for anyone — whether you’re dyeing, highlighting, cutting, or just blowing out your hair.

Ok I Get It. How Do I Find Organic Hair Salons Near Me?

Luckily, as the wellness movement has gained momentum and consumers become more savvy, some hair salons are opting for more natural, organic approaches that reduce or completely eliminate your exposure to harsh chemicals. To spare you from hours of research or scouring Yelp reviews, we rounded up some great organic hair salon choices in major cities across the country. 

To get our vetted recommendations for organic hair salons near you, download our free guide! It includes WellBe-approved salons in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., as well as our advice for those who don’t live in any of those cities.

DOWNLOAD MY FREE ORGANIC HAIR SALON CITY GUIDE!

But what if you can’t find an organic salon near you? Or you absolutely love your stylist at a certain salon that isn’t totally organic? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on that front as well.

What To Do If You Can’t Find an Organic Salon (or Don’t Want to Switch Hair Salons)

If switching to an organic salon isn’t an option, or if you’re loyal to a non-organic salon for whatever reason (we get it — it takes a lot to find a stylist you love!), you don’t have to resign yourself to harmful chemical exposure. There are some simple steps you can take to make your salon experience healthier for both yourself and the environment, without sacrificing the style you’re looking for. 

Here are a few ways to reduce your exposure to chemicals and create a pretty close approximation of an organic salon:

• Bring your own products. If your salon doesn’t stock the organic, non-toxic hair dye and other products you want, you can easily solve that problem by bringing your own! Look for labels that are subject to EU health and safety guidelines, as they have much more vigilant standards than the FDA. For a full list of WellBe-approved non-toxic hair dye, check out our Non-Toxic Product Lists database.
• Reduce the frequency of your visits. You may not need to be coloring your hair or touching up your roots as frequently as you think. Try to stretch out the time between appointments, and look for natural ways to help your color last longer, like rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar once a month.
• Consider semi-permanent color. The more permanent a color is, the more toxic it tends to be. Give it a go! You might just love the way it looks.
• Avoid breathing in fumes. When scheduling your appointment, you can ask to be seated far away from where the aerosol cans (most often hairspray) and other fumes are being emitted, or even bring an air-filtering face mask such as a P95 or N95 mask. And remember to say you do not want aerosol spray hairspray before someone begins working on your hair, not after they’ve already begun spraying and you’ve begun inhaling and coughing!

Conclusion: Organic Salon Takeaways and Your Next Steps

So the bottom line is this: most conventional salons contain chemicals that can be harmful to your health, raising the risk of all sorts of issues, from asthma to cancer to fetal damage in utero. A lot of these toxic chemicals come from the products and procedures associated with dying or highlighting your hair, which is why finding an organic salon that uses non-toxic hair dye is a must if you color your hair. However, other salon procedures — like Brazilian blowouts or even just the use of certain styling products — pose their own risks, making it important to do some investigating on what’s being used at your salon.

If you can, switch to an organic salon to keep yourself protected. Our handy guide to our fave organic hair salons in major cities (above) is a great place to start for recommendations. If you can’t, or don’t want to, make the switch, you can still protect yourself by taking a few steps prior to your next appointment

It’s true, the hair salon can be a scary place, but the good news is that it’s easier than ever to find an organic salon and natural, non-toxic hair dyes and styling products. And in the meantime, equipped with the knowledge above, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re making the safest, healthiest choices — while still having fun with your color.

Do you go to an organic salon? Share your favorite organic salon recommendations in the comments below!

DOWNLOAD MY FREE ORGANIC HAIR SALON CITY GUIDE!

Citations:

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2. Duong, Anh. Mutat Res. 2011 Nov; 728(3): 118–138.

3. Nagata, C. Eur J Public Health. 2015 Oct;25(5):895-9