You do it to cover greys, give hair a little pick-me-up or go for a drastic new look, but do you really know what’s in your hair dye? Some studies link hair dye to cancer and birth defects, and most dyes don’t go through the rigorous safety testing of other cosmetic colorants before going out on the shelves. Much ado is made about using dyes during pregnancy, but experts say there have been no pregnancy problems linked to dyeing hair during pregnancy. It may be a better idea to save hair treatments until the second trimester or stick with less chemical-laden semi-permanent color, but again, the jury is out. Sure, you can try and sound out all those multisyllabic words on the back of your box, but it won’t do a lot of good. The dyes of yesteryear used coal-tar dyes, which have been replaced with other petroleum-based products. Cosmetic makers have removed the ingredients that have been proven to cause cancer in animals, but experts argue they’ve simply replaced them with other carcinogenic products. Many salons have switched to kinder, gentler dyes that are more natural and even herbal.

Aveda salons in particular use dyes that are plant-derived and use fewer oxidative dyes, which some link to cancer as well. You’re usually in good hands at a salon, however – experienced stylists have chemical mixing down to a science and can advise you on your alternatives, if you’d like to use more natural ingredients. How you color your hair may have an impact on your risks for chemical absorption and risks. If you like highlights, then very little dye touches your scalp when using the foil method, minimizing risk. However, if you do a single-process color – one uniform color all over – then the dye has more access to your scalp and can be more readily absorbed. If you color your own hair at home, then choose a brand that’s heavy on the plant-based ingredients, like Garnier, which uses grapeseed oil as a conditioner and protectant. You should always consider your allergies and sensitivities before coloring yourself or having a stylist do it.