If you want to dye your hair, one of the first things you should do is test your skin. You should do this 48 hours before colouring to ensure you do not react to the chemicals within the dye.

This is an even bigger concern for those with sensitive skin or certain allergies. Thankfully, if you do feel like changing up your look, there is an alternative hair dye for sensitive scalp problems.

I’m allergic to hair dye – what can I use?

The main allergen in high street hair dyes is a chemical called paraphenylenediamine, otherwise known as PPD. This is a common ingredient that’s also found in tattoo and even printer ink, but it can cause contact dermatitis – a reaction with redness and flakiness of the scalp.

Henna is a natural alternative hair colour without PPD – though you should always check the label to make sure the product has not been blended with PPD.

It’s available in several shades, all of which can be mixed to achieve your desired colour. Mix your own with powder or choose a premixed cream for the perfect result.

Benefits of henna hair dye for sensitive skin

Henna hair powders and shampoos offer a hypoallergenic hair dye alternative that also naturally cares for your scalp. So, how exactly does this work?

With its natural antifungal properties, henna can protect your scalp against common conditions such as dandruff or psoriasis. These skin problems are caused by an overproduction of a natural skin yeast called Malassezia. This feeds off our natural oils, but when there is too much, the skin reacts and produces skin flakes.

Henna attacks this fungus and keeps your skin naturally balanced, maintaining a flake free, non-itchy scalp. Henna is the perfect hair dye for dry scalp issues, too.

Other benefits of no chemical hair dye

In addition to a healthy, balanced scalp, you’ll also notice the effects on your final finished colour. Each application of henna is completely unique to your natural shade, so you’ll achieve a more real-looking result with a vibrant shine.

There is also evidence to suggest that henna is a great hair dye alternative for those with thinner hair. This is because the natural ingredients strengthen the hair follicle, leading to stronger strands and reduced hair loss.

Henna is often a more cost-effective alternative to high street chemical hair dyes, and may have less of an impact on the environment. High street brands often contain ammonia which, when washed down the sink, can potentially pollute waterways and cause harm to animals in their natural habitats.

Choosing henna is a fantastic natural beauty alternative that protects wildlife and keeps you healthy.

Keep your hair allergy free with henna

For best results, make sure you:

• Perform a skin test behind your ear or on your inner elbow, 48 hours in advance
• Leave the henna on for longer time periods for darker shades
• Maintain sun safety with hair masks and sun hats.

Sensitive skin doesn’t mean you can’t experiment! You’ll find shampoos, conditioners, hair dye powders and mascara in our henna hair dye range.