Ammonia-free hair colour is a major trend in hair colour technology, and over past few years all the major hair colour brands have launched, or are launching, ammonia-free permanent colour ranges. So how do ammonia-free colours work and what does it mean for the health of your hair?
In the past ammonia has been used in permanent hair colors to give better, more durable colors and allows for more significant color changes. Ammonia partially removes the natural colour from the hair. It opens up the surface of the strand so that the hair colour can get through and effectively lifts out the natural hair pigment so that the hair colour molecules can penetrate and deposit.
Essentially, ammonia has been largely responsible for hair color’s ability to alter hair hue without washing out after only a few shampoos. This method of depositing colouring the hair has been commonly reported to have side effects such as stinging the eyes and scalp, and of course there’s that distinctive odour.
The environmental and health concerns raised by an ever-increasingly educated and health-conscious clientele have pushed the hair colour technology industry to develop alternative colour delivery systems.
Ammonia-free colours most often work by using an ammonia alternative called MEA, or monoethanolamine, or an oil-based delivery system, to more gently open and penetrate the hair shaft. A new development has recently been launched by Goldwell, Nectaya which uses intra-lipid ammonia-free technology. Goldwell states that this new colour system has an advantage over other oil-based delivery systems as it doesn’t weight the hair with heavy oils, and leaves the hair in exceptional condition.
Previously it has been thought that ammonia-free hair colour systems were not able to produce the same lasting and permanent results as those containing ammonia, or the same lasting grey coverage. Developments in ammonia-free technology now mean uniform and lasting colour, with perfect coverage of up to 100 percent white hair with vibrant shades and lightning ability.
Using ammonia-free colours may prevent that dry, over-processed feeling that has been a side-effect of using ammonia, and they are gentler on the hair, and with no unpleasant odor or irritation.
Next time you walk into your salon to have a hair colour ask your stylist about the benefits of ammonia-free colour, and compare the feeling and look of your hair with an ammonia-free colour delivery system.
