hair coloring, "naturally?

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NatureGrrl
NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I tried posting this elsewhere but am not getting much in the way of responses... I don't really know the right place to post it. Thought I'd try here next!

I've got a nice regrowth of hair after chemo -- about 1 1/2" so far after one trimming. When it started growing back in it was all white (and I actually liked it). My hair was mostly brown with some white (maybe 25%) before chemo. Now, although I see plenty of brown growing in, it's still going to be at least 50% white.

I'm 58 and will be searching for professional work soon. My hair color, as is, dates me some (although people are often surprised at my age because my face, thank goodness, still looks young). I'm thinking I'd like to just go for an all-white or white-blond look, mainly because I do like the all-white look, but in small part because it's more of a fashion statement and might not date me quite so easily (that's my logic, anyway!).

So what products would be available to help me achieve this look without using lots of chemicals? Anything? I know I probably can't erase the brown completely without using harsh chemicals, but even lightening it would be the right direction for the look I'm going for.  I don't know if this is possible but I'm thinking y'all will know!

Thanks so much for any ideas.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    Do you want to avoid "lots of chemicals" or all chemicals? If the latter, I think that you're kind of out of luck because, as you must be aware, lighter coloring of dark hair requires stripping the color out and then adding back the desired shade. I had brown-auburn hair prior to chemo and it grew back some nondescript, icky color. My wig, however, had ended up being blonde because after trying it on for a joke, I decided, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was a blonde in spirit and needed to be one in reality. My avatar here shows you how long it has grown since then (2005) and I have it highlighted every 7 weeks or so...with chemicals. My hairdresser is extremely health conscious as well as environmentally aware and she tries to use the least toxic hair products possible. I don't know the brand names that she uses for coloring or bleaching, but I'm guessing that they are the "worst" ones of all.

    So it really depends, I should think, on your priorities. If you want to go white until your actual hair is entirely white, you'll probably have to succumb to the use of some chemicals. For me, I am so hair-obsessed that it was never a question. I try to use organic, paraben and phthalate-free products in all else, but to get the color I want, my hair is bleached.

    ~Marin

  • jessamine
    jessamine Member Posts: 322
    edited April 2010

    I think you can do a lot with henna. I also am worried about this- have always colored my hair and love it that way but now feel pretty strongly about avoiding carcinogens as much as I can. So I'm going to try henna and we'll see I guess. But going lighter is definately the hardest. :(

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited April 2010

    I tried on a red wig as a joke, and now have ended up with (yes, chemically altered) red/brown hair (first I dyed it a maroon red, just because I wanted to). I have to have color!!!!! If you don't mind some chemicals, maybe put in low lights. Or can you get a wild/young/spikey haircut where the white might look like a 'statement'? 

  • Liz08
    Liz08 Member Posts: 470
    edited April 2010

    My understanding is if you highlight with color or bleach it is less toxic than coloring since it doesn't touch the scalp, therefore less of the chemicals are absorbed.  Additionally, I was told that it was OK to highlight my hair but not recommended to color while pregnant (this was 3 years ago). 

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