Lately, coloring hair has become a trend mainly because of the influence of social media. There are many cute hair coloring models and techniques, so we want to do it for our hair and our closest one. Usually, hair coloring is done by adults, but not a few parents want their children, even those who are still toddlers, to dye their hair because they see cute models or colors on their children. But is it okay for children to dye their hair?
Hair dye is quite dangerous for children.
Dr. Angga Wirahmadi, a pediatrician at the Anggrek Mas Hospital in Jakarta and the Hermina Jatinegara Hospital, revealed that hair dye is dangerous for children! Especially if the child is under the age of 10. According to him, children are still physically sensitive to chemicals. At the same time, hair dye consists of chemicals, some even harsh chemicals. For example, some compositions in some hair dyes use PPD or paraphenylenediamine in a concentration of 2-10%. PPD is a permanent black coloring agent that is applied with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in hair dye products.
Then a dermatologic surgeon in New York, dr. Sejal Shah, MD, also argues that coloring and bleaching children's hair are unsafe. According to him, dyeing hair should ideally not be done until the late teens. Some of the reasons are:
- The chemicals in hair dye (ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and paraphenylenediamine) are strong enough to damage hair and even cause cancer.
- From birth to puberty, a child's hair will experience many changes making it more sensitive and at risk of negative reactions.
- Children's hair is generally thinner and finer than adults, so it is prone to damage that is difficult to overcome.
- Children can inhale the harsh smell of hair dye, which is quite dangerous for breathing, especially if they have a history of asthma.
At what age can children dye their hair?
Dr. Tace Rico, a pediatric dermatologist who is the medical director of the Florida Children's Dermatology Center, United States, recommends waiting until at least 16 years old if you want to dye your child's hair. It should also be remembered that before using any hair dye on children, you should research the product. If necessary, contact the call center or customer service. Are their products safe for use in children? Then remember to do an allergy test first. You do this by applying a small amount of hair dye product to your child's wrist to ensure that you don't have an allergic reaction.
We can also choose vegetable hair dyes that have safer claims. Even so, it is still important to always check the ingredients in these coloring products. Avoid hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Some hair dye products that claim to be safe for use on children:
- Vegetable dyes such as tea or henna
- Color chalk or hair crayons
- Another alternative is to use colorful hair extension clips to decorate your child's hair.
Avoid coloring children's hair, especially if they are still young, as much as possible to avoid unwanted side effects.