Hair Dye

Hair can also be dyed or tinted. I know of no completely safe hair dye that will give your hair a permanent, natural color. if you wish to have your hair dyed, be sure to have a small lock tested first to find out whether the dye will irritate your scalp or cause a general illness. Some people have been made seriously ill by hair dye. Always repeat the test process each time you have your hair redyed because you can develop a sensitivity. Henna is safe but produces only reddish tones, and it may make the hair brittle. The "rinses" and 11 tints" such as you can buy in a reliable store are satisfactory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration certifies many of them as harmless. Although they do not wash off if your hair gets wet, shampooing will remove them-but isn't that an advantage in case you change your mind or decide you like your hair after it has turned completely gray? Remember, too, that in many cases, white hair makes a person look younger rather than older.

Never dye your eyelashes or eyebrows because the skin about them, and your eyes themselves, are extremely sensitive. There have been cases of blindness resulting from attempts to dye eyelashes. A temporary darkener like mascara is relatively safe, but even that may produce irritation.