Planning to color your hair and can’t decide if you should opt for an ammonia-based hair color or an ammonia-free hair color? Or rather what these terms mean; and how this simple yet complicated decision can change your likes and preferences when it’s about coloring your tresses.
Your hair goal can be grey coverage, making a fashion statement, or adding a pinch of spice and drama to your otherwise plain, and mundane hair appearance. Hair coloring is very personal, and every color hue has a story to narrate. Now let us bust some hair myths surrounding ammonia, and no ammonia hair colors.
Remember this, you need a chemical alkalizer to open up that hair cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair! Now, I know what you might be thinking, especially if you’re all about those clean and organic products. But fear not! Understanding this little nugget of wisdom is key to achieving your hair color dreams. So, let’s embrace the science behind those vibrant hues and ensure your hair gets the love it deserves!
Ammonia is an alkalizer, due to its high pH value, it opens up the cuticles making it easier for the color pigments to go inside the hair shaft i.e. at the cortex, and deposit itself there. It also helps to lighten the hair color and achieve the desired end color result. However, ammonia has a powerful odor and can cause a burning sensation in the client's eyes and nose. It also opens up the cuticles way more than required, which may not close completely immediately after the hair coloration. This makes the hair fragile to external elements like pollution, sun, and moisture, directly affecting the cortex.
Ammonia-free hair color uses ethanolamine, a milder substitute for ammonia, and has no odor, making it an ideal choice for people looking for a gentler hair coloring option. Ethanolamine is found in most of the gel-based colorants available in the market. This technology has been a game changer in the way we color our hair, it has developed a niche market for itself; and has garnered a huge number of followers, people from all age groups have or want to experience a gel-based and gentler color experience which is only possible with the help of ethanolamine. Gel-based hair colors are also better suited for color formulas infused with oils, offering a more luxurious hair coloring experience.
Before deciding to color your tresses look for color brands with a gel-based formula and selection of plant sources, bio-botanical oils, colorants, and pure additives for a gentle and enveloping formula, that would color and respect the hair and its ecosystem.