We spoke to the experts to get the lowdown on when it's safe to dye your child's hair. "I really don't think it's safe to dye or bleach a child's hair until after puberty, and ideally not until their late teens — at least 16," advises Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., a New York-based dermatological surgeon.
No dye products should be used on under-16s, according to manufacturers and the industry's professional body.
“Bleaching is bad for your hair, so you don't want to put harsh chemicals into their hair when they are young,” Posner says. That's why she recommends waiting until kids are at least in their late teens. “Kids tend to be more sensitive to products, so they can have allergies.
In fact, most hair dye is not thought to be safe for children. Hair dye manufacturers provide a clear age limit of 16 on their salon products. If you look at home dye kits, they may contain PPD and also have an age 16 limit. I have read articles describing risks including rashes, asthma and allergic reactions.
The choice to stop dyeing your hair and go completely natural…and grey… is one many women battle with as early as in their twenties. In the end, it's about the way you feel about yourself inside and out! Some women choose to put down the dye bottle at 30 and others continue well into their nineties.
Don't assume that grey hair makes you look older
Hair naturally loses pigment as we age, but stylist Paul Falltrick points out that the notion that grey hair makes you look older is increasingly becoming a misnomer: "Grey shades can be stereotyped as ageing, but a clean-looking grey is stunning" he says.
2. And your hair might feel healthier. While hair dyes and techniques have come a long way since their follicle-frying beginnings, they do still leave some damage. Taking a hiatus from color will help your hair return to its previous state--especially as dyed ends get chopped off.
Children under the age of 16 should never be offered any hair colour or foils service, including initial allergy testing.
If done professionally, highlights and coloring can be safe for a 12-year-old. Off the scalp color and highlights with Aveda color is a super safe option. Also, be sure to schedule a patch test prior to your child's appointment to test for any allergic reactions. It only takes a few minutes and is no charge.
As long as your parents are ok with it that's all that matters. I got highlights around the same age, but I continued to get them done but I loved it and never had any issues.
“Since the chemicals in hair dye and bleach can be damaging, a child's immature hair is much more susceptible to damage. Children's skin is also more sensitive, so they're more likely to experience a skin reaction on their scalp from dyes,” he adds.
Go For The Dye
It's normal for children to explore their appearance and even enter into a time where they push boundaries a bit. After all, the stages of growth and development specifically outline that much of middle childhood is about self-discovery and interpersonal relationships for kids.
“Colouring your hair can emphasize texture and add luster to bring back your hair's shine due to overexposure,” says Pacheco. Achieve extra volume with the thickening agents found in some hair dyes, but always get the full look that comes with a change in hair colour.
We spoke to the experts to get the lowdown on when it's safe to dye your child's hair. "I really don't think it's safe to dye or bleach a child's hair until after puberty, and ideally not until their late teens — at least 16," advises Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., a New York-based dermatological surgeon.
Highlights offers 4 age-appropriate magazines for children of all ages: Highlights Hello for ages 0-2, High Five for ages 2-6, High Five Bilingüe (in Spanish and English) for ages 2-6 and Highlights for ages 6-12.
As they develop, children's hair (and skin) goes through a lot of changes; so they are more likely to experience reactions and are more susceptible to hair damage. Because of this, it is important to avoid using permanent dye on children's hair.
Simply separate one-inch sections of your child's hair and brush through them to make sure there aren't any tangles before you glide the chalk over them. Start at the top of the head and work your way down to the tips before coating the undersides of each section. Set the color with a fine mist of hairspray to finish.
For grey hair coverage, we generally recommend that you aim to color slightly lighter than the natural hair color level of your client. In this case we would suggest you go for a color starting in level 6 (Dark Blonde) or 7 (Blonde).
"The best way to grow out your natural color, especially coming from a highlight or balayage look, is to have your colorist gloss down your hair back to the natural level of the roots to allow the natural root to blend as it grows," says IGK Hair Care founder Chase Kusero.
The reality is, the more often you color your hair, the greater the potential for hair shedding. Hair dye does not stop or even slow down hair growth, but it can cause hair loss by damaging the color-treated hair. The chemicals in hair dye can cause some of the damage.
'As we lose pigment in our hair, we also lose it in our skin' she explains. 'It's a gradual process, so our hair colour should reflect this. ' Basically, as your skin tone lightens with age, so should your hair colour.
Sticking to white, black and navy is a perfect way to play it safe, but still look stunning, bringing the attention to your lovely grey hair. When choosing the whites, it is advised to lean towards pure white instead of creamy, off-white shades.
Silver grey hair will look best on olive and fair skin with yellow undertones. If you have a pink tone, your skin may appear red and irritated with a cool grey hue.