Is box dye bad for your hair?

Getting your hair colored at a salon can be a costly endeavor, leading many people to turn to boxed dyes and adopting a “do-it-yourself” strategy. Using boxed dye on your hair can cover gray hairs, restore your hair after salon treatments or sun-bleaching, and change your hair color to a more fashionable or desired shade.

But is box hair dye bad for your hair? Let’s look at the research and find out.

The Popularity of Box Dye

With over 75% of women and 18% of men in the United States trying it, it’s become a popular trend that dates to ancient times. In ancient eras, dyes were sourced naturally from plants including henna, indigo, senna, turmeric, amla, red ochre, and leeks.

Fortunately, dying one’s hair is not as complicated as it was in ancient times. Now that boxed dye has been invented, it’s now easier than ever to dye our hair in a relatively short period of time. However, using box dye does come with several pros and cons.

The Pros of Using Box Hair Dye

Low Cost

One of the biggest pros of using boxed dye at home is the cost. The average person can acquire a box of hair dye for less than $10 USD and change their hair color completely. Similar services at a professional salon can run up to several hundreds of dollars for the same service.

Efficiency

It’s also very convenient because you can use it on your own time and don’t have to waste time trying to book an appointment. You may have to wait to be accommodated at a salon and can count on spending several hours there. This simply is not an option for most working people. If you color your hair at home, you can watch TV, cook, and catch up on work while your hair color processes. This is not a luxury many are offered at your typical hair salon.

Easy to Use

Finally, box dye is very simple and almost anyone can apply it to their own hair. Box dye kits usually come with everything you need including applicators, brushes, developers, and sometimes deep conditioning treatments to use after dying your hair. They also come with very straightforward, easy to understand instructions that are clearly labeled with pictures. In addition, most companies who manufacture boxed dyes even have a support line one can call for clarity on the use of their product.

The Cons of Using Box Hair Dye

Damaged Hair

Although box hair dye has many benefits, there are several cons as well. If you were to make a mistake coloring your hair, it will definitely cost you. Although the instructions are very simple and clear, it is still very easy to damage your hair.

Costly to Fix Mistakes

Restorative procedures usually cost one a lot of money as well. Things can also go awry very quickly as the chemicals in most off the shelf boxed dyes affect everyone differently. Allergic reactions and chemical burns due to traditional box dye are unfortunately very common.

Serious Allergic Reactions

Some of these reactions even require costly hospital trips and weeks of recovery. You can never be sure how the chemicals in some box dye will affect you, especially when these chemicals vary from company to company.

What Other Options Exist?

Because of the cons of box hair dye, many people have started turning to natural hair dyes. Fortunately, modern companies like Vantage Specialty Chemicals invest millions of dollars into research and development to deliver natural ingredients that you can trust.

You may end up paying a little extra for natural products like these, but it’s worth it in the long run. The chemistry of synthetic ingredients changes the entire biological composition of your hair by causing the hair shaft to swell, and chemical dyes usually have a strong and unpleasant smell, unlike natural hair dyes.

In contrast, natural hair dyes usually have a mild, pleasant aroma and protect the health of you and your hair. They can also be used frequently and do not leave residues, unlike other products.

Choosing a Natural Hair Dye

When choosing a natural hair dye, look for ingredients such a jojoba oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, and other botanicals. It is also helpful to choose products in eco-friendly packaging and that are cruelty-free. By using natural technology, you can use nature’s own assets to give you a result you can trust instead of turning to box hair dye that can damage your hair and scalp in the long run.

Plan your spring break with this step by step stress-free guide 

The time has finally come – you are about to plan your holiday or weekend getaway. Planning a trip can feel like both the most exciting and the most stressful part of your trip. Saving Instagram pictures for inspiration and creating a Pinterest board of gorgeous landscapes sure sounds amusing. But the moment you start figuring out the actual logistics an anxiety rush might hit you.

There is a lot to think about when you plan a vacation. From figuring out whether you need a visa, to transportation planning and booking accommodation, it can surely be downright stressful.

However, planning a trip does not have to be the source of constant stress! Through the years, we have perfected the trip planning process. Breaking down each of the planning steps is going to help you tackle things in a practical way. In the end, we think you might actually have fun while planning your next trip.

Step 1. Define your budget

Before you even begin to pack your bags, take a good look at your finances. You should figure out how much money you are willing and able to spend on this trip. This will tell you a lot for your future steps including where you can check in and for how long. This step might sound scary, but it’s crucial in order to prioritise your costs.

Step 2. Choose a destination

This step might seem obvious for some of you. Maybe you already know which place you want to visit. For those who don’t know where to go, browsing travel destinations with an open mind can be fun. Go through attractive travel agency offers or explore Instagram for ideas – inspiration is everywhere. Personally, we look at other trusted bloggers’ recommendations and reviews and decide what will work best for us.

Step 3. Think about your schedule

Don’t just consider the cost. We admit that it’s tempting to book a trip based solely on airfare. However, in the name of stress-free journey, consider your own schedule first. Do you tend to get busy at work at the end of the month? Schedule your trip around those days so you can minimise the stress factor. Also, determine how much time for acclimatisation you need when you get back from your trip. Some of us want to squeeze most of our time off and return late on a Sunday. Others may benefit from a buffer day at home before going back to work.

Step 4. Keep your suitcase packed

Rather than repacking toiletries every single time, consider keeping duplicates of items you use frequently such as toothbrush and toothpaste. Place them in a suitcase and keep one in your room. Also, pack some clothing that you know you will wear on the road. This will allow you to put less time and energy into preparing the night before leaving.

Step 5. Don’t assume something will go wrong

Stress and travel are what you make of it. Long lines and delays are not in your power. So, ask yourself – what is the worst thing that can happen? Sit back, have a coffee, brunch or browse online for interesting places and clubs to visit right when you arrive. If you enjoy playing games online in your free time, or in this case while you wait for your flight, try this slot game with an amusing theme – White Rabbit. Remember – do not stress over things that are not in your power.

Step 6. Think about things you look forward to when you get home

Coming home from a holiday can be emotional. After days of careless vibes, it can be hard to adjust to your old routine. Try to arrange a night-out with your friends or buy a ticket for the next theatre play – it will make you feel better. After all, you will have plans to look forward to once you get back home.