Hair Dye for Thinning Hair - Does it Exist?

It may sound surprising, but women can experience hair loss just as often as men.  But one way to help thinning hair is with the careful use of hair dye. 

In this article, we’ll explore the reasons for your hair loss, how natural hair dye, like Henna, may help, and what else you can do to support fuller, thicker locks.

Why Am I Experiencing Thinning Hair and Hair Loss?

There are many reasons why you might be experiencing hair loss and thinning.

1. Pregnancy and Post-partum: During pregnancy our hair doesn’t actually get thicker, it just stops the natural process of ‘shedding’ (falling out) and regrowth, which is why we get that lovely pregnancy fullness.  Once your baby is born, you lose all the hair you should have done when you were pregnant, and sometimes a little more if your hormones are playing up.

It tends to naturally right itself as the hair starts to grow again, but it can feel alarming whilst it’s happening.

2. Menopause: As we age our hair can thin.  We tend to lose more and can even get bald spots. This is the result of a slow down of the hormones that create growth, and a lack of nutrients to the scalp.
3. Alopecia: Alopecia is a condition that can cause hair loss and thinning. It can be genetic or stress related.
4. Overdying:  If you bleach your hair, or use commercial hair dyes regularly, it can lead to snapping of the hair and thinning of the hair shaft.  The only answer is to ease up on the processing, and switch to an organic natural hair colour.
5. Overstyling: Daily use of elastic hair ties, synthetic bristle brushes and heated stylers puts the hair under immense pressure, leading to thinning and breakage
6. Stress: If you’re going through periods of stress, you may find your hair falling out more than normal.  It isn’t a nice thing to experience, but it is common and as you manage your stress it should settle down.
7. Certain medications and treatments: Chemotherapy is an obvious cause of hair thinning, but steroids, antibiotics and other medications can often impact your hair. It’s worth talking to your doctor if this is a concern as there may be a simple fix.

If you’re at all unsure about the reasons for your thinning, a visit to the GP or a trichologist for support is advisable.  We always err on the side of caution when it comes to help.

How Can Hair Dye Help My Thinning Hair?

The first point to make is that not all hair dye will help your thinning hair.  People with very fine hair are sometimes advised to bleach it or have highlights as the bleach roughens the cuticle and makes it look fuller. 

Unfortunately, over time the bleach weakens the hair structure, damaging the keratin irreparably, so it worsens it.

Herbal hair colour, however, works very differently and offers lots of different benefits that ultimately leads to fuller hair and reduced hair fall.

Henna:  Henna comes from the dried leaves of the henna plant and has been used for thousands of years to colour the hair.

Unlike commercial dyes which alter the molecular structure of the hair, Henna supports the keratin and works with it to colour your hair.  The hair shaft is smoother from this process and the hair is healthier as a result.

Henna is also anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory so any scalp issues that may be causing your hair loss, such as inflammation can be soothed. In its native India, some people actually look to henna for hair growth.

Amla:  Amla (or Indian Gooseberry) is added to natural and herbal dyes to cool the bright red of henna, but it also serves a purpose under ayurvedic principles to support hair volume and reduce shedding.

When mixed with yoghurt, it’s especially good for reviving curls which may loosen during dying with henna and it creates beautiful shine, with an ashy depth.

Indigo: Indigo is the blue-black colour used to darken herbal hair colours.  Unlike PPD which is harsh and highly allergenic, Indigo is natural, stains rather than alters the hair and works in harmony with the scalp to strengthen, not weaken the hair.

Traditionally,  indigo powder is mixed with hair oil and massaged gently on the scalp to strengthen, reduce baldness and restore hair volume.

We also use ingredients like Rhubarb root powder, turmeric, and shikakai which have a long history of being kind and beneficial to the hair, reducing hair fall and preventing snapping and breakage.

Conversely, there are many ingredients NOT in a herbal hair colour that would thin the hair.  Commercial dyes contain ingredients like

•       PPD (dark colour)
•       Ammonia
•       Hydrogen Peroxide
•       Bleach
•       These dry the hair and over time lead to increased thinning.
  

Organic Treatments To Help Thinning Hair

If you’re not looking to colour, but are concerned with hair loss, thinning hair, or flyaway hair, using a non colouring hair treatment as part of your hair routine would be super beneficial.

Bhringaraj powder is renowned in India as a miracle herb; and it truly is, for your hair! Using it once a month as a special treatment can help with premature greying or hair loss; strengthening your hair from the inside out.

You’d only need to mix with water, leave for a couple of hours and wash out - but if you’d prefer a more moisturising treatment, using yoghurt or oil in your mix adds extra nourishment!

Cassia powder is also really handy if you notice your thinning hair struggling with flyaways - known as colourless Henna, it adds gloss and shine (without the red shade!) It helps calm frizz and flyaways. 

For more information on how herbal hair colours support hair volume, reduce thinning and increase shine, contact our natural hair colour experts today

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