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lead acetate in hair colour

Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Hair Color
Forum Description: The tricks and tribulations of changing your hair color
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=37706
Printed Date: November 23 2025 at 12:10pm


Topic: lead acetate in hair colour
Posted By: nadia
Subject: lead acetate in hair colour
Date Posted: December 02 2005 at 1:22pm

Please do answer my question, it’s about gray hair.                                                

There are products which claim that they can turn gray hair to their natural color within three weeks, & they don’t use dyeing method.

But some were I read there is “lead acetate” in these products which might be harmful for heath.

Please do guide me whether the use effective and non harmful.

                                                                                  Thanks

 




Replies:
Posted By: pasdebourre
Date Posted: December 09 2005 at 12:23pm
I believe an example of this kind of product is Grecian Formula. Here's what Robert Craig hair color has to say on this:

Lead in Haircolor?

February 5th, 1997 Once again the newspapers and television reporters are on our profession's case and putting a scare into the public over haircolor. The recent reports of lead in haircolor are not new. Products containing this ingredient have been on the market for years and are never used by professional colorists. The researchers tested residual lead levels in the hair and on the hands of users, but did not check tissue or blood samples. The affected products were primarily the "gradual color" products that are the most heavily advertised for men (Grecian Formula, Youthair and similar preparations). A spokesperson for the company that manufacutures Grecian Formula issued a statement strongly denying any danger in using the products and asserting their absolute safety. Our resident chemist, Rick, puts it like this:

"Maybe I can shed some light on this subject. Some dyes contain metal atoms. These are known as metallic dyes. The best-known metallic hair dye is "Grecian formula" which contains lead acetate. When lead acetate is in contact with air, it decomposes to form finely-divided metallic lead. Other metallic dyes contain metals trapped or chelated in some sort of organic matrix. Most hair dyes are non-metallic. The problem comes when someone wants to dye hair that has been previously-colored with a metallic dye. Most conventional hair dyes use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to "develop" the color and to lighten the hair. Many metals will catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. When it decomposes, it forms water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) and when this occurs, a lot of heat is produced. The heat can cause severe scalp burns. There are products that can remove metals and metallic dyes. As Robert noted, they are best used by a professional who knows what to do. It is definitely not a do-it-yourself project."

As the reports stated, Grecian formula is a product that should probably be avoided. Professional colorists have looked for and avoided this type of product for years. Perm solution coming in contact with a lead acetate can literally disintegrate the hair.





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