Is there any reason when you have ms not to use hair dyes, I can’t see any reason why not but im trying not to put anything harmful into my system. Has anybody seen anything onthis x
Anything that you put onto your skin gets absorbed into your body and into your blood stream. That includes everyday stuff like shower gel, make up etc. I recently looked up about the health risks of using hair dye as two of my sister-in-laws and my brother-in-law’s girlfriend have coloured their hair for years. There seems to be a link with bladder cancer. In short, it’s hard to avoid a lot of nasties these days. Do your research and do what you’re happy and comfortable with. Hope this helps. Heather
Hi Zoe Like my Mum, I started greying at a very young age and started dying my hair at home, a few years ago. I have had no problems whatsoever. I think if you research online, you can scare yourself silly. Look at the news that came out last week about scientists advising pregnant women not to use a multitude of household products and makeup, shower gel etc and to not get into new cars !!! Presumably, we should go and live in a homogenised yurt for the full nine months !!! Plus, I feel better when I don’t look every single year of my age !!! Xx
I use hair dye regularly, It has never occurred to mr that it may aggravate my ms. Would be interesting to find out though x
I dye my hair all the time and my MS is not affected :))
i had a blood test by a private doctor and it came back positive for heavy metals caused by dye.
i have dyed my hair since me dx and will continue because it cheers me up.
so the answer is yes, hair dye can affect ms
but free choice means that i, for one, will continue to dye
carole x
Ditto Carole !! I shall NOT age gracefully !! Xx
I cant stand the grey coming though hasn’t bothered me for months as felt to ill but starting to notice things again, think ill getone tomorrow x
I agree with Carole, it definitely affects my MS. When I cannot die my hair due to not being able to lift my arms above my head for long enough then I get a bit depressed at being so grey. I am not ready to be this old 
I had my first grey hair the week before I turned 18 which I thought was a little unfair 
So I have been dying my hair for some 20+ years now (once they ganged up on me too much).
As soon as the plumber has fixed the shower (which has now been nicknamed the ‘Goldilocks 5000’ due to its temperamental nature) then I shall be covering up the grey again. For once it’s not my arms causing the problem!
Tracey xx
Hi, guess I am being fool hardy, if we are told hair dye affects us negatively.
Tomorrow I am having my hair red all over, with a black sweep across the front re-done. It`s fab and makes me feel fab…no, I defo wont be growing old gracefully.
Afterall, the real Boudica had amazing red hair!
luv Pollx
I’ve never even given it a thought! With the exceptions of smoking and Vitamin D (bad and good, respectively), there’s no evidence MS is a “lifestyle” issue, which is why diagnosis doesn’t come with a long list of dos and don’ts.
I’m sorry to disagree with Carole, but I’m afraid I think private clinics offering to test for heavy metals are a scam. There would be no way they could possibly prove the source of any they found (i.e. that it was definitely from hair dye) or that it had anything to do with the causes or evolution of MS.
I think, like most toileteries and cosmetics, and indeed modern products generally (including food), hair dyes contain some ingredients that could be toxic, with prolonged or excessive exposure. But unless you want to go back to nature and live in a cave, in some very remote part of the world, it’s going to be impossible to avoid all these things.
Life expectancy in the developed world is continuously improving, despite this, so obviously most people are NOT being poisoned by everyday products.
I do agree with those stressing the importance of morale, in MS. I can’t see any harm in colouring your hair, or wearing makeup, or spritzing perfume, if all these help you feel good. Even if there were some very small hypothetical risk of harm, it’s probably outweighed by the boost to self-esteem.
I’ve not coloured my hair in ages - finding it harder now - and to clean up all the mess afterwards. But I do feel a bit sad and old at the moment, with all the grey streaks showing through, so really must get round to it soon. Certainly no intention of giving up - just have to wait 'til I have enough energy.
Tina
x
I’m glad you brought this up. My hair used to be very dark and now it’s going a bit sort of blonde. I’m thinking of dyeing it jet black.
Go for it if that`s what you fancy!
pollx
In my teens (40 odd years ago) I was a Ladies Hairdresser and studied Trichology and the science of hair at college. As far as I can remember hair dye was then made with a chemical called Para-phenylenediamine this does not contain any heavy metals so tend to agree with Tina; sounds like a bit of a scam; mind you might have changed.# # I will point out to you ladies and Mark; if you use a dye you have not used before please always test first 24 hours before on a little patch behind the ear. I do not know the preparations they use today but believe me you DO NOT want an adverse reaction.# # George
MrH has done mine tonight ready for the ball. Whiteys are banished for a wee while and I have a head of burnished, mahogany gloss again !!
Have a lovely time at the ball Mrs H (or should that be Cinders?). I look forward to reading the full report when you have recovered enough
Tracey x
A very good point, George
I have sensitive skin so I always do a skin test patch when changing brands and so far no reaction, yay! I intend to stick with my current brand unless they suddenly say ‘new and improved’ in which case I will have to test again and see if it still suits my skin. I have seen the results on TV shows of the allergic reactions - what a mess - and for some poor people the result was a permanent skin problem.
I’m so glad you reminded us of this.
Tracey x
ive dyed my hair for yrs, ever since i was 18 yrs old, no problems at all, recently ive started going grey ( mum says the women in her side of the family grey early) so ive been trying to decide whether to keep dying my hair now…i decided im going to grow old n grey disgracefully instead of gracefully lol
I’ve dyed my hair all different colours for years, it’s a case of having to these days as I hate seeing the grey coming through and hubby says things like " I see snowy’s making an appearance again " . I can’t see me stopping dying it and I like the nice golden brown colour I am now. I’ve nearly always used home dyes as hairdressers charge an arm and a leg to dye hair and I can’t afford it every 6 weeks. I wonder if I’ll ever have the courage to go completely grey… probably not.
[quote=“josefkloz1702”]
I’m glad you brought this up. My hair used to be very dark and now it’s going a bit sort of blonde. I’m thinking of dyeing it jet black.
[/quote] As a professional hairdresser [now retired] l did specialise in hair colourants. l would advise you against going back to black. Your roots will show within a week - due to the contrast in colours. There are a couple of good hair dyes for men that are combed through and add a gradual colour. lf you try them - do not be tempted to overdo it. Less is more!!! - A gradual change will be less of a shock. Avoid any colour that has ‘red’ in it as on a man the gingery glow of dyed hair is a no no. Donald Trump comes to mind. And Paul Mc Cartney.
l have never come across anyone who has had a bad reaction to hair-dye. The skin-test is easy and quick to do.
With permanent hair colour - do not overlap the colour when doing the roots -as you will make the hair over processed and the colour will never be even. The ends of the hair and middle lengths will absorb too much colour - and will also fade quickly.
But apart from that - lts good to put colour into your life.