‘Tis the seaon of pumpkin spice. Lattes, cookies, gum, candles… You name it, there seems to be a #PSL version of it. The trend has even gone to our heads. Literally.

That’s right, pumpkin spice hair color is happening. And it is not as weird as it sounds.

Okay, so the name might make this trend seem a bit out of hand. But pumpkin spice hair color is a warm shade of coppery auburn that most women can pull off. The pink, purple, green, and blue hair turning up everywhere these days makes pumpkin spice hair seem sort of demure. Starbucks’ world takeover has officially hit salons.

So yes, if you wish to adorn your locks with the hair version of a #PSL, you will have to go in for chemical coloring. Not so into the idea? There are other options to pumpkin spice up your beauty routine that will cost you far less in toxins and dollars.

Pumpkin Spice Up Your Beauty

Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Above and Beyond is brand new for the season. Just got my hands on this beauty yesterday and it is a new beauty staple. Because of the KJ sheerness, you can go either lightly warmed up or bright pop of color with this beautiful blush.

Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Captivate is another new hue this fall. A pumpkin spice tone with a hint of gold.

W3LL People Elitist Shimmer Mineral Shadow in Luminous Copper gives that fall feeling to eyes. Add the powder to hair gel or moisturizer for a hit of glowy-ness.

Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion comes in several light reflecting, skin tightening shades. Add some warmth to your bod with this celeb favorite.

RMS Beauty now makes 5-free nail polish to match its lip and cheek tints! Curious is perfect for sporting your #PSL.

Still see yourself going with pumpkin spice hair color? Sally Hershberger Salons in West Hollywood and NYC both offer the color. Next best, take a pic along to your stylist.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon

6 Spicy Fall Beauty Trends To Wear Now

A Brush With Eco Friendly Hair Color

3 Cruelty Free Hair Dyes for the Colorful Vegan Gal

Image of pumpkin spice drink via Shutterstock

The post Pumpkin Spice Hair Color is a Trend and Not as Weird as It Sounds appeared first on EcoSalon.

One beauty practice we tend to hedge around is hair color. Not all women are ready to go grey. And you know what? That’s ok. But there are safer ways to coloring your hair.

We are pretty clued in to the downside of conventional hair dyes. Even if you are not quite sure what is in that hair dye, the noxious odor and simple fact that it permanently changes your hair color is enough to suggest some pretty potent, and not so natural, ingredients.

A massive 75 percent of women (and many men) partake of this unhealthy practice. We eat a healthful diet, exercise, use clean personal care products, yet the majority of women apply toxic hair color to their scalp every month or so.

It all comes down to a little something called feeling good. For some, hair color is in a nonissue. For most, it matters a great deal. You wouldn’t use a healthy facial moisturizer if it provided less than satisfactory results, right? Same with hair color. Most women have not found a healthier alternative to toxic dyes that also give the desired outcome.

So yes, it is important to feel good about yourself. And if coloring your hair is part of what makes you feel good, by all means, go for it. But you should know what, exactly, is in that hair dye.

The main offenders in chemical hair dyes are synthetic colorants and petro-ingredients (both linked to cancer), and ammonia. The FDA does restrict the use of some (very toxic) ingredients in cosmetics. While coal tar is not prohibited, even though it has been “determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals”, products containing it must come with a warning. Hair dyes are one area where coal tar can crop up. Once again, you are on your own in the U.S. where cosmetic safety is concerned and it is in your best interest to become an avid label reader. The European Union has banned several hair dye ingredients.

If you are not ready to go grey, and many of us are not, what are your alternatives to toxic hair dye?

The most natural hair color is henna. The problem? Mixed and unpredictable results. Some love it, most do not. Logona makes a natural hair color and Naturtint is another less toxic option. These are less reliable than the chemical version and tend to be shorter lived, but definitely a safer alternative.

Still other women, myself included, take precautions while using the toxic stuff. I go as long as I can between coloring and have my stylist apply highlights and lowlights with foil, so the color has as little exposure to my skin as possible. This is also a bit more natural looking than a mono-hued color. Is it healthy? No. Is it important to me? Yes.

As with most things beauty related, the choice is up to you. Healthy is good, but you have to feel good too. Make healthy choices where it works for you.

Related on EcoSalon

Helen Mirren Advocates Aging Gracefully in New L’Oreal Ad

When You Feel Good, You Look Good

5 Awesomely Hair-Raising Organic Hair Salons in the U.S.

Image of woman coloring hair via Shutterstock

The post Coloring Your Hair: Safer Ways to Less Grey appeared first on EcoSalon.

If you’re like me, you love to rock different hair colors, but not at the expense of sweet, cuddly creatures. Luckily there are a lot of cruelty-free hair dye brands out there.

Next time you want to dye your hair a vibrant red or a cool blue, click on over to these sites, and snatch up the cruelty-free hair dye that speaks to your soul.

1. Manic Panic

Words cannot describe how much I love Manic Panic. Sure, this hair dye business may be best known as the coloring company teens turn to when they’re looking to dye their hair pink. But adults can have fun with Manic Panic’s colors, too. If you apply Manic Panic’s color over another “normal colored” hair dye, or even your natural color, it won’t appear as vivid. I like to put the company’s Vampire Red over my now dyed black locks for a subtle, red hue. Come January, I may switch the red to the company’s After Midnight. Because nothing says “winter” like black/blue hair. If you want a super vibrant color, or a pastel color, the company also sells bleach kits, and color pastelizers. Warning, though: This hair dye can bleed a bit. I’m assuming this happens because my hair isn’t super dry (aka bleached), so it doesn’t really lock in the color.

2. Naturtint

This is my current, go-to base color. I love the company’s Ebony Black. But I’ve also used its deep red colors, and brunette colors, too. This company’s hair dye is ammonia-free, paraben-free and vegan friendly. This cruelty-free hair dye also is free of the following: Silicones, paraffin, mineral oils, heavy metals, artificial fragrances, SLS, or formaldehyde derivatives. This dye doesn’t bleed and fades very slowly, too. This hair dye also comes off your scalp easily. (Extremely good when you’re as bad at applying hair dye as I am.)

3. Lush

Lush has a line of Henna hair dyes that are totally synthetic-free. The company carries four colors for the gal who wants to spice up her natural color, or tint her natural color another hue.

Related on EcoSalon

Auburn Aspirations? Henna 101

5 Awesomely Hair-Raising Organic Hair Salons in the U.S.

A Brush with Eco-Friendly Hair Color

Image: Steven Depolo

The post 3 Cruelty-Free Hair Dyes for the Colorful, Vegan Gal appeared first on EcoSalon.

Red might be the boldest and most vibrant shade that ever sprouted naturally from anybody’s head, but it’s also elusive. Getting the perfect red (using non-toxic dyes, naturally) can be a difficult prospect, and keeping it is even harder, as it tends to fade quickly.

To preserve dyed red hair as long as possible, wait 24-48 hours after coloring to shampoo, and then use the four-pronged approach below, involving gentle cleansers, color-depositing products, protective styling serums, and oil-absorbing hair powders for those in-between-washing days.

Color-Preserving Hair Products

The cleansing agents in many shampoos, especially those made to clarify or volumize, can be way too harsh on color-treated hair, causing that coveted red hue to fade faster than it should. Products that are specifically formulated for dyed hair are typically gentler, and often contain extra ingredients that can help protect hair from the damaging effects of sun, chlorine and heat-styling. If you need extra moisturizing power, check out Lavera’s Mango Milk Shampoo for Color Treated Hair, which contains organic cocoa and shea butter for lusher locks. Aveda’s Color Conserve line prevents fading and keeps hair soft without being too heavy, while Alterna’s Bamboo UV + Color Protection Vibrant Color Shampoo might work better for oilier scalps. All are free of harsh sulfates and sodium chloride, as well as parabens, synthetic dyes and phthalates.
Oil-Absorbing Hair Powders

It’s best not to shampoo your hair too often if you want to preserve your color for as long as possible between dye jobs, but if you need a little help to keep your hair from looking a little limp, there’s a product that will seriously change your life: hair powder. Lulu Organics offers all-organic, talc-free hair powder that absorbs oil and imparts a heavenly fragrance. It’s available in lavender + clary sage, jasmine, patchouli + amber and vetiver + black pepper. Another organic, all natural hair powder from Sisters of the Black Moon manages oil with arrowroot powder and kaolin clay.

Heat-Styling Protectants

Use a protective product when heat-styling to prevent the kind of damage that can make dyed red hair weaker and more porous, which leads to uneven color retention. Josie Maran’s Argan Oil Hair Serum reduces frizz, boosts shine and helps seal the hair cuticle. PHYTO’s Phytomist Color Protect Radiance Mist is a lightweight leave-in conditioner that detangles, and also prevents color from fading by protecting hair against oxidation.

Red-Enhancing Shampoo, Conditioner & More

Color-enhancing products for red hair can definitely help keep your hair from fading, but should be used sparingly to prevent over-saturating your hair with color or significantly changing the shade you prefer. Aveda’s Madder Root Shampoo & Conditioner contain a vivid red pigment that brightens red tones; the effect is subtle in the shampoo, but the conditioner is so powerful as to almost be a dye in itself, and it will tint blonde or gingery highlights pink. Test it out on a small section of your hair first, or dilute it with regular conditioner to reduce the color depositing effects. Another brand, Shikai Color Reflect in Warm, contains just a little bit of henna for a subtler result.

Want to go totally natural? Try tinting your hair temporarily with a spray made from red hibiscus petals. This works on natural red hair as well as colored hair, adding warm red tones, and it’s easy to make. Andrea Drugay offers the simple instructions to make it yourself.

Related on Ecosalon: 

Be a Redhead Bombshell: Safer Natural Red Hair Color from Box to Henna 

A Brush with Ecofriendly Hair Color

Photo: Stefanie Neves

The post Keep Dyed Red Hair Colorful with Natural, Non-Toxic Treatments appeared first on EcoSalon.

Red hair is bold, sexy, sassy and fun. It stands out in ways that other hair colors just can’t compete with, especially when it catches the light in just that certain way. But very few of us are naturally blessed with this gorgeous hue, from pale ginger to rich auburn, so if we want to feel like a flame-haired bombshell a la Christina Hendricks or Florence Welch, we’ve got to fake it.

Red can be one of the hardest hair colors to achieve, since it tends to fade quickly, and the wrong shade can send you to the clownish side of the spectrum. Here are some natural red hair color tips, and organic red hair dye brands that can safely get you the vivid shade you’re looking for, including healthy and all-natural henna. 

At the Salon: Aveda Plant-Based Hair Color

Nobody does red hair color better than Aveda, and if you want to avoid the pitfalls that can come with at-home dye jobs, putting yourself in the hands of a pro is your best bet. The brand’s full-spectrum permanent dyes are up to 99% naturally derived, with plant-based formulas instead of the petrochemicals that typically make up permanent hair dye. The nice thing about going to a salon is you can have a color custom-mixed to ensure that it’s just right for your skin tone, and the colorist can blend different shades to give your overall look more depth.

Aveda isn’t the only option for safe, organic red hair color, of course. Look for a salon in your area offering organic, non-toxic options, and check out the brands they use online before making an appointment.

At-Home Permanent Red Hair: Naturtint and Herbatint

If you’d rather just grab a box off the shelf and get it over with, there are a few options to choose from. Whole Foods and other natural food stores offer brands like Naturtint and Herbatint. Herbatint is free of ammonia, alcohol, fragrance and parabens, and uses less peroxide for a more natural-looking result; the Environmental Working Group (EWG) gave it a safety score of 2 out of 10, (lower numbers indicating a safer product). Red shades range from light copper blonde to ‘flash fashion’ crimson red, and they can be mixed to create your own custom shade. The same goes for Naturtint, which scored a 3 from EWG. These box formulas aren’t perfect, but they’re a big improvement over the conventional store brands.

Not sure which shade to choose? When it doubt, go lighter. You can always dye it again if the results aren’t bold enough for you, but it can be hard to fix cherry-red hair that’s darker and more dramatic than you wanted.

Making a Big Commitment: Henna

By far, the healthiest and most permanent option for red hair color is henna. Totally plant-based, henna bonds with the proteins in your hair rather than just coating it in a very long-lasting reaction that’s hard to reverse. Because it has a sheer effect, working with your own natural hair color, the results tend to look fairly natural, with lots of dimension.

You can control the hue of your results using the custom formulas described at HennaForHair.com, which incorporate other natural ingredients like coffee, hibiscus petals and lemon juice. Always try it out on a small piece of hair before coloring your entire head.

Temporary Red Hair: Vegetable Dyes

If you want to give natural red hair color a try, but you’re feeling a little commitment-shy, try a temporary rinse. Vegetable dyes like Manic Panic can be used over your current hair color (assuming it’s not too dark) for a subtle effect that washes out in a week or two. Manic Panic is vegan, PPD-free and never tested on animals, but some formulas do contain parabens. Learn more about the ingredients at Bonzai Aphrodite, and make sure to do an allergy test before use.

Main Image: megan leetz Other Images: Aveda.com

Related on Ecosalon: 

A Brush with Eco-Friendly Hair Color

Auburn Aspirations? Henna 101

The post Be a Redhead Bombshell: Safer Natural Red Hair Color from Salon to Box to Henna appeared first on EcoSalon.

Eco-friendly hair color. It’s so enigmatic it deserves its own sentence fragment. Does it really exist? Can you get lasting hair color without color-binding ammonia? Is a brunette really a redhead and a blonde really a blonde when false colors are involved? Does George Clooney really mean that he’s never getting married? (Sorry, just threw that in there.) Some experts estimate that between 65 to 75 percent of women dye their hair, and it is believed that the practice goes all the way back to ancient Egyptians.

First, the bad. Most hair dyes are made of up ammonia, which binds the color, and hydrogen peroxide, which lightens existing color. Many dyes also contain p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which is linked to problems with the immune and nervous systems. PPD creates a permanent, natural look. However, women who used hair dyes containing PPD have shown an increased risk of diseases such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Jackie Kennedy Onassis died in her sixties of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and her hair stylist Peter Lamas famously suggested that her doctors believed hair dye may have caused her cancer.

Healthier hair color is certainly on the minds of industry professionals. L’Oréal Professionnel just announced that is premiering an ammonia-free line of hair color.
But to call it eco-friendly is a bit of a stretch, as even the best organic hair colors are going to have some chemicals that we may not like. While experts argue that the best color you can get will always be professional, there are some box brands that go easy on the chemicals. For example, brands like Naturtint contain no ammonia. This particular color is enriched with wheat, soy, corn and oat plant protein complex. Another brand, Light Mountain, contains no peroxide, ammonia or other additives.

But are they healthy? I asked the experts.

One fine, recent Wednesday, I took myself to Primrose Organics Salon and Boutique, located in the heart of Los Feliz, California. Walking into the warm space filled with eco-friendly products galore, I spoke with owners Melissa Tournay and Felicia Howe. They explained to me that picking an eco-friendly hair color is more like picking your battles. Anything that colors your hair may have certain chemical ramifications, but there are healthier hair options out there.

Primrose Organics offers up primarily two lines of color. There’s the EcoColors line, which calls itself a non-toxic. It is free of gluten, parabens, sulfites and contains many natural based ingredients. They get props for offering up an ingredient lists – other eco-friendly lines responded to my request for ingredients like I was asking for secret to George Clooney’s dreaminess. (Again, just throwing that in.)

And then there is the Organic Color Systems. This line is free of ammonia, parabens, plastics, Sodium Lauryl Suflates, and other baddies. They also offer up a comprehensive ingredients list, which includes the ingredients, what they are derived from, and their function. For example, Organics Color Systems contains Alcohol Denatured, derived from corn, which works as a viscosity adjuster.

My hair, newly done with the Organic Color Systems.

But frankly, this all just covers the glossy surface of eco color. As I write this article now, I feel like I’m wreathed in spa scents – literally, hours later, my hair still smells like lavender. And I truly dig the color – I am self-admittedly, ahem, a bit intense about my hair and want it to look its “best version of natural.”  Mission accomplished, Organic Color Systems! And sure, retaining my dark blonde color might have been the “greenest” thing to do. But beauty doesn’t have to be toxic, and it seems that these hair color lines are on the forefront of the fight against chemically-produced color.

Images: Alex Campos, Katherine Butler

Editor’s note: this review is FTC Compliant.

The post A Brush with Eco-Friendly Hair Color appeared first on EcoSalon.