Permanent Hair Color and Breast Cancer

[Yppej]

The NIH report released today, showing a link between hair dye and breast cancer, is the kick in the but I need to go gray. I've flirted with the idea before but always chickened out.

[Teacher Terry]

Interesting. I will look into it.

[catherine]

I stopped dyeing my hair in 2015... I probably look older than I would if my hair was still fake golden blonde, but I'm happy not having to keep it up all the time. The concern about chemicals was about 20% of my decision to go au naturale. The other reasons were a) I'm lazy and hated having to go through that ritual every few weeks b) if I waited too long, those ugly roots showed up c) I really admired women who had fantastic grey/silver hair. I am NOT one of those, but it made it easier to pretend I was and d) my hair IS salt and pepper--so what? I AM older now--so what?

[mschrisgo2]

Well, I can’t say that I am surprised. I had a small weird growth, pre-cancerous, they said- right in my hairline at my temple, that was removed. At the time I vividly recalled how my hairdresser rubbed the color in there. I decided I was going to go natural, whatever that was, on my 60th birthday. It’s been 8 years, my natural is a light golden and I get compliments on it every day. Wish I had done it sooner!

[lmerullo]

My mom is 94. She had breast cancer twice in the same breast, the second time opting for a mastectomy. She colored her hair (waist long!) Until she was 85.

She now has short white hair. Much more age appropriate.

[flowerseverywhere]

We had two fiends die of cancer in their early forties leaving behind small children. At the time I was highlighting my hair, and paying no attention to chemicals. I remember looking at the product labels for the chemicals in permanent and hair color packages and thinking why in the world was I putting chemicals so close to my brain? So I stopped.
Fast forward 25 years and our exposure to chemicals has done nothing but increase. From the meat and vegetables we eat, what we drink, from water to milk to soda, and the drugs we take. Add to that the chemicals in paint, wallboard, carpet, glues, packaging, our air and so on.

You can bet some people are making big money off of the products that cure or arrest all these diseases. We truly are in a pickle.

[happystuff]

I think I've colored my hair a total of maybe 4 times my whole life, last time over 20 years ago. Fortunately, I'm okay with the color and color changes through the years. It's all me - LOL.

[rosarugosa]

I need to give this some serious thought. I color my hair regularly.

[Tybee]

I colored mine this year for the first time in years and I am wondering if it actually looks any better. It's gotten really light anyway, so it reads more blonde like I was as a kid, but the color left it more yellow. It was never yellow--I was a tow head.

So I think I will highlight the roots as it grows out and then eventually stop highlighting. But the overall color is hard to get used to. Although I do get compliments, and I didn't before.

I think I am not worried about the breast cancer link but I probably would not be young and color it all the time, if that makes sense.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

It seems like this idea surfaces every few years, or at least I remember hearing this before. Maybe now they have actually established the link between hair color and cancer, so that is probably why it is back in the news.

I quit coloring my hair 2 or 3 years ago and was pleasantly surprised with the results. I get a lot of compliments and things like "are those streaks real?". I certainly don't miss the doing of it. Sometimes I see an old photo of myself when my hair was so dark and I get tempted just for a few minutes, but then I remember how long it took me to get it grown out to where it is today and I quickly dismiss the idea.

[Simplemind]

I hated coloring my hair but I was going gray at lightening speed. My hair also grows really fast so I was coloring every two weeks for years. I decided to stop coloring at about 55. I could not believe how negative a lot of my female friends were. Why on earth would I do this? Didn't I know how old it was going to make me look? I wa making a big mistake. In my mind the big mistake most women make is thinking coloring your hair is making you look younger when everything else underneath is a bigger tell. Your skin, your posture, your attitude.... Most colored hair after a certain point looks dull and lifeless.
So I let it all go and let me tell you, I wish I had done it sooner. The change for the better was dramatic. It felt better, it looked better and it was SIMPLE to maintain. I get compliments all the time from both men and women. I never did with my colored hair. Be brave, go forth and color no more!3042

[Teacher Terry]

I only get mine down professionally every 3 months. It’s a combination of color and highlighting so even though my hair grows fast it looks fine. I looked today and most of the studies don’t show a link. If you get a precancerous growth on your hair part my dermatologist said it’s from the sun.

[JaneV2.0]

There's a point of diminishing returns if you have 30-year-old hair and a face like the crypt keeper.
I don't mind looking as old as my hair. :D

[ApatheticNoMore]

I don't think it makes anyone look younger (well ok maybe the 30 year old who has gone all gray but that's because they ACTUALLY ARE YOUNG and just genetically programmed for early graying). But whether it looks better probably depends entirely on the color of the gray, and one's complexion and how they work together or don't.

[Simplemind]

Silver is the new black >8) Look how many younger women are sporting silver locks. I also don't think there is anything wrong with aging and I'm with Jane, as long as I don't look like the crypt keeper!

[rosarugosa]

Simplemind: Your photo makes it tempting to stop coloring; you look great!

[Yppej]

Great hair Simplemind. From what I am reading women get the most flak from other women when going gray, men don't care.

[catherine]

I'll do this little "snapchat" feature, too! This is fun! I'll also delete mine.

I'm a little more salt-and-pepper than you guys, but Simplemind and Geila, you look great!



3045

[Alan]

Who knew so many of our members were hot mama's. Keep it up ladies! :0!

[razz]

I think you all look amazing. As another has mentioned, so much else like posture and activities indicate aging. My hair returned to the original pearlized blonde of my youth after an adult colour of mousey brown as my dad called it. Others have asked for the colour that my stylist uses to get the same result.

[Tybee]

Wow, you guys look amazing! Catherine, that baby is absolutely beautiful.

[Teacher Terry]

You guys all look good! The baby is adorable.

[catherine]

You guys all look good! The baby is adorable.

Looks like the baby took Geila's advice (shaved head :).

[Tammy]

It astounds me whenever someone feels entitled to comment on what another adult should or should not do with their appearance. Intrusive and rude.

[Geila]

Looks like the baby took Geila's advice (shaved head :).

OMG, he's gorgeous! Is it a he? He wears the shaved look much better than I did! You look pretty great too. :+1:

[pinkytoe]

I inherited my mom's hair that stays golden brown while your face "matures". I wish they matched one way or the other...

[rosarugosa]

You look great, Catherine!
I missed Geila - was post/picture deleted?

[Geila]

You look great, Catherine!
I missed Geila - was post/picture deleted?
Yes, it was deleted. I feel weird having my pic out on the internet. Just imagine a stunning woman with silver hair, and that's me, pretty much. :laff:

[rosarugosa]

Yes, it was deleted. I feel weird having my pic out on the internet. Just imagine a stunning woman with silver hair, and that's me, pretty much. :laff:

Wow, you are gorgeous, Geila! :)

[happystuff]

Great pictures and what a cutie pie!!! Hmmm... maybe I'm not too old to let my hair grow out? You ladies look fabulous with your longer locks!

[pony mom]

I worked in the spa at a salon for years. All of the stylists wore gloves when coloring hair. It keeps their hands dye-free but also protects them from the chemicals. So if they're wearing gloves for something that's going on your scalp......?

Highlighting isn't as dangerous, as it's lightening your hair and the dye isn't usually put onto your scalp like roots to ends color.

I'm 53 and let my hair turn salt and pepper gray the last few years. Mostly I used demi permanent color but it just wouldn't cover the grey anymore and I didn't want the commitment and expense for permanent color. My hairstyle is a textured short pixie cut, which really looks good with the different shades of "sparkles" showing through.

A woman should let her hair go gray if she wants. But I think as she gets older, she should update the style. Long straight hair with a center part is only youthful on the young. Get something young and sassy and own it, and keep it healthy.

I used to wear a lot of fall colors (brown, rust, olive, gold). Now they don't look so great on me so I'm leaning towards prettier pastels. Well OK, old lady colors. But they suit me better and brighten up my face it bit more.

[Strongsoul]

I read it for the first time in my life. I know so many people, who don't live a healthy life, but they are healthy as hell. At the same time I have a mste, who has cancer, but he was lead a healthy lifestyle.
Anyway, if you want to believe in this info- it's up to you.

[Yppej]

Health concerns aside, this is bringing up a lot of thoughts for me, including why does our culture think it is acceptable and dignified for men to go gray but not women. Look at our presidential candidates, who are valued for years of experience, as an example, the exception being Tulsi Gabbard with her gray stripe.

If I ever have to look for another job I would probably wear a wig or something to the interview. Age discrimination is real. One woman told me she could not get another job until she dyed her grays.

To me this hearkens back to the days of fearing older independent women as witches. At bottom it's a fear of aging because aging leads to death. We try to hide from that. People no longer die at home and have their bodies dressed at home, hospitals and funeral homes have taken over.

Women are the ones expected to spend more on their appearance even though they earn less than men. Going gray is feeling like a feminist stand to me, and a statement that this is the real me, and the real me is good enough.

[Yppej]

I know so many people, who don't live a healthy life, but they are healthy as hell. At the same time I have a mste, who has cancer, but he was lead a healthy lifestyle.

The same could be said about smoking, I try to rely on science, not anecdotes.

[Teacher Terry]

Strong, the healthiest people I have known have died of cancer. I think a lot of it is environmental and hereditary. If I ever stop dying my hair it won’t be for health reasons.

[klunick]

My mom didn't got grey until she was well into her 70's. My husband went grey in his 30's/early 40's. I am seeing a few grey hair pop up which get pulled out immediately but I think when the grey hair comes, I will just accept it. I am 48 and I've been mistaken for my husband's daughter before and our boys for his grandsons because he went grey so early.

[Tammy]

I stopping the sporadic highlighting of my hair about 4 years ago to see if I had grey. I have a little. I don’t care. I stopped highlighting mostly to keep the chemicals off my body and out of our water supply, I also stopped fingernail polish/remover for the same reason. No makeup but that’s due to my numerous allergies and sensitivities.

I look like a 58 yr old woman. And I find great delight and subversive humor in living this way. Death to the overlords! :)

[KayLR]

I quit coloring mine some time ago...can't even remember, maybe 4 yrs ago. I just thought to myself, "Who am I trying to kid?" I just really didn't (don't) want to look like I'm trying TOO hard. I'm not crazy about the color; I don't have any fun or dramatic streaks, but it is healthy-looking. I think the key is to make sure it doesn't get dried out looking (like the rest of me--ha).

Like Catherine, I stopped for multiple reasons, but mainly because I was resentful of the time and expense.

[kib]

For me it's not so much that I want to look younger. I don't mind the silvers, but most of my natural color is not attractive at all to me, it was once a very dark honey blonde, but now it seems like any trace of red is gone, it's almost ... khaki in some light. Every half year or so I give it another try, hoping I have enough silver to make it nicer. Haven't put anything on my head for about 3 months, will see how long I can keep going.