Hi, I posted this answer to a question on Sara Jones’ blog on the BSG Source and thought everyone may benefit from this information . the research was done by our head chemist in charge of hair color.

The word “organic” in hair color does not have the same meaning as organic in the produce that you find at Whole Foods. In chemistry, “organic” refers to chemicals that have carbon on them. Many of these chemicals are in the exact same chemicals that are used in ALL permanent hair colors. The first of these is the dye molecule used in all permanent hair colors…”coal tar dyes”. The are also present in “organic” hair color, as coal tar is a carbon-based chemical. Furthermore, the “organic” hair color rands that we investigated use MEA as the catalyst for expansion of the hair shaft and to deposit dye molecules into the cortex for permanent color results. Two more “organic” (carbon-based) chemicals that were found in brands marketed as “organic” were Cocamide DEA (DEA has been banned in Europe and is not commonly found in most hair color formulas); and denatured alcohol. It is notable that the organic hair color brands we checked into DID use certified plant extracts, but their inclusion is peripheral to the hair color’s performance.

So basically, the use of “organic” to describe a hair color is referring to its use of organic plant extracts and carbon based chemicals. Many companies are using this term in the figurative sense – in other words they know what “organic” implies to the consumer — but are formulating in the literal sense based on organic chemistry. There is no difference in the dye molecules or catalyst in organic hair color than any other ammonia-free hair color.

Angelia

Director of Education

Jolco & ISO