A Swedish study found that hairdressers were more likely to have small babies or babies with birth defects. It blamed exposure to the chemicals used for perming and spraying and recommended (a) protective gloves and (b) proper ventilation in salons and especially in chemical preparation areas.

60% of hair salons inspected by Environmental Health officers in Warrington admitted that staff had been affected by exposure to salon chemicals. One in tenhad had to take time off to recover.

The main culprit was thought to be shampoos. 90% of owners had not warned staff of the risks.

Around a third of women aged 18+ and 10% of men aged 40+ use permanent hair dyes. The dyes contain organic chemicals, which cause cancer and easily penetrate the skin.

A study found a double risk of developing bladder cancer in regular users, a triple risk in people using them regularly for 15+ years, and a fivefold risk in hairdressers of ten years plus standing.

It also reported that hair dyes may be linked to rheumatoid arthritis by damaging the immune system and that semi-permanent dyes can also cause allergic reactions.

Courtesy of Green Files