Ammonia: The Destruction of your Cuticle, Color and Health!

The use of ammonia in  both salons and off the retail shelf - are getting new attention.  It is now proven that ammonia puts salon professionals and clients at serious risk of long term health damages, causing numerous serious health problems.

At Kasia, we always keep the "end result" in mind for our guests.  The main to objectives of a product line, ingredient, or hair color is:

1. The end outcome of the hair color

2. The health of the hair after use

Let's take a deeper look at Ammonia - is it necessary - and the developing industry of ZERO Ammonia hair color for "Beautiful Health." 

The Retiring Salon Professionals

The average career of a salon professional is only around 8 years. In my own experience of leaving the "conventional salon," most stylists careers end because of health issues related to skin irritations and some breathing complications. Salon professionals are three times more likely to be inflicted with obesity, depression, or social anxiety disorder at some point throughout their lifetime.

What is Ammonia? Ammonia is a toxic gas with a breath taking, pungent, irritating odor. Ammonia fumes come from the substance of Ammonia Hydroxide. It is commonly used in the hair color to open the hair cuticle as it is a corrosive substance that extracts water from the cells causing an inflammatory response which damages surrounding tissues. This is completely counterproductive to nurturing healthy hair as ammonia has many detrimental effects to human hair.

Long Term Health

Ammonia is  considered to cause cancer. Considering ammonia is a carcinogen,  their is strong evidence that ammonia also causes the following health problems.

• Long term exposure to ammonia fumes can cause obesity, depression, and social anxiety disorder.

• Daily exposure to ammonia will cause high blood pressure, pulmonary edema, and bronchitis.

• Continued contact with ammonia hydroxide will dry the skin and damage skin cells and eventually cause serious skin complications.

• Exposure to ammonia fumes will damage eyes, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

• Even brief exposure to ammonia fumes can be an asthma trigger and irritate or amplify allergies.

Ammonia's destructive effects on your hair:

• The corrosive characteristics of ammonia destroys the tyrosine in human hair. Tyrosine is the protein that regulates the production of melanin, hair’s natural pigments. Therefore, using ammonia in hair color destroys hair’s natural ability to “hold” color.

• Ammonia causes a destructive inflammatory effect on follicles rending them dormant for an indeterminate amount of time and causing hair to thin.

• The corrosive characteristics of ammonia, while an important property in opening the cuticle, irreparably damages the cuticle which sacrifices the hair’s structural integrity. Although conditioning the hair will help to temporarily close down the cuticle, it does not restore the hairs structure or repair the cuticle.

• Because ammonia extracts water from the cells, it depletes the hair of moisture. Also,ammonia will destroy and incapacitate the sebaceous glands which produces sebum, the hair’s natural moisturizer.

100% COLOR. ZERO AMMONIA.

At Kasia Organic Salon, as a commitment to a healthy environment for our guests and staff, we only use Mastey Zero-ammonia Hair Color. This product is the safest permanent and semi-permanent hair color available today.  It delivers the best professional results without any toxic chemicals such as resorcinol, p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) or p-Toluenediamine (PTD), and void of dangerous fumes.

Reference:  OCS and Killer Strand

72% of Women Are Effected by Hair Loss Due to Iron Deficiencies

The most common form of anaemia is iron deficiency anaemia. Women are particularly susceptible to iron deficiency due to the regular loss of iron rich blood during menstruation. Iron deficiency is believed to be a relatively common precursor to female hair loss, in fact, 72% of women with hair loss have an iron deficiency.

Symptoms: Rapid hair loss, weight loss, pale appearance, spoon shaped nails, depression, change of hair color to a lighter shade, excessive dryness of hair.

There are many reasons that women Anaemia is commonly caused by a lack of iron, which is one of the most important minerals for your hair. Iron also optimizes energy levels, nourishes your skin and keeps your heart healthy - an all-round essential for your general fitness and well-being.

IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA

Iron deficiency anaemia is caused by low numbers of red blood cells (haemoglobin). It usually occurs if your diet lacks iron-rich foods, or you aren’t absorbing it correctly. However, loss of blood, illness and pregnancy can also be causes of anaemia. A large proportion of women who come into our trichological clinics for hair loss treatment have some degree of anaemia.

 THE BEST DIETARY SOURCES OF IRON ARE RED MEATS

If you’re losing your hair, or notice it isn’t growing at the rate or to the length it used to, we suggest you have your doctor test your iron levels, as both of these can be symptoms of anaemia. Iron levels should be analysed by checking the following blood levels.

It’s important to follow the dosage, as high iron levels can also be dangerous and taking more than prescribed will not lead to a faster result. You may also want to ask your doctor to suggest changes to your diet. The most beneficial treatment for anaemia is when you receive iron both through good nutrition and the correct supplement.

FERRITIN:  STORED IRON

Ferritin is a stored iron that helps to produce hair cell protein. It’s found in every cell in your body and is essential for healthy hair.

WHY IS FERRITIN IMPORTANT?

Ferritin is stored iron, so first and foremost good levels are important in the prevention of anaemia. Correct ferritin levels also maximize your hair’s ‘anagen’ or ‘growing’ phase and encourage your hairs to grow to their full length. When you aren’t getting enough iron through your diet, your body takes ferritin stored in non-essential tissue, like your hair bulb, and gives it to essential tissue, such as your heart.

Because your hair bulb is where all your hair cells are produced, this leeching of ferritin can cause your hair to shed before it reaches its maximum length. This can even occur if your haemoglobin level is normal. Ferritin can also be too high, and cause a condition known as haemocromatosis, where your body produces excess iron which can affect your liver and heart.

TESTING FERRITIN LEVELS

Ferritin levels are not always tested, even when your iron levels are tested. If you notice excessive hair loss, ask your doctor to check them. However, it’s important to note that optimum ferritin levels for your hair are higher than those considered acceptable for your body. Again, this is down to your hair being a non-essential tissue.

At Kasia Organic Salon we often recommend taking ErythroPro by Premier Research Labs.

 ErythroPro Key Benefits:

• Highly bio-available, natural-source iron; does not promote free radical production such as inorganic (rock) forms of iron (i.e. ferrous Fumarate).
• Designed to help rapidly restore iron levels and support overall mineral metabolism.
• Provides key blood factors; elegant natural sources of folic acid, vitamin B12, copper, iodine and more.
• Natural-source iron does not accelerate aging in the brain or the neurological system (ferrous fumarate and other non-living source forms of iron can stress immunity, cause constipation and are difficult to absorb)
• Can be used in pregnancy without creating an upset stomach, nausea or morning sickness

It can take as long as 6 months to increase ferritin levels, but don’t despair or become impatient. As your levels improve, your hair will benefit immensely.

FOODS RICH IN IRON

• Red meat
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Lentils
• Spinach
• Raw peaches
• Prunes
• Prune juice
• Raw or dried apricots
• Broccoli tops
• Potato skins
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Parsley
• Treacle (molasses)
• Beetroot

Reference Article :  Phillip Kinglsey

Trending Fall Hair - Pony Up!

Shop Kasia Organics Online

Hydra BoostTexturizing and Volumizing Sea Salt Spray

Featured Fall Hair Trend * Pony Up!

 

Shop Kasia Organics Online 

Hydra Boost Texturizing and Volumizing Sea Salt Spray

Recent Kasia "Off the Floor" Photos! Congrats Sara and Liz!

Congrats to Sara and your new baby girl!  

Congrats, Liz on your new marriage!

Hey Beaute' - Time to Pony Up!

Well, we're gearing up for FALL!  There is probably no other style that brings forth a love/hate relationship with a women's hairstyle.    At its worst, it's a lazy-day fall-back, yet at its best it can rule the runways and red carpet?    Well you're in luck - because both ways are FAB for FALL TRENDS!

A whole genre on ponytails?! Yes milady, that's right. It is time to expand your pony horizons.  Ponytails are a classic look that can be easily polished.

Styling a ponytail is quick and simple.

1.  Start with a small drop of Kasia Outshine Ultra-light Smoothing Gloss for a shiny look. Pull your hair back and use a brush to smooth over any pesky hair sticking out.

2.  Use Kasia NEW Hydra-Boost and Volumizing Mist to give your hair some volume and grit for the pony before pulling back.

3.  Use a band to secure in the hair and spray a medium-hold hair spray over hair. If you have fly away hair sticking out of your pony tail, use a small hard bristle brush to flatten those hairs with hair spray.

Try ONE .....try them ALL!

Informed Beauty Toxic Ingredient: RESORCINOL

We know about the popular "no-no's" in traditional hair color - that being Ammonia and PPD.  But do not forget the identity complex of Resorcinol…

 

This chemical is found in most commercial hair dyes.  Resorcinol is an endocrine-disrupting agent, meaning it will adversely affect the part of your body responsible for the production and balance of various hormones in your system. An example of a hormone-related condition that resorcinol can cause is hypothyroidism, which causes your thyroid to slow down its production of hormones related to your metabolism. There are also some concerns that this ingredient can cause organ system toxicity, and it certainly does cause severe irritation of the skin and eyes.  

WHAT IS IT? Resorcinol is a colorant and fragrance ingredient, typically used to create yellow tones in everything from brilliant brunettes to the blondest blondes. It’s a common ingredient in hair color and bleaching products. Its inexpensive and easily stabilized nature makes it a common villain lurking on drugstore shelves across the country.

HEALTH RISK: It is a known skin irritant, allergen, carcinogen, hormone disruptor and is severely toxic to the immune system and body’s organs. It can lead to permanent thyroid gland damage, heart rate changes and severe headaches and nausea.The federal government regulates exposures to resorcinol in salons and by professionals, but unfortunately there are not yet any regulations limiting amounts of resorcinol in over the counter products and cosmetics.

HOW TO AVOID: Since resorcinol takes on many names, it is important to thoroughly scour labels for any of its monikers. If you see these words, consider the red flag raised:

• M-dihydroxybenzene
• M-hydroquinone
• M-phenylenediol
• 3-hydroxyphenol
• 1,3-benzenediol
• CI developer 4
• Oxidation base 31
• 1,3-dihydroxybenzene
• Resorcin

NON-TOXIC ALTERNATIVE We LOVE and stand by our PPD/AMMONIA/RECORCINOL FREE hair color at Kasia.  It delivers brilliant color and shine that lasts with 100% grey coverage.

 

Resources: ngetholistichealth.com thechalkboardmag.com

We service the most BEAUTIFUL women! What is YOUR Story?

I  love the feeling of serenity at Kasia Organic Salon....

From the welcome when I first enter the salon to the hug I receive when I leave, the total experience is always one that says, "You are important." No rushing, no obnoxious loud music {only great tunes from different decades, including the 40's}, no pressure to buy certain products. Kassie and her staff take time to get to know you, your hair and/or skin, your lifestyle and your beauty and style goals.

Kassie does her research and is not only on-trend for style, but is very informed about health issues, as well. She knows that what we put ON our skin and hair, including coloring products, needs to be as high quality as what we put INTO our bodies. She has helped me to advocate for my own "beauty health" through well-researched articles and conversations that we have had.

Just because a product comes with a big marketing budget and is on TV or in magazines does NOT mean it is good for you! Consumers are just catching on to this {think parabens, sulfates, phthalates, pvps, GMO-derived ingredients, etc.} but Kassie has been aware of them and diligently bringing her own, clean version of hair and skin products to the market {or offering others that meet her same stringent standards} since before she opened her salon and had a chair in another shop.

I first came to her frustrated that I was losing a lot of hair and finding no solutions from either my doctors or my hair dresser. That was nearly four years ago. Since then my hair has come a long way and is so much healthier, which makes ME happier. Not only did we agree on a "correction course" for my hair from a cut and color standpoint, but she also pointed me to a doctor who helped me work on nutrition and other deficiencies.

Kassie has introduced me to several great organic products, some from her own line and some from others. The ones that I particularly love of hers are her organic sunscreen, organic hair shine serum, organic shine mist and her wonderful, soy candles.

This review is way overdue ~ thank you, Kassie and Kasia Organic Salon!