Four things could happen if you use an expired hair dye: YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: What can I do with leftover hair dye? Can I save it and use it another time? Maybe you’re lucky, and only one of these four things happens to you. Otherwise, you may not be so lucky, and suffer some at the same time. It would be a real hair nightmare, don’t you think?
If you have already dyed your hair with expired hair dye, I’m sorry to tell you that the worst is yet to come.
As the days go by, you’ll start to lose your hair as if you had received a curse from an evil witch.
Just kidding, woman!
As I’ll tell you below if you’ve already used an expired hair dye, some of the above situations may occur. However, your hair won’t fall out or anything like that.
Let’s take an in-depth look at each of the possible consequences you could suffer if you’re hard-headed and decide to use an expired hair dye.
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Does the hair dye expire? Can I use an expired hair dye?
While hair dye expires just like all cosmetic products, it has a very long shelf life. Depending on the brand and hair dye type, it could last between 3 and 5 years.
If you discovered that the hair dye was expired after you used it, the first thing you should do is not to panic. .
The expired hair dye won’t damage your hair. Nor will it make it fall out. In my years of experience, no one has ever told me that had happened.
On the contrary, if you have found an expired hair dye in the back of your bathroom cabinet, the best and most sensible thing to do is NOT TO USE IT.
Discard it and buy another hair dye. Do it for the sake of your hair. As I said, it’s not a big deal to use an expired hair dye. However, why expose your hair to it if you can buy a new hair dye for a few bucks?
What if you still decide to use that expired dye despite all these warnings?
Your hair could become uneven.
Your hair could become uneven
Have you ever seen multi-colored zebra hair?
Well, that’s what your hair could look like if you use an expired hair dye. Here’s why.
Hair dyes have pure, artificial pigments. They contain chemicals and alkaline substances such as ammonia and other cosmetic components. Depending on the brand, some ingredients may vary.
According to some hair dye manufacturers, the shelf life varies from three to five years. So, the components could be altered after some time. Then, the product could change its texture, smell, and even color. .
Even if it’s expired, if the hair dye is well sealed and preserved, it’s likely to be better than one that’s has been opened and used.
Still, coloring your hair with an expired hair dye would be like playing the lottery. You could win, but you could lose. Your hair could look well or uneven. So, why take the risk?
If something goes wrong, you’ll have to spend a few bucks at the salon to repair the damage.
In turn, your hair’s porosity and the shade you want to apply could worsen the situation and the result.
Keep in mind that the more porous your hair is, the more risk it’ll become uneven. Why does it happen?
Because the more porous part of the hair will absorb much more product and pigment.
Your hair could be a different color than the one you had chosen
Speaking of possible hair catastrophes, it’s not the same to have uneven hair as to have green hair instead of blonde.
Imagine all those years invested in your beautiful hair color going down the drain!
It sounds unrealistic and exaggerated but although there isn’t scientific certainty, it wouldn’t be crazy to think that the copper used in hair dyes could oxidize and alter the color.
On the other hand, dark hair dyed with old hair dyes could become even darker. The pigments and chemicals in the hair dye could be altered and modified.
So if you prefer to play it safe and have your hair end up the color you chose, the best thing is to avoid an expired hair dye.
The hair dye may not be able to cover gray hair, especially if you have a lot of it
Gray hair is one of the main reasons why women dye their hair. Without any doubt, most women wouldn’t dye their hair if it wasn’t for gray hair.
Gray hair is the most important driver of the multi-billion dollar hair coloring industry.
However, let’s not get off-topic.
Let’s imagine this situation. You color your hair and, when it’s time to wash and dry it, you realize that the dye hasn’t colored your hair.
Your gray hair is still there and you’ve thrown away all the time you’ve invested in the process. Not to mention the negative effects the expired chemicals can have on your scalp. .
Therefore, I’d tell you a thousand times not to use an expired dye to cover your gray hair. Instead, throw it away and get a new one. Remember that you don’t have to use the whole thing. You can use half of it and keep the rest for the next gray hair touch-up.
If you use an expired hair dye, you could have an allergic reaction
Though most hair dyes have an expiration date, it can be misleading sometimes. If the product remains unopened, it’s probably in good preservation conditions.
However, if the dye has already been opened, it’s likely to be contaminated and have some kind of odor caused by bacteria.
That’ll be enough proof for you to throw it away immediately. Remember that opened hair dye has a more limited shelf life because its contact with oxygen accelerates its shelf life. .
Some of the ingredients of permanent hair dyes could cause allergies or adverse reactions especially if the hair dye is used beyond its expiration date.
Chemicals such as ammonia, paraphenylenediamine (PPD), and resorcinol can cause allergies and scalp burns.
If you aren’t sure of the expiration date, don’t apply it. It’s better to lose the value of a box of hair dye than to risk your health.
If you have already used an expired hair dye and have had an allergic reaction, ask your family doctor or dermatologist for advice on what to do.
Conclusions
There are many ways to dye your hair. You can do it at home with a box of hair dye ready to use. You can dye your hair at the salon or you can disguise your gray hair with a color spray until you decide to go permanent.
Whatever hair dye you choose, don’t use it if it is expired. Also, if the hair dye is not expired but smells bad, don’t use it. Even if it didn’t expire, it may have been stored where it was too hot.
As a final tip, if you plan to use a hair dye that has been stored for some time, evaluate it before using it.
