Should Parents Allow Their Kids to Bleach and Color Their Hair?

Bleaching Hair Bleach Hair Color Danelle Fisher Kate Seymour Joe Greco Gina Posner M.D. Bleaching kids hair Kids hair color

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Oct 15, 07:52 pm

Bleaching hair has become a major hair color trend in the last couple of years and people have been loving to do it as it gives hair a new shade and somehow makes it look shinier. However, bleaching hair can certainly damage hair and includes several side effects on the hair color. According to Briogeo, bleaching is a chemical hair dye technique that strips the color of the hair strands.

It begins with an alkaline agent that opens up the hair cuticle. It next comes with the oxidative agent that penetrates the hair context and liquefies the natural melanin in the hair. The longer the bleach stays in the hair, the lighter in color your hair becomes. It can be eighter yellow or reddish tone depending on the natural hair color and gradually lighten to platinum blonde.
Once bleaching has been done in the hair, it will now be more susceptible to damage as excess oil, dirt, wind, and harmful UV rays can make the hair more frizzy and dull and it could also cause hair fall and split ends. Also, hair growth slows down or stops all at once.

Bleached hair may appear less soft as the bleach changes the porosity and elasticity of the hair already. When the hair is bleached, the hair cuticle becomes more open and will continue to open which results in a split end and soon break off of it if left untreated.

Hair color can irritate the scalp due to chemicals

Bleach including hair color can have damage results especially when the bleaching chemicals penetrate the hair shaft as it breaks down the natural fatty acid which causes a weaker hair strand. Moreover, bleaching is done by oxidation of hair and the process itself can already make the hair extremely dry and lifeless. Thus, if you think it can make the hair look better, think more, as it could turn your hair dull and boring.

Furthermore, bleaching requires high maintenance. Thus, when you bleach your hair, prepare yourself with high-maintenance products as the hair will suffer a lot if not given such products and care. Danelle Fisher, MD, FAAP (Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics), pediatrician and vice chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA told the outlet that there is no minimum age to bleach or dye kid's hair and suggests kids to just wait until they were old enough to get their hair bleached or colored as there's no guarantee that it is safe for all ages.

Fisher explained that bleaching hair at an early age can cause scalp irritation due to chemicals present in the products. Kate Seymour, M.D., internal medicine and pediatrics with Saint Thomas Health noted on Nashville Parent that hair dyes are actually created for adults as kids have more sensitive skin which means, the hair dye directly contacts the children's skin and can cause an itchy and red rash in the area.

What is the right age for kids to dye and bleach their hair?

Joe Greco, principal scientist of Global Baby R&D at Johnson's recommends waiting until after the age of 12 as the child's hair is still developing. Noting that 12 is between adult and baby hair stages which means it can be safe to apply bleach or color to the hair.

Gina Posner, M.D., a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Foundation Valley, CA says kids should avoid ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and paraphenylenediamine or chemical compounds usually found in permanent hair dyes as they can cause bad reactions. She suggests kids not put any harsh chemicals on hair especially at a young age as they can develop allergies, per She Knows.