Hair dyes back under scrutiny
EU scientific committee raises health concerns
The EU’s scientific committee on consumer safety has raised health concerns about five hair dyes and dye ingredients.
Its scientists said dye Acid Black 1 at a maximum on-head concentration of 0.5% “poses a risk to the health of the consumer”. The committee added that there is insufficient data to assess the safety of Basic Yellow 57 as an ingredient at maximum on-head concentration of 2%. It warned the gene mutation potential of ingredient N,N’-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine cannot be identified without further testing and that there is “sensitising potential” for ingredient resorcinol and “moderate skin sensitising potential” for using 4-chlororesorcinol as a dye at a maximum on-head concentration of 2.5%.