How to Dispose Of Hair Dye Safely: Our Eco-Friendly Advice

There are many people using hair dyes today, but the challenge is how they dispose of leftover products and containers.

For individuals with short hair, there are chances that the remaining product is bound for the drain.

While the chemicals in hair dye can damage the plumbing system, they may also find their way to groundwater and soil. Luckily, there are safer and better approaches to dispose of hair dye. Keep reading for insight on how to dispose of hair dye safely.

a dustbin/trash can/how to dispose of hair dye safely

Comprehend why it Matters

You might understand it, but the synthetic substances used to tie shading to the strands of your hair are categorized as hazardous wastes. Notwithstanding being suspected as cancer-causing agents, a number of these chemicals likewise cause damage to the environment.

For instance, benzenediamine dihydrochloride, additionally recorded as phenylenediamine or PPD, is utilized in hair color to fix shading.

The substance is exceptionally lethal to wildlife and fish, with enduring impacts in soil and water. Amusingly, the French researcher who detailed the main substance hair shading with PPD in 1909 propelled the French Harmless Hair Dye firm, currently, referred to today as L’Oreal.

It’s Ideal to Share

Got a companion who likes a similar color as your hair shading? Set up a day when the two of you or more can color your hair in the same and using the same product.

Need to dye your extensions? Learn how here with our guide!

There will be less or no leftover to get rid of, and you can discard the bottle (s) in the recycling container following a quick rinse.

To sweeten the deal even further, this is a chance to shading each other’s hair. You get rid of the missing spots that only appear when doing it alone. In that case, two heads are, of course, better than one.

Give the Dye

Do you have an unopened hair dye that you don’t need any longer? Consider giving it to an assisted living facility or nursing home that’s willing to take it.

They can use it in their on-site salon, and that’s always possible. There’re, however, numerous centers that cannot receive even sealed products. That’d due to the issue of potential legal ramifications or safety of their users.

You can also try a local women’s shelter to donate your product. You could likewise gift it to a companion or relative who can apply it. 

Find Local Resources

Get in touch with your local authorities to check whether there exists any household waste program.

If there’s one, you can drop the leftover hair dye at their facility. In case your community does not have one, you can trace a hazardous waste collection & recycling centers close to you.

Think about Natural Dyes

Today, there are numerous plant-based hair dyes in the market. These products have less antagonistic impacts on environmental or human health.

Essentially, henna is an incredible, safe option for natural and eco-accommodating hair shading where extra items turn out into compost rather than unsafe waste. Check with your colorist or beautician for more about these items, including how they’re used.

how to dispose of hair dye safely

Hazardous Waste

If the hair dye package isn’t empty, the ideal spot is either the hazardous waste container or the mixed waste container, contingent upon the item. Dangerous waste residue, for example, packaging that has got chemicals, can’t be recycled together with other waste.

Always carry the unsafe waste to a hazardous waste gathering point. Part of hazardous waste is hair dyes, permanent curling chemicals, and aerosols, such as hairspray. While liquid hair color is risky waste, dried hair color is a blended waste.

Discover how to darken highlights that are too light here.

Using and Disposing Dyes Safely

While dying is a creative and fun process, the products should be handled cautiously. The products are safe to utilize if you can keenly follow the producer’s guidelines and some fundamental preparatory rules. Mishandling or misuse of materials and dyes that are being used in dyeing can lead to dangerous outcomes, for instance, allergic reactions.

That generally happens whenever the product gets into your skin or when the dye powder is inhaled. For lactating or pregnant mothers, consult the dye provider regarding the wellbeing matters.

  • Protect your skin: Put on rubber, nitrile, or latex gloves when blending dye solutions or putting substances such as acid crystals or salt to a dye bath. Whenever you’re hand-painting yarn, shield your hands from contacting the liquid dye. In case you get dye stains on fingernails or hands, utilize an exceptional hand cleanser, for instance, ReDuRan, to remove it. The product is accessible from dye suppliers. 
  • When operating with a simmering dye bath, put on insulated thermal gloves that are meant for dyers. Utilize hot mitts when dealing with hot cooking apparatuses. In case you soak fibers into alkaline or citric acid solutions before coloring, put long gloves to shield your arms and hands.
  • Protect your lungs: Put a particle filter mask when dealing with color powders or any powdered color material. You ought to likewise wear a double cartridge respirator cover loaded up with acid gas cartridges. The aim is to shield your lungs from irritation that’s brought about by the corrosive fumes of simmering dye baths. Assess with the dye supply firm to ensure you’re using the right kind of mask.
  • When blending color powders, close windows and turn off fans to stop air movement. Spread your work surface using paper towels and softly dampen the paper from a spray bottle. You want to trap all the loose dye particles before they turn into airborne. You additionally can make a blending box fixed with moisturized paper. When cooking the dye baths, ideal ventilation is significant. Open the window and turn on vent fans.
how to dispose of hair dye safely

  • Protect your Eyes. Put on safety glasses to shield your eyes when you’re operating on the dye studio.
  • Never drink, eat, or prepare food when working on the hair dyes. 
  • Dyes and materials related to coloring ought to be put away in a dry, cool space from direct daylight and far from kids. Utilize air-tight containers to store liquids and powders. Always supplant lids firmly subsequent to utilizing chemicals and dye powders.
  • Clearly, label all the products, and note the date the product was bought or mixed. To store liquid dyes, utilize glass jars since breakage would cause a lot of mess. Dye solutions produced from acid dye powders, for instance, Cushing dyes, can be put away in plastic compartments for a half year. That’s as long as the substance hasn’t been put into the dye solution.
  • Fiber-reactive dye solutions don’t ideally store for a long time. It’s vital to prepare enough color that you only need.
  • When you’ve fully completed the acid dye bath, next is to neutralize the bath. Put 1 tablespoon of baking soda at a go and utilize pH test papers to attest that the depleted bathwater is neutralized. Next is to put the exhausted dyebath into the drain and flush using a lot of water. 

Discarding unexhausted fiber-receptive dye baths isn’t hard. You can’t utilize any remaining color that the yarn hasn’t ingested. That’s because; the dye molecules have been hydrolyzed and can’t any longer bond with the fiber.

If the pot has an unexhausted dye, you should adjust the pH. A fiber-responsive color bath is fundamental. Put 1 tablespoon crystals of citric acid unto the dye bath pH has been neutralized before disposal. Verify with the guidelines of the supplier for the safest technique of disposal. Some dye firms recommend dumping the neutralized bath into the drain by utilizing a lot of water.

Tip:

If the bath has plenty of leftover dye, you may store it in plastic containers. Some communities have clean-up days and use the chance to collect such household chemicals. Ensure you label the substance in the containers.

Disposing Hair Products

When you’re finished with your hair items, the coherent decision is to discard them. Because of the unsafe synthetic substances in shampoos, hair splashes, and gels, it is critical to abstain from hurling them into the waste alongside your regular trash.

Hair items are viewed as risky waste since they are regularly combustible and pollute the soil in trash sites. To appropriately discard hair items, it is crucial to utilize the items before discarding or reusing the container fully.

Use the remaining product. It’s safe to throw a product bottle after you’ve finished utilizing the substance. Don’t pour hair items into the drain, since this can clog the pipes and pollute water.

Learn how to blend in highlights at home here!

Carry the bottles to a recycling water facility near you. Recycling centers may give the chance to pick hazardous waste.

You may likewise drop the empty bottles at local disposal sites. Seal empty bottles and plastic garbage bags, or those recommended by the recycling center. You can visit Earth911.com to get a recycling facility nearby.

Unused items can be given or parted with, which ensures the product will be utilized before being disposed. Some recycling facilities have programs for household risky waste exchange. The programs permit you to give your hair items to other people.

Wrap Up: How to Dispose Of Hair Dye Safely

By using the guidelines on how to dispose of hair dye safely, you’ll be able to discard leftover hair dyes and their containers with causing harm.

Programs from recycling facilities also give a better chance of disposing of dye without damaging the environment.  

Start protecting your hair from heat damage with our helpful guide!