After coloring your hair, you might be surprised to see just how much dye you have left over. In your mind, you may be thinking, “Can I save hair dye after it’s been mixed for a touch-up?” How long can hair dye last its been mixed? Show Before sticking your remaining hair color in the fridge for later, read this article! We’ll look at how long you should hold onto hair dye after it’s mixed and give you tips on how to best deal with dye leftovers. Table of Contents
Once you mix your hair dye with a developer, you’ll have to either use or dispose of it within one hour. Unlike semi-permanent hair dyes, permanent and demi-permanent hair colors are mixed with a developer before application. Developers contain hydrogen peroxide, which helps open your hair’s cuticle so the dye can deposit its pigments inside your strands. Though this mixture creates long-lasting color, peroxide is incredibly unstable. As it reacts to the oxygen in the air, chemical changes take place that makes the dye unsafe or ineffective. Read this article to learn more about the dangers of using expired hair dye. Why You Shouldn’t Leave Mixed Dye Out Too LongLeaving your dye out for a while may seem harmless, but the oxidation that occurs will throw off your results and can even ruin your hair. Here are some risks of leaving mixed hair dye out for longer than an hour.
Can You Preserve Leftover Mixed Hair Dye?Once you mix your hair dye with a developer, it loses its shelf life. If you don’t use all of it, you’ll have to throw away the excess after an hour. You can, however, preserve your unmixed hair dye and save it for a later date. Just put it into an air-tight container and store it in the fridge or at room temperature, and it’ll last for about six weeks. While your color might not come out as saturated as it would have with fresh dye, it will still be safe to use. How to Dispose of Leftover Mixed DyeHair dyes contain hazardous chemicals that can be detrimental to the environment, so never put them in the recycling bin, down the drain, or with your household trash. Harmful ingredients like paraphenylenediamine (PPD) can end up in your soil or water system and make it unusable. In addition to being harmful to humans, PPD is lethal to fish, wildlife, and vegetation. Instead, the best way to dispose of hair dye once it’s been mixed is to throw it away at a hazardous waste collection center. If that isn’t a convenient option where you live, you can also throw it away in a mixed waste container. Most areas have specific rules on how to dispose of hazardous material, so research your local guidelines to find out more information. Some local municipalities offer drop-off locations that are much more accessible than a trip to your nearest hazardous waste facility. Tips to Minimize Waste When Dyeing HairSince you can’t save or reuse it, leftover hair dye is a waste of time and money. It’s also difficult to dispose of correctly. Want to learn how to minimize leftovers? Keep reading for some expert tips.
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You might be tempted to hang onto your mixed dye to save money, but it’s not worth the risk to your hair. Luckily, you can take steps to prevent waste and keep both your hair and the environment healthy. We hope the information we’ve gone over today has answered all of your questions about how long hair dye lasts after it has been mixed. We wish you the best of luck with your hair dye adventures! |