Many beauty products, such as highlighting shampoos, hair dyes and bleaching agents contain hydrogen peroxide. Many people rely on hair-lightening products to change the color of their hair.
Peroxide or H202 is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen and, in lower concentrations, is generally considered safe for a number of applications, one of which is hair lightening.
Hair is comprised of keratin. Hair color is determined by quantities of eumelanine (brown to black shades) and phaemelanine (blond, ginger, and red shades). The absence of either melanin shows in grey or white hair.
In humans, hydrogen peroxide is a by-product of metabolism and is generated in small amounts throughout the body and in hair follicles. But, over time, the process that neutralizes hydrogen peroxide is reduced.
According to Professor Heinz Decker of the Institute of Biophysics at Mainz University, as people age, “hydrogen peroxide builds up in larger amounts in the hair follicle and ultimately inhibits the synthesis of the color pigment melanin." Grey Hair in Old Age: Hydrogen Peroxide Inhibits the Synthesis of Melanin, Science Centric
This impacts on human hair as the hydrogen peroxide attacks the enzyme tyrosinase by oxidizing the amino acid methionine. Normally, this enzyme starts the synthesizing pathway of the coloring pigment melanin.
This begs the question: if naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide contributes to grey hair, should an actual peroxide solution be applied to hair as a means to lighten it?
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe for Hair Lightening?
Lightening hair with hydrogen peroxide involves using peroxide in an alkaline solution, whereby the peroxide reacts with the melanin.
According to DR. D. J. Verret, MD, recent research suggests that continual use of hydrogen peroxide can play a part in turning hair gray. It is believed that peroxide creates free radicals that can damage the tyrosinase ensyme, an ensyme in the pathway that creates pigment in hair.
Some people feel this is a reasonable trade-off to achieve a different shade of hair color. As well, since using hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair mimics a natural process that occurs in the body anyway, some consumers consider hydrogen peroxide to be a safer substance in hair lightening products.
Others opt to bypass hair lighteners or hair dye completely and use a weak concentration of peroxide, simply spraying/ brushing it through hair to lighten it.
As with any beauty treatment, risk should be weighed against potential benefit. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to lighten hair but may result in greyer hair down the road.
Video: Hair Greying | Hydrogen Peroxide | Hair Dye Alternative
Melody Rhodes - M. Rhodes is author of the Bedbug Books. She's been published in Canada, U.S. U.K. & NZ and has won awards for her poetry/prose.
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