An Ultrastructural Study of Hair Fiber Damage and Restoration Following Treatment with Permanent Hair Dye

The study by Ahn and Lee revealed that permanent hair dye containing p-phenylenediamine, m-aminophenol, resorcin, and hydrogen peroxide caused significant damage to the hair cuticle, with the most severe effects seen at 6 hours and 1 day post-application. However, the hair showed a near-complete restoration to its precoloring state after 8 weeks. The findings suggest that an 8-week interval between hair dye applications may prevent cumulative damage, and the use of acidic hair care products and those with cationic surfactants, cationic polymers, and conditioning agents post-dyeing can help in the hair shaft restoration process. The study was conducted on a 26-year-old woman's hair and was partially funded by a research grant from the Pacific R & D Center in Seoul, Korea.