It was found that majority of hairdye products, arguing use of vegetable component only or reduced side effect thanks to not adding certain chemical component, are running an excess advertisement or false labeling.    

The Korea Consumer Agency (President: Young-seen Kim, www.kca.go.kr) released the result after conducting an investigation into 25 hairdye products labeling or advertising that they used vegetable or natural henna only as raw material or they enhanced product safety by not adding ‘paraphenylenediamine (PPD)’, chemical component that triggers allergy.   

According to the investigation results, the PPD was found in three products that advertised ‘PPD-free’ or did not state the PPD in the product ingredient labeling.  

Meanwhile, 11 products that claimed they are PPD-free and do not cause side effect or minimize skin irritation were found to have another chemical components that can cause allergy or side effect such as Toluene-2, 5-diamine Sulfate and Meta-aminophenol.

There is a continued increase in the number of consumer complaints of experiencing side effects such as itching, swelling, rash, and skin redness after using hairdye products.    

In this regard, the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) of the KCA has received increasing number of consumer damage reports related to hairdye products as seen in 94 cases, 105, and 118 in 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. 

Based on these findings, the Agency made a recommendation to a relevant Authority to strengthen management and supervision over false labeling and exaggerative advertisement of haridye products and also asked consumers to make it sure to do a patch test on their skin before using hairdye products.