Behold, The Healthier Side Of Hair Dye

Hair-color devotees know: The perfect dye job can have you walking on air. But, unfortunately, it can also leave you with a heck of a lot of breakage, dryness, damage, and other unsavory side effects. The solution? A new crop of color treatments that are good not only for the health of your hair but that of the planet, too — and Vogue has investigated the best of 'em.

Brands like Original & Mineral, Tints of Nature, and Madison Reed have taken pains to remove hazardous ingredients in favor of natural options, while still maintaining the efficacy of the dye. Original & Mineral creative director Janelle Chaplin explains that switching out ammonia for naturally occurring alkaline agents is more gentle on the cuticle of the hair, slowing down the color-acceptance process — and, in turn, reducing the "fry factor" post-treatment.

At-home-color companies are also hopping on the healthy-hair bandwagon. San Francisco-based Madison Reed, which operates as a subscription service, offers bespoke boxes boasting dye free of ammonia, parabens, and other harsh agents. Clients see the best results when shifting their shade just slightly: “We could certainly take you from blonde to black, but, because we’re not using the radical chemical ingredients, the outcome is better [when it’s subtler],” says Amy Errett, the brand's cofounder and CEO.

Here's to saving your strands and planet Earth. (Vogue)

Madison Reed Hair Color Box, $29.95, available at Madison Reed.