The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the color additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of lead acetate in cosmetics intended for coloring hair on the scalp because new data, demonstrating that there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the use of this color additive, became available since lead acetate was permanently listed.

On October 30, 2018, the FDA published a final rule to amend the color additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of lead acetate in cosmetics intended for coloring hair on the scalp. On April 1, 2019, the final rule was stayed because the agency received objections to its decision and a public hearing was requested within the allowable timeframe. The agency has reviewed the objections and has determined that they did not raise issues of material fact that justify a hearing. Therefore, on January 6, 2022, the final rule will be effective. We intend to exercise enforcement discretion for 12 months following the effective date to provide industry with the opportunity to deplete their current stock and reformulate their hair dye products containing lead acetate.

For more information, please see the Constituent Update.

The FDA often receives questions about the safety and regulation of hair dyes. Most of these products belong to a category called "coal-tar" hair dyes.

Color additives, with the exception of coal-tar hair dyes, need FDA approval before they're permitted for use in cosmetics.

The FDA's ability to take action against coal-tar hair dyes associated with safety concerns is limited by law. It's important to follow the directions on the label. It is also important to be an informed consumer and understand the risks.

Learn more here:

  • What are Coal-tar Hair Dyes?
  • What the Law Says About Coal-tar Hair Dyes
  • Safety Issues
    • Hair dyes and eye safety
    • Hair dyes and allergic reactions
    • Using hair dyes and hair straighteners together
    • Questions about hair dyes and cancer
  • Other Types of Hair-coloring Products
  • Unusual Colors
  • Hair Dye Safety Checklist
  • How to Report a Problem

What Are Coal-tar Hair Dyes?

The term "coal-tar colors" dates back to the time when these coloring materials were by-products of the coal industry. Today, most are made from petroleum, but the original name is still used. Coal-tar hair dyes--those coal-tar colors used for dyeing hair--include permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary hair dyes.

Coal-tar colors are also called "synthetic-organic" colors. That's because, to a chemist, a "synthetic" compound is one formed from simpler compounds and an "organic" compound is one that contains carbon atoms.

What the Law Says About Coal-tar Hair Dyes

Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), a law passed by Congress, color additives must be approved by FDA for their intended use before they are used in FDA-regulated products, including cosmetics. Other cosmetic ingredients do not need FDA approval. FDA can take action against a cosmetic on the market if it contains a poisonous or deleterious ingredient that may make the cosmetic harmful to consumers when used in the customary or expected way and used according to labeled directions.

How the law treats coal-tar hair dyes:

  • FDA cannot take action against a coal-tar hair dye on the basis that it is or contains a poisonous or deleterious ingredient that may make it harmful to consumers, as long as the label includes a special caution statement and the product comes with adequate directions for consumers to do a skin test before they dye their hair. This is the caution statement:
    Caution - This product contains ingredients which may cause skin irritation on certain individuals and a preliminary test according to accompanying directions should first be made. This product must not be used for dyeing the eyelashes or eyebrows; to do so may cause blindness. (FD&C Act, 601(a))
  • Coal-tar hair dyes, unlike color additives in general, do not need FDA approval. (FD&C Act, 601(e)).

But there are limits to this exception:

  • FDA may take action against a coal-tar hair dye product if—
    • it does not have the caution statement on its label or come with adequate directions for a skin test, or
    • an ingredient other than the coal-tar hair dye itself is harmful., or
    • it is otherwise adulterated or misbranded.
  •  "Coal-tar hair dyes" are not eyebrow or eyelash dyes. Color additives intended for dyeing the eyebrows or eyelashes need FDA approval for that use. No color additives are approved for dyeing the eyebrows or eyelashes.

Safety Issues

While many people use coal-tar hair dyes, FDA is aware of the following problems:

Eye injuries: Hair dyes have caused eye injuries, including blindness, when used in the eye area. Eyebrow and eyelash dyeing are not permitted uses of coal-tar hair dyes. To learn more, see "What does the law say about coal-tar hair dyes?"

Allergic reactions: Some coal-tar hair dyes can cause allergic reactions or sensitization that may result in skin irritation and hair loss. People can develop sensitivities with repeated exposure. In addition, formulations may change over time. So, it's possible to have a reaction even if you have dyed your hair in the past, without a problem. That's why it's important to follow the instructions and do the skin test before every use. Even if you don't see a reaction to the skin test, it's still possible to have a reaction when you dye your hair.

One hair dye ingredient, p-phenylenediamine, or "PPD," has been implicated more prominently in leading to allergic reactions. Some people may become allergic to PPD from other exposures, including occupational exposures. This is called "cross-sensitization." Here are some examples;

  • Some temporary tattoo inks, sometimes marketed as "black henna"
  • Certain textile dyes, ballpoint pen inks, some color additives used in foods and drugs, and other dyes used in semi-permanent and temporary hair dyes
  • Rubber and other latex products
  • Benzocaine and procaine, local anesthetics used by doctors and dentists
  • Para-aminosalicylic acid, a drug used to treat tuberculosis
  • Sulfonamides, sulfones, and sulfa drugs
  • Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), a naturally occurring compound used in some sunscreens and in some cosmetics.

Temporary tattoo artists who use coal-tar hair dyes to color people's skin are misusing these products and ingredients, because coal-tar hair dyes are not intended to be used for staining the skin. While FDA regulates cosmetics products on the market, professional practice is generally subject to state and local authorities, not FDA. To learn more, see "Temporary Tattoos, Henna/Mehndi and 'Black Henna.'"

If you have a reaction to a hair dye or tattoo, ask your healthcare provider about treatment. If you know what ingredient caused the problem, you may be able to find a product that doesn't contain that ingredient. If you color your hair yourself, check the list of ingredients on the label for any you wish to avoid. If you have your hair colored at a salon, your stylist may be able to tell you the ingredients, or you may wish to check with the manufacturer.

Questions about hair dyes and cancer: In the 1980s, some coal-tar hair dyes were found to cause cancer in animals. FDA published a regulation requiring a special warning statement for all hair dye products containing these two ingredients:

  • 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine 2,4-diaminoanisole
  • 2, 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine sulfate 2,4-diaminoanisole sulfate

The cosmetic industry has since reformulated coal-tar hair dye products, and we are no longer seeing these two ingredients in hair dyes.

FDA continues to monitor research on hair dye safety. We do not have reliable evidence showing a link between cancer and coal-tar hair dyes on the market today. We are collecting adverse event data which helps us assess the safety of this class of ingredients. If you experience an adverse event or bad reaction, please report that to the FDA (see below).

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Other Types of Hair-coloring Products

Hair coloring materials made from plant or mineral sources are regulated the same as other color additives. They must be approved by FDA and listed in the color additive regulations.

Color additives approved for use on hair include henna (from the Lawsonia plant) and bismuth citrate, which are used in hair dyes that may darken hair gradually with repeated applications. On October 30, 2018, FDA repealed the regulation which provides for the use of lead acetate in hair dyes because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the use of this color additive. Of note, temporary tattoos marketed as "black henna" contain PPD and may increase your risk of allergy to hair dyes. Hair dyes are not meant to be used for staining your skin. (See above.)

Unusual Colors

People sometime ask whether unusual colors such as pink, orange, blue, and green are regulated differently from other hair dyes. How a hair dye is regulated depends on whether it is a coal-tar hair dye or is made from plant or mineral materials, not on the shade.

Coal-Tar Hair Dye Safety Checklist:

  • Follow all directions on the label and in the package.
  • Do a patch test on your skin every time before dyeing your hair.
  • Keep hair dyes away from your eyes, and do not dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. This can hurt your eyes and may even cause blindness.
  • Wear gloves when applying hair dye.
  • Do not leave the product on longer than the directions say you should. Keep track of time using a clock or a timer.
  • Rinse your scalp well with water after using hair dye.
  • Keep hair dyes out of the reach of children.
  • Do not scratch or brush your scalp three days before using hair dyes.
  • Do not dye or relax your hair if your scalp is irritated, sunburned, or damaged.
  • Wait at least 14 days after bleaching, relaxing, or perming your hair before using dye.
  • Read the ingredient statement to make certain that ingredients that may have caused a problem for you in the past, such as p-phenylenediamine (PPD) are not present.
  • If you have a problem, tell your healthcare provider. Then, please report it to FDA.

How to Report a Problem

If you have a reaction to a hair dye—or any other cosmetic—first contact your health care provider for any necessary medical help.

Then, please tell FDA. The law doesn't require cosmetic companies, including hair dye manufacturers, to share their safety data or consumer complaints with FDA. So, the information you report is very important to help FDA monitor the safety of cosmetics on the market.

You can report a problem with a cosmetic to FDA in either of these ways:

  1. Contact MedWatch, FDA's problem-reporting program, at 1-800-332-1088 , or file a MedWatch Voluntary report online
  2. Contact the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

To learn more, see "Adverse Event Reporting: How to Report a Cosmetic-related Problem to FDA."

Related Resources

  • Color Additives and Cosmetics
  • Temporary Tattoos, Henna/Mehndi, and "Black Henna"
  • Lead Acetate in "Progressive" Hair Dye Products
  • FDA to Repeal Color Additive Approval for the Use of Lead Acetate in Hair Dyes