The less hair dye used over a lifetime, the less likely a person will be exposed to enough dye to cause cancer.

Consumers might also want to consider using henna, which is largely plant-derived, or hair dyes that are lead acetate-based. These colorings don't fall into the coal-tar dye category and therefore any additive ingredients they contain have been tested for safety before marketing, in accordance with FDA requirements. Henna products on the market can give a range of colors, from dark brown through various reddish-brown and lighter red to reddish-blond shades. They cannot, however, lighten hair. Lead acetate dyes gradually darken hair and are commonly used in progressive type hair colorings, such as those advertised as being for men. None of these colors may be used on eye-lashes or eyebrows.

People who dye their hair should follow these safety precautions:

• Don't leave the dye on your head any longer than necessary.
• Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after use. Shampoo your hair seven times to get the hard to remove carcinogenic dye off your scalp.
• Wear gloves when applying hair dye.
• Carefully follow the directions in the hair dye package.
• Never mix different hair dye products, because you can induce potentially harmful reactions (if not an unappealing hair color).