Did Hair Color Cause My Breast Cancer?

Did Hair Color Cause My Breast Cancer?

🌼 Date: Friday, August 7, 2026

⚡Energy: Purple hair, myth-busting, and a little Salt-N-Pepa

💖 Status: Still coloring my hair, but making informed choices

😉 Outlook: It’s only hair. Have some fun with it.

Let’s continue our little miniseries on:

Did that cause my cancer?

Today’s topic?

Hair color.

Because yes, I just colored my hair.

Again.

And no, I am not interested in letting cancer take every single fun thing from me.

So let’s talk about it.

From what I understand, there has not been a definitive causal link proven between dyeing your hair at home and developing breast cancer.

There have been studies that showed a statistical association, but association and causation are not the same thing.

Translation from Google MD, who remains on probation:

Just because two things show up near each other in research does not automatically mean one caused the other.

One large study, the National Institutes of Health’s Sister Study, found that women who regularly used permanent hair dye at home were slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not use permanent dye.

But health organizations like the American Cancer Society still emphasize that this does not prove hair dye directly causes breast cancer.

So what do we know?

The type of dye seems to matter.

The concern appears to be more connected to permanent hair dye, not semi-permanent color, temporary rinses, or fun little “let’s see what happens” colors that wash out before your next emotional crisis.

Application may matter too.

Some data suggests that applying permanent dye yourself at home could carry slightly different exposure than having it done by a professional, possibly because of things like ventilation, gloves, timing, and how carefully the directions are followed.

Darker permanent dyes may matter more.

Dark brown and black permanent dyes can contain higher concentrations of certain chemicals, including aromatic amines, which have shown stronger statistical associations in some studies.

There has also been concern about a disproportionate impact for Black women.

In some major studies, the statistical risk increase associated with permanent dye was significantly higher for Black women compared to white women. Researchers have suggested this may be connected to different chemical formulations historically used in products marketed toward women of color.

So, as usual, the answer is not:

“Hair dye absolutely caused your breast cancer.”

It is also not:

“Hair dye could never possibly matter, so do whatever you want and never think about it again.”

The answer lives in the annoying gray area.

And we all know I prefer purple.

If you choose to dye your hair at home and want to lower your chemical exposure, there are practical things you can do.

Wear the gloves.

Do not leave the dye on longer than the box says.

Rinse your scalp thoroughly when processing time is done.

Open a window.

Use ventilation.

Do not marinate your head in chemicals like you are seasoning a Thanksgiving turkey.

Consider semi-permanent colors.

Consider temporary colors.

Consider plant-based options like henna.

Read the instructions.

Follow the instructions.

Do not freestyle your scalp chemistry.

So what does all of this mean for me personally?

I am still going to color my hair.

Now that it has started growing back, I am not a huge fan of the salt-and-pepper look on me.

Now, Salt-N-Pepa the group?

Love them.

Push it real good.

Salt and pepper in my hair?

Not my favorite.

I did some research, and there are still some pretty cool colors in henna and vegetable-based options, so I can keep my amethyst color or even mix it up.

And since I am not using permanent dye anymore, I can play around a little more often without damaging my hair as much.

Which feels very Tina.

Cancer already took my original boobs, my energy, my eyelashes, my eyebrows, my taste buds, my patience, and my ability to trust a normal appointment schedule.

It does not get to take purple hair too.

Absolutely not.

Denied.

Hard pass.

What this journey has taught me is that I can make informed choices without living in fear of everything.

There is a difference between being aware and being terrified.

There is a difference between reducing exposure and blaming yourself.

There is a difference between learning about risk and deciding you caused your own cancer because you colored your hair, wore a bra, carried your phone in your bra, used deodorant, ate sugar, drank soy milk, or committed some other everyday human act.

Cancer is complicated.

Risk is complicated.

Bodies are complicated.

And honestly, sometimes the internet takes a tiny piece of information, runs it through a fear blender, and serves it with a side of shame.

No thank you.

We are not doing that here.

Here, we learn.

We laugh.

We ask better questions.

We make choices that feel right for our own bodies.

And sometimes, we color our hair purple because we survived chemo and we can.

Also, let’s be real.

It is only hair.

And if cancer taught me anything, it is that hair can go away, come back, grow in curly, grow in weird, change texture, change color, and somehow still become part of the comeback story.

So if you want the fun color, find the fun color.

If you want to switch to semi-permanent, do that.

If you want henna, go for it.

If you want to embrace the gray, rock it.

If you want purple, pink, blue, red, or “I accidentally made myself look like a highlighter,” enjoy yourself.

Your hair is allowed to be fun.

Your body has been through enough.

And if you are standing in the mirror, looking at new growth after chemo, trying to figure out who this new version of you is?

Pick the color that makes her smile.

Today, mine is amethyst.

Tiny Tina is back.

And she came with purple hair.

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💗 Tina –
One Badass Day at a Time