DYES AND PIGMENTS

Dyes and pigments are substances that give color to a material. The major difference between dyes and pigments is in the solubility, which is the tendency to dissolve in a liquid. Dyes are usually soluble — or can be made to be soluble — in water and therefore in water containing formulations such as color gels or creams. Pigments are generally not soluble in water, oil, or other common solvents. To be applied to a material, they are first ground into a fine powder and thoroughly mixed with a liquid called the dispersing agent or vehicle.

Dyes are used for coloring textiles, hair, paper, and other substances, while pigments are used for coloring paints, inks, color cosmetics, and plastics.

There are basically two different types of dyes used in hair color technology today:

direct

oxidative

While direct dyes are pre-colored molecules that are generally absorbed on or near the surface of the hair, oxidative dyes are colorless molecules known as couplers and pre-cursors which need the help of an oxidizing agent to react and form the colored molecules. Oxidative dyes penetrate deeply into the hair.