Grecian Formula is a popular men's dye in the United States. It is made by Combe Incorporated in White Plains, New York, and is also known as Grecian Formula 16. It is available as a clear liquid, cream and a foam. It was first introduced in 1961 and is still made.
One of the product's main features is that it works gradually, so the color change is not as noticeable as with dye products. This is because it isn't really a dye, but a metallic dye-like product. The product is actually 98% clear liquid, 0.29-0.34% lead acetate and a small amount of sulfur. The product both coats and penetrates the hair shaft, and the lead acetate reacts with the sulfur to produce a dark black pigment. Over time, the small particles of black pigment add up, resulting in darker hair. To adjust the darkness, simply use more or less of the product.
Some of the drawbacks are that it doesn't work well with facial hair, and it must be used daily for the first week or two, which some people find inconvenient. However, once the desired color is reached, treatments are reduced to about once per week. Also, the only color available is shades of black. Canada and Europe previously banned the product because of its use of lead acetate. [1] However the formula has now been changed for those countries and is again for sale.
The standard alternative to lead acetate hair treatment is the use of organic dyes. Ammonia-based women's hair colouring products permanently change the color of all hairs to that of the dye. To avoid lead content and to allow for colours other than shades of black, organic dyes are used in products such as Just for Men.
References
Further reading
- Grecian Formula Official Website
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