You’re not imagining it.
The headaches. The skin irritation. The nagging unease when you smell that familiar chemical in the air. If you’ve worked with traditional hair colour for long enough, you’ve almost certainly crossed paths with PPD — short for paraphenylenediamine.
It’s one of the most widely used pigments in permanent hair colour, prized for producing deep, long-lasting shades. But for all its staying power on the hair, PPD also leaves a lasting mark on the body — and not in a good way.
Why PPD Is a Problem in the Salon
PPD has earned a reputation as one of the most common allergens in professional colour work. Reactions can range from mild skin irritation to severe, life-threatening responses such as anaphylaxis. For colourists, the risks multiply with repeated exposure over years of daily work:
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Skin reactions – redness, swelling, itching, blisters
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Respiratory symptoms – asthma, wheezing, coughing
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Severe allergic responses – anaphylaxis, kidney complications
The more we learn, the clearer it becomes: continued exposure to PPD isn’t worth the risk — not for our clients, and certainly not for our own health.
The Safer Alternative: PTD
At Sophic, we’ve replaced PPD with PTD (para-toluenediamine) — a gentler, more tolerable pigment base that delivers the same rich depth and longevity without the same high rate of allergic response.
Studies show that over 50% of individuals with PPD allergies can tolerate PTD without adverse effects, making it a far safer choice for colourists who want to protect their clients and themselves.
And because PTD works beautifully in our Hybrid Colour Treatment, you still get:
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Vibrant, multidimensional tones
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Up to 4 levels of lift
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Consistent grey coverage
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Long-lasting results clients will love
More Than Just “Free From”
Avoiding PPD is only part of the Sophic Standard™. We’ve also eliminated:
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Ammonia – replaced with coconut-derived Cocamide MEA for a gentle pH shift without harsh fumes
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Resorcinol – swapped for a balanced blend of safer colour agents
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Parabens, silicones, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, GMOs – removed to protect both hair health and salon air quality
Instead, every colour formula is enriched with native Australian botanicals like Quandong, Desert Lime, and Lilly Pilly — nutrient-rich actives that hydrate, protect, and restore hair during the colouring process.
Why This Matters for Colourists
As professionals, we’re in constant contact with what we put on our clients’ hair. That means every choice we make impacts our own long-term wellbeing, not just our results.
By switching to a PPD-free, consciously formulated system, you can:
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Protect your hands, skin, and lungs from unnecessary exposure
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Confidently serve clients with sensitivities or allergies
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Create an environment that feels as healthy as it looks
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Lead with integrity in an industry that’s hungry for change
The Takeaway
PPD has been the industry’s pigment of choice for decades — but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. Safer, high-performance alternatives exist, and they’re ready to help you protect your craft and your health.
With Sophic’s Conscious Colour System, you can offer your clients vibrant, lasting results without compromise — and without putting your body on the line for beauty.
Beauty shouldn’t come at the cost of your health. There’s a better way to do beautiful.