INOA Hair Color

I have been using L'Oreal's INOA Hair Color since it became available in the United States, I think about 3 years ago. You probably are thinking, "what is INOA" and "why should I care to know". 

INOA is hair color of the future, it is less harsh that older hair color lines. It is better for your health, your hair and the environment. It is oil based color vs ammonia based. INOA is a permanent hair color line that uses no ammonia! INOA has no smell, no scalp irritation and lots of respect for the hair fiber.

I was fortunate to be introduced to INOA at Grasshopper Salon in San Francisco. Grasshopper was chosen to be one of the select salons in the country that got "first peak" at the color line. I have been intrigued by it ever since.

I continue to use INOA because,
1. I want my client's hair to be as healthy as possible (as well as mine)
2. I don't want to be putting harsh chemicals on my clients scalp.
3. I don't want to expose my clients scalp and respiratory system (and myself for that matter) to ammonia for 2 hours (or for me 8 hours a day)

In fact, recently, I have transitioned into only using INOA for any permanent application of haircolor.
The few times I have mixed "regular ammonia hair color" to use on my clients, I have been shocked at how toxic the smell is. Since I don't use products with ammonia in them anymore, I forgot how harsh they are to my senses. I do still use bleach but am considering transitioning to an ammonia free lightner by L'Oreal as well. More on that possibly in the future...

I remember a day in the early years of using INOA, while I was still learning it's results and "feeling it out". There was a client sitting in the reception area of the salon. The client's hair color was so gorgeous, it stopped me in my tracks and I had to stare at it and appreciate it's glory. I remember how it had so much dimension, was very luminous and looked supple and healthy. The client must have felt me staring at her hair because she turned around and caught my eyes. To my surprise, it was my client. She was a client of mine for 4 years and I had just started to use INOA on her. This day where her hair caught my eyes, was her first time returning to the salon since the first application of INOA. I was so impressed that the color had looked just as good as the day we first applied her color. I knew in that moment, that this color line was special. I couldn't believe that I didn't recognize my own client's hair but what I did recognize was a quality that I had never seen before. I have been using it ever since.

It is pricier for sure but oil is more expensive than ammonia, so I get it. I spend more on my body lotions that contain no parabens and artificial ingredients so why wouldn't I spend more on haircolor that is not only better for me health wise, but also my client's hair looks and feels better when I use it.

INOA excites me for what is to come in the future of hair color. As a hairdresser, I am exposed to so many chemicals. I have gotten dermatitis and even breathing difficulty due to my career's chemical exposures, so I embrace moving into a future that subtracts toxic chemicals from my work place.
 
If you are interested in INOA and want to learn more, check out their website. INOA