Seaweed hair dyes

Scientists at Leeds University are planning to extract chemical compounds from different species of seaweed from around the Shetland Islands and use them to develop a range of hair dyes.

The naturally sourced compounds will be used by scientists as substitutes for synthetic ingredients that can be found in most hair dyes currently on the market.

Many compounds in existing products are allergens and certain chemicals, notably p-phenylenediamine (PPD), have been linked to serious long-term health effects.

The researchers also hope to develop other safer and more environmentally friendly cosmetics, including hair-treatment and skin-care products, from the compounds extracted from the Shetland seaweed.

'We are hoping to be able to offer people a real alternative to current hair dyes that contain chemicals that are known to be very bad for you,' said project leader Dr Richard Blackburn, a natural products researcher at Leeds University.

The hair dyes will not be green - the scientists are confident that a range of colours, including blonde, brown and red, and even black, can be made using the seaweed extracts.