“Gray is not just natural, it’s safe,” says doctor in viral video. Hair dye fans? You might want to sit down for this. In a now-viral video that’s sending hair dye enthusiasts into a spiral, Dr. Ragunath, Urologist Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon at HCG Cancer Hospital, dropped a bombshell: your beloved hair dye (yes, even your “natural” henna) could be increasing your risk of bladder cancer.
Before you panic and throw your color kit into the bin, let’s break down what the good doctor had to say and why the internet is suddenly contemplating life without jet black strands.
The Hair Dye-Cancer Connection No One Wanted To Hear
In his candid (read: mic-drop) interview (you can check the video here), Dr. Ragunath shared a startling trend they’re noticing at the hospital: a spike in bladder cancer cases, especially among non-smokers and women.
The common thread? Not cigarettes. Not processed meat. But hair dye.
“We used to associate bladder cancer with smokers. Now? We’re seeing it in women who’ve been using hair dye for 6 to 10 years,” he explains.
And before the henna loyalists could collectively exhale in relief, he shut that door too. “Henna or hair dye—it’s still a chemical,” he said bluntly. Basically, if it colors your hair and lingers on your scalp for weeks, it might be doing more than just giving you that salon-fresh vibe.
But How Exactly Does This Happen?
Let’s put on our science hats (don’t worry, no lab coats required). When you apply dye or henna to your scalp, it doesn’t just sit pretty.
According to Dr. Ragunath, the chemicals seep through your skin (yes, your scalp is skin too). These get absorbed into your system, eventually making their way to your kidneys. From there, they are excreted through urine, but not before spending some quality time marinating in your bladder.’
And that’s where the trouble starts.
“Staying in contact with the bladder, it causes bladder cancer, something we only used to see in smokers,” he says. If that doesn’t make you want to go au naturel, we don’t know what will.
The ‘Dark Side’ of Beauty
This isn’t just about vanity anymore. Dr. Ragunath made it crystal clear, beauty habits that we’ve normalized (like covering our grays every 4–6 weeks without fail) could be putting our health at serious risk. And the data is stacking up. The hospital is now seeing bladder cancer cases in women who’ve never touched a cigarette in their lives but who have religiously dyed their hair for years.
“If women use it for 6 to 8 years or 10 years, their chances of getting bladder cancers are very high. We have documented this,” he said.
Is It Time To Rethink Gray Hair?
Let’s face it—society hasn’t been kind to grays, especially for women. Men get called “silver foxes.” Women? “Neglectful” or “aging.” But Dr. Ragunath might just spark a much-needed shift in perspective.
“Gray is not just natural, it’s safe,” he urges.
Is it finally time to drop the bottle and embrace your silver crown? If risking your bladder’s health isn’t worth a few inches of root regrowth, maybe the real glow-up is accepting what’s real and healthy.
So, What Can You Do?
While we’re not saying you need to throw out your entire bathroom cabinet (yet), here are a few steps you might want to consider:
- Switch to truly natural alternatives (and no, henna might not qualify anymore, sorry, folks).
- Extend the time between coloring sessions, if you can’t quit cold turkey.
- Talk to your dermatologist about safer options or scalp barriers.
- Or and hear us out, rock your grays like the fabulous, healthy queen you are.
TL;DR
In a world obsessed with staying “forever young,” Dr. Ragunath’s words hit differently. We’ve spent decades coloring, covering, and concealing, maybe it’s time we started protecting.
So, next time someone calls your grays “premature,” feel free to respond with “It’s called longevity, darling.”
