Don't be fooled by ammonia free hair colors or so called organic hair colors. The ammonia substitute used is odorless and may cause respiratory issues or hair loss. (as you cannot smell it, it is insidiously harming you) EcoColors Labs did extensive research on ingredients to try to come up with the best possible formula and we did! We do not use ethanolamines as we found them to possibly cause challenges. (they may create formaldehyde by-products) and are also damaging to the hair.
A recent scientific study published in the January 2014 Issue of Cosmetic Science Review indicates that Monoethanolamine (the ammonia substitute in non ammonia permanent hair colors) is 85% MORE DAMAGING than ammonia. The study was measured by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) on the cysteic acid level measurement with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) photomicrographs to visualize cuticle damage, and protein loss. This confirmed oxidative damage, but also the damage caused by other damage pathways caused by varying levels of ethanolamines in hair colorants.