Acid Orange 3
Safety Information
The safety of acid orange 3 has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that acid orange 3 was safe for use in hair dye formulations at concentrations less than or equal to 0.2%.
Although acid orange 3 was mutagenic in a test in bacteria, acid orange 3 was not carcinogenic in studies where the ingredient was applied dermally. Additional tests found that a hair dye formulation containing acid orange 3 was not a reproductive toxin upon dermal or oral administration. The Expert Panel set a limit of 0.2% because this was the level tested in toxicological studies.
More information about the safety of hair dyes.
Acid orange 3 is not permitted for use in hair dye products marketed in the European Union (see Annex II).
Resources
Acid Orange 3
Scientific Facts
Acid orange 3 is used in semi-permanent hair coloring systems where color is deposited onto the hair shaft. Users of semi-permanent hair dyes will find that their product usually consists of one package with no mixing of different components required. Semi-permanent hair dyes can typically last for up to 15-24 shampoos although their resistance to washing will be determined by molecular size and other properties such as solubility and charge.