What is it?
ONPPD is a substance used in permanent hair dye products. It produces brown and red shades in hair.

How can I avoid it?
You should avoid contact with this substance. Avoidance requires reading labels, package inserts, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and on occasion, direct communication with the manufacturer. If you have this allergy, it is best to avoid all permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes containing any paraphenylenediamine derivatives. The chemical substance is found in hair dyes in the United States and England but is not used in continental Europe and Scandinavia. Most cases of ONPPD sensitivity arise from the use of permanent hair dyes. Fully developed (oxidized), ONPPD dye is no longer an allergen, so hair or fur that has already been dyed is safe. For persons who want to continue dying their hair, semi-permanent (not containing ONPPD) or temporary hair dyes are a good alternative. For a hairdresser, it is best to avoid dyeing clients’ hair with ONPPD. Wearing of latex, nitrile or 4-H gloves is helpful but interferes with manual dexterity. Besides avoiding ONPPD, patients may also be sensitive to the hair dye chemicals p-Toluenediamine, p-Aminodiphenylamine, 2,4-Diaminoanisole, and o-Aminophenol. Allergic individuals should be cautious about using permanent hair colors with these chemicals. Occasionally individuals with ONPPD sensitivity can react to other chemicals including sulfa drugs, sulfonylurea diabetes medication, p-Amino
salicylic acid, procaine anesthetics, and p-Aminobenzoic acid sunscreens.

Uses:
  • Semi-permanent hair dye preparations, both home and salon color
  • Textile dyes
  • Photographic paper processing
  • Fur dyeing
Other names for 2-Nitro-p-phenylenediamine (ONPPD):
  • 2-Nitro-4-phenylenediamine
  • 2-Nitro-1,4-benzenodiamine
  • 1, 4-Diamino-2-nitrobenzene
  • 2-N-p-PDA
  • 2-NPPD
  • 2-nitro-1,4-Benzenediamine
  • 2-nitro-1,4-phenylenediamine
  • 2-nitro-1,4-diaminobenzene
  • 2-Nitro-4-phenylenediamine
  • 4-Amino-2-nitroaniline
  • Nitro-p-phenylenediamine
  • o-Nitro-p-phenylenediamine
  • Oxidation base 22
Potential cross-reacting/co-reacting substances:
  • Paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
  • Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) esters
  • Parabens

How safe is it?

Hang tight. We're thinking.