Too Much Hair Dyeing Destroyed Her Kidneys

A Chinese woman developed kidney disease after changing the colour of her hair every month just to follow the style of her favourite star.

The 20-year-old developed symptoms such as red spots on her legs, joint pain and stomach ache. She was diagnosed with inflammation of the kidneys.

Her doctor, Tao Chenyang, at the Zhengzhou People’s Hospital, said the woman went to the hair salon to have her hair dyed whenever her favourite celebrity changed theirs.

The star’s name was not revealed, but on mainland social media, discussion raged about K-pop idols frequently changing the colour of their hair. The K-pop industry has created a buzz for some unconventional hairstyles, like rainbow hair.

Doctors said that hair dye was the reason behind the woman’s condition. Tao said the hair dye contains toxins which can cause renal and respiratory failure. It can also increase the risk of cancer.

Hair dye also contains lead and mercury which are bad for health.

The report sparked a heated discussion online. “No star is worth chasing at the price of our health,” said one person.

Source: South China Morning Post, 4 October 2025