Grecian Formula is a popular men's hair coloring product in the United States. It is made by Combe Incorporated in White Plains, New York, and is also known as Grecian Formula 16. It is available as a clear liquid, cream and a foam. It was first introduced in 1961 and is still commercially produced.
The product is marketed in some countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand as Grecian 2000. The name Grecian 2000 was invented by Stewart Hasted who was asked by the manufactures for something classical and scientific.
One of the product's main features is that it works gradually, so the color change is not as noticeable as with dye products. This is because the US formulation isn't really a dye, but a metallic pigment. The product is 98% clear liquid, 0.29-0.34% lead acetate and a small amount of sulfur. The product both coats and penetrates the hair shaft, and the lead acetate reacts with the sulfur to produce a dark black pigment. Over time, the small particles of black pigment add up, resulting in darker hair. To adjust the darkness, one simply uses more or less of the product.
Some of the drawbacks are that it doesn't work well with facial hair, and it must be used daily for the first week or two, which some people find inconvenient. However, once the desired color is reached, treatments are reduced to about once per week. Also, the only color available is shades of black. Canada and Europe previously banned the product because of its use of lead acetate. [1] However the formula has now been changed to use bismuth citrate in those countries and is again available for sale.
The standard alternative to lead acetate hair treatment is the use of organic dyes. Ammonia-based women's hair colouring products permanently change the color of all hairs to that of the dye. To avoid lead content and to allow for colours other than shades of black, semi permanent dyes are used in products such as Just for Men. These dyes can cause allergic reactions in individuals with sensitive skin.
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