In the present study, morphological characteristics and elemental composition of a permanent hair dye mixture were examined using a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, respectively. In addition, compositional changes in gray hair before and after permanent hair dyeing were analyzed and compared with those in black-brown hair. SEM micrographs showed the formation of spongy-type holes of various sizes on the surface of the permanent hair dye mixture. EDX results revealed that the permanent hair dye mixture consisted of C, O, N and S elements. Before hair dyeing, the sulfur content of gray hair (3.32%) was found to be lesser than that of the black-brown hair (4.40%). After hair dyeing, the sulfur content decreased both in the gray and black-brown hairs.