Importance of Skin Tests before Colour Work
Firstly, we apologise for the graphic image. But would you really want to risk a reaction like this…??
Here at Barbarella hair salon, our hairdressers and stylists perform skin tests as standard before colouring your hair. This is to protect you from rare, but severe, adverse reactions to hair colour. These reactions are quite rare, but we take our duty of care seriously when it comes to your health and safety. It is important that you do not have a skin test if:
• You currently have a rash on your face
• Your scalp is irritated or damaged
If you have had any reaction to hair colour before, please do make sure your hairdresser or stylist knows this. It is essential to conduct a skin test 48hours prior to any use of hair colour; whether you have used the colour and brand before or not.
Have people always been having these reactions?
No. As a population we are becoming increasingly sensitive to products. The number of, severity, and complexity of the incidents has increased in the hair dressing industry. This has been linked to increased use of the darker range of hair colours in hair salons.
I’ve never tested before, why should I start testing now?
It’s not fully understood yet, but there are many reasons why people are becoming sensitive and allergic to products that they were not in the past. Hair colour is no exception; you may become sensitive to any product at any point. This is why our hairdressers and stylists conduct skin tests before every hair colour appointment in our hair salon; even if we have been using the same product on your hair for years!
Will my medication affect my hair colour?
Possibly. Short and long-term medication can affect how your skin reacts to hair dye. Please do tell us if you have started a new medication that may affect your skin. Always ask your doctor any side affects of a new prescribed medication. Medication can also affect how your hair responds to a hair dye, even one you have used before.
Can you test for a sensitivity to bleach?
There is no skin test for sensitivity to bleach. There are several factors that will affect your sensitivity to bleach and different ones may be at play each time you use bleach. Skin type, skin temperature, ambient room temperature, and different areas on your scalp will all affect how you react to a bleach treatment.
How is a skin test conducted?
• Remove earrings, glasses, and anything else that may come into contact with the back of your ear.
• Use a cotton bud to place unmixed hair colour behind your ear. Aim to cover an area of a 1p coin.
• Make 2 or 3 applications, leaving the hair colour to dry between treatments.
• Do not wash, touch or cover the area for 48hrs.
How to know if there is a problem and what to do
• Reaction during application. Remove the hair colour immediately and wash the area thoroughly. If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, however minor, seek urgent medical attention. See your doctor before considering dying your hair again.
• Reaction following application. For any reaction, it is advised to consult your doctor.
While reactions to hair colour are rare, it is so important that your hairdresser or stylist conducts a skin test to ensure your safety.