The Importance of Skin Testing

I've been wanting to write this post for a little while, but after last week's antics, I'm now more than ever passionate about the subject of Skin Testing (actually, passionate makes me sound like it is my one sole interest, it's not! lol).
When I say skin testing, I mean testing the skin prior to the use of hair colour. It sounds like such a trivial thing to talk about, but I'm still amazed by the amount of people that skip this little important test, or are willing to ignore the guidelines.
(After and before - Image taken from this article)

As I've mentioned a zillion times before, I work in a hairdressers. Our guidelines when it comes to all over tints (colour that is directly placed on the scalp, not colour/bleach in packets/highlights) is that a skin test must be conducted at least 48 hours prior to application. The skin test must be placed behind the ear (not forearms) and must be monitored and kept on for that full 48 hours. If the client experiences any form of irritation including itching, a burning sensation, or the area has turned red, they must wash it off immediately and inform us. Despite the warning's, at least two or three times a week I will have this conversation with a client over the phone:

Client: I want to book in for an all over colour please
Me: From your records I can see you haven't had an all over colour with us before so I will need you to come in for a skin test before hand
Client: Oh no it's fine I've had colour done elsewhere before
Me: Unfortunately we require that a skin test is done here as other salon's may use a different brand of colour
Client: Oh but but but...
Me: No

Haha, I'm not quite as blunt as that, but you get the idea.

An allergic reaction can vary from mild reactions such as slight burning or itchy sensation along the scalp, watery eyes, or slight swelling, to severe reactions including a swollen throat resulting in belabored breathing and in some rare cases danger of sudden death.

I know from personal experience that I experience a very very mild reaction to L'Oreal's 6% releaser every time I use it (my scalp itches upon application and I have to sit with a tint brush scratching it!), but any other brand's 6% I'm fine with.

Allergic reactions can occur at any time, whether or not you have been dying your hair for twenty years with the same colour and same brand. All it takes is the company to change ONE ingredient slightly, or a bad batch of colour to be sent out and you have an allergic reaction. L'Oreal recommend skin testing every six months as the ingredients are changing constantly. Remember also, once you experience an allergic reaction, it can trigger OTHER NEW allergies, too. Do you want to give up your favourite perfume for life, just to avoid the two minute of chore of testing your skin prior to colour application? Didn't think so!
(Before and after - image taken from this article)

Now, I can hear you asking 'last week's antics? What happened?'. Well, here is a prime example of how reactions can occur at any time.

Last week at my work, we had THREE allergic reactions to colour. I've now been at my place of work for four years and have never seen an allergic reaction occur, yet within the space of a week, we have three. All three clients are regulars who come in every 6-8 weeks to have their colour done and have never had a problem. They all experienced extreme burning and itching sensations, and one clients face began to swell. Not nice, huh? It turns out, all three clients had exactly the same colour put on the scalp, and we came to the conclusion that it was a bad batch of the colour and it was immediately sent back to L'Oreal and the clients sought medical attention.

See? Reactions can occur at any time. Of course, 99.9% people will have no problems in their lifetime with hair colour, but do you want to be in that 00.1% who DOES have a problem?

And on a side note, if you have a henna tattoo or even a permanent tattoo, it can possibly cause an allergic reaction to hair colour. I'm not entirely sure why so I don't want to comment too much on that!

Anyway, I'm going back to bed to feel sorry for myself as I've picked up a nasty cold.

What do you guys think? Do you always skin test? Have you had an allergic reaction?

Happy hair colouring!

Caroline.x