Not to do a skin test before i dye my hair

[Goawaybob]

Not so much as AIBU more, Am i mad?

Ive dyed my hair loads of times - can't remember what colour it is now but sick of the roots, so going back to brunette, not blonde.

Hands up who just goes ahead and dyes? Ive never done a skin test and its always been ok.

I recently heard of a young girl having an allergic reaction who died :( It seems the cosmetic companies have ramped up their warnings but is it just to cover their arses or are people more likely in todays age of pollutants and raised allergen levels more likely to react?

[AnyFucker]

I never bother

after 20 years, it ain't gonna kill me

[SherlockGnomes]

God I've never done them...I didn't think anyone actually did!

[tabulahrasa]

I never bother either

[bibbityisaporker]

I would after reading all the recent horror stories in the press!

Infact, I have gone for Lush Henna this time, as recommended on Mumsnet.

[heyannie]

Brunette dyes are worse than blonde for allergic reactions, and you are more likely to have a reaction the more you use them, not the other way round. The likelihood of a reaction may be slim, but you can't complain if you don't do a skin test and then have a face like a balloon. I think reactions are probably more common than we might imagine, even if it's just a bit of itching or weeping sores rather than death.

[garlicbutter]

I never do, either. But I am irresponsible in many ways.

Think you should do skin test and strand test if you're using a new colour on top of bleached.

But I wouldn't.

[fedupofnamechanging]

I would test, especially if you are using the brunette dyes.

It's entirely possible that you could use the same brand for years and be fine, but one day have an allergic reaction - it's just not worth the risk, for the sake of a little skin test.

[PurpleRomanesco]

I've had my hair every colour of the rainbow since I was 14 and never tested.

HOWEVER! I am silly. If anyone reading this has never dyed their hair before I suggest doing so.

[McHappyPants2012]

I never have, if the manufactors put a little sachet for testing I would, but it would mean buying 2 boxes One for the test and one for the dying

[nobutyeahbut]

Not if you've used it before - i never do but i use the same one all the time.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

My hair dresser refused to dye mine even though she's done it for years without reaction. Apparently you can get some kind of chemical build up over the years that can set off a reaction even if you've always been fine before so YABU. Why take the risk?

[MrsKittyFane]

I should test because it always comes out darker than on the packet! Only looks the right colour after a week or so ( semi perm ) !

[AnyFucker]

I cross the street

I use tampons

I fly in aeroplanes

you gotta live dangerously

[Goawaybob]

Thats kind of where im at karma - ive not used brunnette before and i have had an allergic reaction once before that hospitalised me, never worked out what it was too, we think it was quorn mince

[Goawaybob]

Ah you see, i never fly and i dont use tampons either

[heyannie]

McHappyPants yes it annoys me that I am somehow supposed to open up and mix enough hair dye for a skin and strand test in the right proportions and then keep the rest for after 48 hours when I actually do the deed, especially if the dye does not come in a resealable container. It would be good if there was already a test pot in the packet.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

I never do because it always says use the mix immediately. So I can't make the mix up test a patch of skin and then leave the mix 24 hours, it'd explode all over my bathroom!

I like what a PP said upthread, if manufacturers wanted more people to test then they'd include a little mini sample especially for testing.

[heyannie]

Oh and I do a patch test but often forget and wash it off in the next shower, so it's probably pointless...But I am always a bit wary of a bad reaction.

[LovesBeingWearingSkinnyJeans]

If you have a reaction you will not be able to dye your hair at all for a whole - could you live with that?

[Goawaybob]

The dye i am using says just to put the colour solution on the test, not the developer. I think i might just let my greys show and be proud

[fedupofnamechanging]

I just squeeze a bit out the bottle onto a plastic spoon and add the same amount of developing solution - I don't mix up the whole dye first.

If you've had an allergic reaction before, then I think you really should test. It is a pita though, when you want to do your hair right this minute.

[Bogeyface]

If you had such a severe reaction before then frankly you would be a bloody fool not to test.

[AnyFucker]

my greys are showing through just now, I am embracing them at the moment

[Ephiny]

I would always do the test, not worth the risk of not doing it IMO, especially as it is so quick and simple to do (you don't have to make up the mix for the skin test normally). Even if you've been fine in the past it doesn't mean you will be this time.

Your choice to make though, and I admit the risk of any serious reaction must be very small.