Help! Hair dye patch test reaction?

[Tequilamockinbird]

I've had my hair highlighted every 4 or 5 months for about 30 years and never had a patch test until now. Had to go to the hairdressers this week before my appointment tomorrow for the patch test. It was done behind my ear and burned slightly for around an hour afterwards but was then fine.

I washed it off this morning (48 hours later) and it feels like the area is burned! Only when touching though. I've attached the best photo I can get of it.

What should I do? I have foils so the dye doesn't actually touch my scalp which could be why I've never had any problems before.

Any advice please? Should I tell the hairdresser? And if I do, will she refuse to do my highlights and I'll have horrendous roots forever? 😫

Of course you must tell the hairdresser. This is why they do the patch test!

Yes tell the hairdresser.

Ok, so this isn't a normal reaction to a patch test then? It's not itchy, I don't feel unwell etc, and I wouldn't have known it was sore until I touched it.

I've never had one before so wasn't sure if this was normal or not.

No not normal. You have to tell them. Could you imagine having that all over your head? I've been tempted to skip patch tests before so thank you for the reminder.

Thanks @FizzyApricot as I always have foils, the dye doesn't actually touch my head which is probably why I haven't had a reaction before now.

I'll ring them after work and see what they say.

A close friend of mine is a hairdresser and she has said that several people who have had their vaccine are now severely reacting to things that they never have reacted to before. So if you have had your vaccination already perhaps this is why you are reacting now when you haven't in the past?

I was just coming on to say the same. I know a hairdresser who has recently shared a similar story. Client has hair dyed for 20 plus years no issues. Had her patch 2 week after her covid vaccine and had a reaction to her patch test

Nope, I haven't had a vaccine yet. I'm baffled as to why I would only react now after so long!

I do have 3 colours though - 2 blondes and a dark. I wonder if that makes a difference and maybe I only react to one? I don't know which one they tested on me. Could be bleach/peroxide?

It’s not uncommon to suddenly develop a reaction to hair dye, that’s why they tell you to test every six months or before every new dye.

It’s possible that you’ll now react to whatever that was - from what you’ve said, I’d guess the peroxide - so you might still be okay for the darker dyes.

It’s lower risk with foils but not no risk, there’s been plenty of horrible stories of people who end up with strong burns, so I wouldn’t risk it with a dye giving that response. Hopefully your hairdresser will be able to suggest an alternative.

So annoying. I'm trying to get through to hairdressers to see what they suggest now.

Thanks for replies.

I became allergic to hair dye when I stared to get peri menopausal. You said thirty years of hair dying so guessing your 45+. You may need to embrace the grey.