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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Loreale need to the issues with their hair dye - warning to you all to do a skin test!

87 replies

AngryFeet · 20/11/2011 20:54

Just read this

My hairdresser uses Loreale and told me they had changed the ingredients recently. I have never been allergic to anything in my life and have dyed my hair several times but when he did a skin test (thank god he did) the skin went red and started peeling off in hours. He said a couple of other clients who had been fine with the dye before had a reaction in the last few months.

Since then I have been super sensitive to shampoo to the point I get red sores down my hairline and my scalp bleeds and is covered in flaky itchy skin (the skin test was 5 months ago).

Anyone else used this and had problems? I am going to write to Loreale but I thought this post might serve as a warning. Please do a 48 hour skin test!

OP posts:
Original poster
AngryFeet · 20/11/2011 21:47

Oh poor you piratecat :( I thought at the time how painful it would have been if he had used it on my scalp.

OP posts:
StealthPenguin · 20/11/2011 21:49

Best thing to do is to try and find something that doesn't give you a reaction. My friend is allergiv to almost anything - seriously. If she uses the wrong fabric softener she could go into anaphylactic shock! It's a bit mental!

Anyway, she uses Johnsons Baby Shampoo. It's cheap, smells ncie and is really really really mild. You should give it a try :)

bruffin · 20/11/2011 21:54

It may have been a coincidence. Unless you know what the change of ingredient was you can't tell.
My Ds ate nuts until he was 4 then one weekend had a reaction to both pecan and seseme seeds.

pickledparsnip · 20/11/2011 22:05

I had an awful reaction to hair dye years ago and am now allergic to PPD.That shit is evil and banned in most European countries. Left me with a hugely swollen face, weeping ears (chemical burns), welts along my hairline and an eye I couldn't see out of. Oh and had dermatitis all over my body. My bloody fault, changed hair dye colour (from red to black, more ppd in black dye) and didn't do a patch test.
OP poor you, bloody horrible.

pickledparsnip · 20/11/2011 22:11

L'Oreal are well known for animal testing, so should be boycotted anyway

mynameis · 20/11/2011 22:19

Does anyone know of any PPD free hair dyes?

Original poster
AngryFeet · 20/11/2011 22:26

By the way this was not a box from the shops that was used. This was the stuff the hairdresser got from a wholesaler - not sure if is same thing. Looking on google there have been a few incidences in last few years so maybe it was not a recent change that was the problem. I won't be using dye again after this to be honest. Will stick to highlights and lowlights that don't touch the scalp.

OP posts:
IneedAbetterNickname · 20/11/2011 22:31

My Ds ate nuts until he was 4 then one weekend had a reaction to both pecan and seseme seeds

this^ Allergies are weird! My brother had an allergic reaction to prawn salad when he was about 10, had previously been fine with it! Has been fine with it ever since!

manticlimactic · 20/11/2011 22:34

So have I got this right? You did a patch test and found you were allergic so obviously didn't use the dye. And now when you use any shampoo you get a reaction?

Honeydragon · 20/11/2011 22:39

I am going to say UANBU on the grounds L'Oreal are not to be trusted.

I purchased two packs many years ago of a regular colour I used as my hair was long enough to need two.

After mixing I noticed that they looked different. I called the helpline. They made me read the labels and codes out, advised they were the same and variation was normal.

Well you can guess what happened Hmm

Called helpline back, they asked me to return both bottles, and consult a hairdresser what with my brothers wedding being in 4 days time.

I got a letter 6 weeks later confirming the dyes were different, and a mistake had been made that they were investigating and a voucher for £3.00 off my next purchase.

I contacted them to point out it had cost £100 to fix my hair, they stated I shouldn't have used the dye if I was uncertain and that I should've called their help line before applying it...

I have not since nor will ever purchase anything by them again Angry

Original poster
AngryFeet · 20/11/2011 22:41

Yep that is correct mantic. Weird I know but not something I have ever suffered from before and it started just after the patch test. Could it be coincidence? Of course. But I don't have sensitive skin, have no other allergies and the timing is right so I am pretty sure it is. Gp says I have contact dermatitis. Might go look that up on google with hair dyes....

OP posts:
pickledparsnip · 20/11/2011 23:10

mynameis have a google, there are quite a few about. I personally use henna now, bloody messy but gives a gorgeous chemical free colour. I used to use a dye called Naturtint, it has very low levels of PPD but they are still present. You can get it online or at most health food shops.

somedayma · 20/11/2011 23:14

Yabu. They give you a lot of warnings to patch test first. I don't know what you're annoyed at?

Original poster
AngryFeet · 20/11/2011 23:22

I did patch test! That is what caused the reaction and seemingly the problems since. Apparently fro what I have read if you have contact with ppd and become allergic then that's it for life. Ppd is also found in many other things including some anaesthetics Shock. I think I will ask for referral to dermatologist to confirm this as I would like to be aware of what else I may be allergic to now. Have signed the petition to ban it too.

OP posts:
ChuffMuffin · 20/11/2011 23:49

mynameis Clairol Loving is one allegedly, but its not a permanent colour, as PPD makes dyes permanent. PPD is in every permanent colour dye :(

ChuffMuffin · 20/11/2011 23:49

Sorry that should be Clairol Loving Care.

SocialButterfly · 21/11/2011 08:34

I read in the paper yesterday that a woman has collapsed and died after using a l'oreal hair dye, her father was quoted as saying she had used the same one many times before, I don't know if she had done a patch test or not.

bruffin · 21/11/2011 09:02

The other sensitivities will probably die down

My friend suddenly became allergic to a chemical that is found in wall paper paste. She has had two very severe reactions which had to be treated with strong steroids. While she is still suffering from those reactions she becomes very sensitive to shampoos and soaps, even the chlorine in the pool (she is swim teacher) and even going outside. But after a few weeks she can go back to using those products.

slavetofilofax · 21/11/2011 09:03

Why is your whole scalp and hairline affected if you only did a patch test in a small area? I don't get it. Confused

VivaLeBeaver · 21/11/2011 09:11

Can I ask how to do a patch test as in 20 years I've never done one nor has any professional salon I've been to.

With a home dye do I mix all the dye up, put a small bit on one area, leave it 20 mins and then rinse? Won't that mean I have a small section of dyed hair for 24 hours? Also will the bottle of opened and mixed dye keep or 24 hours?

mummymccar · 21/11/2011 09:11

How awful, thank goodness you didn't actually use the product. Sounds like you would have had a very, very bad reaction to it.
I'm not sure why some posters are saying you are being unreasonable though. You did the patch test, had an allergic reaction to that, and are now taking the time to make sure that everybody does one. Sounds pretty reasonable, and actually very good of you, to me!

pinkdelight · 21/11/2011 09:11

This whole patch test thing is a bit idealistic anyway. If you regularly go to the hairdressers to get your dye done - the same colour - and the hairdresser uses a different product, they don't necessarily do a patch test. I go somewhere proper swanky and they've changed suppliers several times and you'd never know... until this time they'd switched to L'oreal. Thankfully I didn't have the allergic reaction, but my hair quality has been noticeably crap ever since. YANBU!

Ticktock1 · 21/11/2011 10:44

I am a colourist, PPD's are in pretty much all permanent hair colour and some semi's. Only a natural colour will be PPD free but if you want grey coverage or hair colour to actually work well then you need it. People want PPD free colour but still want coverage, what can you do! Always to a skin test, you just never know, many things can affect reactions, hormones, time of the month, medication, diet, you can develop a reaction over night so if you have not had one before it doesn't mean you won't have one in the future. If you are so against these products then just have semis, they are softer but some brands still have PPD's in those products. They will also not cover grey ahir and you can get no lift from a semi. I would also say that it is not always PPD's you have a reaction to, the lady starting this thread was fine with her colour before so it is the new ingrediant that she is now has a reaction too not PPD as that would have been in the product before it changed

slightlycrinkled · 21/11/2011 10:57

Oh, very happy to see this thread but didn't think to look in AIBU so started this one in allergies.

So - this could be down to L'Oreal changing the ingredients - is that correct?
Do we know what particular ingredients have changed?

(I use their Excellence cream)

Like VivalaB I would also like to know about patch tests - how to do it - and do you have to jettison the mixed dye and start again or what? (Very expensive if you have to do this each time.)

Finally I've just contacted the team here to ask if their products contact PPDs

Ticktock1 · 21/11/2011 11:08

You need to do a patch test 48 hours before colouring your hair. Mix the exact colour you are going to put on, mix all of the elements together following instructions. You do need to throw the colour away once it has been mixed as once its mixed it needs to be used straight away. The patch test should be done behind your ear, its not the hair you need to colour its the skin, because that is what will have a reaction. Don't wash the area for 24 hours after you have aplyed the test. Hope that's helpfull