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AIBU?

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Original poster

People dying their hair in public places...arrrrgghhhh can I do anything?

129 replies

LivinLaVidaLoki · 09/04/2018 19:04

A few times a year for a period of a few weeks at a time when I go to the gym there are people who use the gym facilities to shower etc. Unfortunately this also includes dying their hair. It gets all in the shower, across the floors...everywhere.
The whole mess aside, I am allergic to PPD. Like seriously allergic.
The last time I came into contact with it I ended up in hospital for days. The only reason I'm still alive is because my neighbour saw me collapse on the path.
I always explain this to the gym manager who in the past has let me use the staff changing room and put signs up.
I went to the gym tonight....hair dye everywhere again. I spoke to the new manager who said she knows who is responsible but they pay to use the facilities so there is nothing they can do.
I reasoned that if I had been repeatedly told to not do something and carried on doing it then I'm sure my membership would be revoked. So why won't they take that approach.
Her whole response was "short of following them in and dragging them out, which I can't do, what do you expect me to do"
I just felt so frustrated. It's the only gym round here and it's where I go to destress and it really helps with my anxiety. But now it looks like I'll have to leave.

OP posts:
maxthemartian · 09/04/2018 19:05

They dye their hair at the gym?? How bizarre.

Original poster
LivinLaVidaLoki · 09/04/2018 19:06

Yup. It's a leisure centre and they pay to use the shower facilities. Apparently.

OP posts:
amusedbush · 09/04/2018 19:06

Who the hell thinks the gym changing room is an appropriate place to dye their hair??

Your allergies sound really scary and the manager's attitude is shite. You shouldn't have to leave the gym but if they aren't going to deal with this, you might have to in order to keep yourself safe Sad

Smeaton · 09/04/2018 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaltireSaltire · 09/04/2018 19:08

Never heard of this before. Cannot believe it is allowed _ must wreck floors, tiles and towels.

TenancyTroublesAgain · 09/04/2018 19:09

Who dyes their hair at a gym?! Confused

IAmWonkoTheSane · 09/04/2018 19:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheHobbitMum · 09/04/2018 19:10

OP could you call head office to complain? They should absolutely stop that, it's a horrible thing for them to ignore especially knowing how it will affect you. What kind of person takes hair dye to a gym! Bonkers

SerenDippitty · 09/04/2018 19:11

These people are cheeky fuckers who don’t want to mess up their own bathrooms.

iamaLeafontheWind · 09/04/2018 19:14

Definitely ask their HO if their insurance includes the use of those chemicals on site.

Buzzlightyearsbumchin · 09/04/2018 19:14

I work as a cleaner in a public building. 4 times in the last year I have caught people dying their hair in the public toilets with only a sink and a hand dryer to use.

People are weird

Original poster
LivinLaVidaLoki · 09/04/2018 19:15

It's a council run centre.
I'm going to complain to the council.

OP posts:
mindutopia · 09/04/2018 19:16

Not the point of the thread, but I have a thing about people who trim their nails in public places. You have no idea how often I end up sitting next to the person trimming their toenails on the train. Please tell me it isn't just me who attracts them?

And yes, dyeing your hair in public is icky.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 09/04/2018 19:16

Is it a private gym or a Council leisure centre? Just saying as I know that homeless people use the showers in one of our council pools - so perhaps a homeless woman with nowhere else to go is using the showers to do her hair. I am clutching at straws because otherwise why would anyone dye their hair in a public place?

You need to complain in writing - if they don't ask this person to leave they are basically endangering your life and forcing you to leave.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 09/04/2018 19:17

What the hell?? Why on earth do they do it at the gym? Confused Surely that’s really faffy and they have to hang around for 40 minutes to let it take? Who would actually want to spend longer in a public shower than absolutely necessary?? Grim.

Returnofthesmileybar · 09/04/2018 19:18

I wonder would it work if you typed up a letter to the manager outlining your conversation, including the fact that you made them aware of your life threatening allergies, and asked them to sign it. When they ask why tell them it's in case anything happens to you in the future because if the ppd. Now that letter might get you nowhere but in my experience people hate putting their signature to anything that might come back to bite them so it may make them take action

Dying your hair in the gym changing rooms is grim

ChaosTrulyReigns · 09/04/2018 19:20

I would imagine that there's serious COSHH implications for the gym.

All substances used on site have to be documented and controlled.

So they should be treating it really seriously.

Glumglowworm · 09/04/2018 19:22

I know someone who used to do this in the gym in our office! She was batshit crazy in general though

TroubledLichen · 09/04/2018 19:22

Maybe find a gym that doesn’t allow non-members to pay to shower. It’s really good they do this for those that don’t have access to a bathroom every day but I still don’t think anyone should be colouring their hair in the leisure centre as it’s not fair on others. However, it’s impossible for the management to police what people are doing as they can’t spy on people in the shower. You probably have less chance of encountering hair colour if you go to a gym that’s just a gym and where showers are only for members.

MorningsEleven · 09/04/2018 19:22

Presumably these are the same people who shave their legs etc in the changing rooms.

Dancingleopard · 09/04/2018 19:23

Yep we have this at our Center. Dying their hair and shaving their legs in the dry area showers.

Rank.

RavenLG · 09/04/2018 19:23

I used to work in a council leisure centre and there is no way we would have allowed that to happen.
Aside from the risk of exposure to people like yourself with serious allergies, you risk it mixing with chemicals used to clean and general runining the place, absolutely not!
Write a formal letter of complaint.

BleakBetty · 09/04/2018 19:24

If it’s council run it may be as a PP said, and a homeless person is using the facilities and has nowhere else to go to do these things.

I can’t imagine that anyone with their own bathroom would use them?!

MissMary0fSweden · 09/04/2018 19:25

The only possible reason I can think of for this, is being on the run from the FBI.

Dreamscomingtrue · 09/04/2018 19:27

I go to a council leisure centre (that’s run by a charity) and there are signs everywhere in the changing rooms saying not to use hair dye, oils etc in the showers or steam/sauna. The cleaner there is quite strict with people she finds flouting these rules. I would assume that it is a health and safety issue, as the oils make the floor and handles slippery and could lead to falls. The council would then be liable to pay compensation. I would assume that this would be the case with your allergy too. I have 2 sons who have had nut allergies so know how scary these attacks can be. I’d definitely contact your council as I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy if the leisure centre was invalidating their insurance by allowing this to go on. The manager sounds pretty useless, why should you leave because of other people’s inconsiderate behaviour