Question for those who dye their own hair

[Scentsless]

I dye my own hair regularly and although I am fully aware of the point of doing a spot test to check for adverse reactions each time you use the dye, I don't do this. I tend to think well it was fine last time, so it will be fine again and if it starts to sting or something, I'll wash it of straight away.

I was wondering if you all do the spot test each time and I am unusual, or if like me, most people who use the same dye repeatedly don't bother.

YABU: You should really do the spot test each and every time, I always do.
YANBU: I dye my own hair regularly and I don't do the spot test if using the same dye I used last time.

I never do the spot test if I'm using the same brand, every 6 weeks or so.

I know I should. But equally - how?? As once you've opened it to do a spot test you have to use it. So.....?!

I've never done it and i've been dying my hair for over 20 years and no adverse reaction to any of the products.

I dye my roots every few weeks and never spot test if I'm using the same brand.

I never do either. Don't think I even bothered the very first time.

No never

I don't dye it anymore but I have dyed it many times in the past and have never done the spot test. I know its on the instructions but I just never did it

Haha - glad to see I'm not the only foolhardy one!

I've been bleaching my own hair and dying it pink or purple for years now and I never do the patch test...... NEVER!

Never. And I'm not loyal to one brand either. Been home dying since I was 18 (yep started going grey then) and I'm 62 now.

@GoingRoundInOvals

you don't HAVE to use it. If you have an adverse reaction you can throw it out or, I expect, return it.

@Scentsless

i don't home dye, because I can only imagine the unholy mess I'd make!! I know I'd find the dye test a complete pain in the arse & contemplate skipping it. But then I'd remember the scary reactions people have had to it, despite using that brand with no reaction previously and do the test

I'm sure loads don't but I'm also sure that those who had dreadful reactions wish they'd taken the small amount of time/effort to just do it

its one of the pain in the arse, but not worth the risk things I'd do.

I've been dying my own hair for 40 years and I've never done one.

Salons only require a patch test if you are new to this brand of colour or if your last colour service was longer than 6 months ago. On that basis, I don't do patch test if I colour my hair every 6-8 weeks but I do if I change the brand or if I haven't had colour for a while.

You only have to patch test the actual colour from the tube. Unless you mix it with developer, you don't have to use it right away.

I don't when using the same brand. I do if changing brand. I might if my usual brand advertised that it had been reformulated.

No, you don't. I use mine gradually to top up my roots and just reseal the tube and developer - it lasts a few months that way.

I've never done a patch test. I've changed my colour over the 43 years I've been dying my hair. You've just got to be careful if on new high doses of steroids etc.

Never done a spot test, use the same one.

(I think) the other poster is saying once you set it all up to use as a spot test you have to use the product there and then. I'm certain it says to use immediately.

Oh 😳 that's embarrassing, I thought you had to test the whole thing 🫣 and I thought if you are dying your own hair for financial reasons, then you probably don't want to waste the dye.

I've never ever done a spot test. But I only ever do a balayage type dye job so I'm not getting close to my roots.

I've never done one in my life. I use a different brand each time too

I've often wondered if anyone has ever left the mixed dye hanging around to see if it explodes!

I think it's a ploy to get us to buy more and not leave half the mix for next time...

I do half and half for my roots, and leave (unmixed) half and half for another time. Half the price, two jobs done!

@SummerSplashing you have to use it straight away though? And you have to wait to see if you have a reaction. So it doesn't work!

Never done a spot test in my life, and I have sensitive skin. I've never had a problem, and I've dyed my hair a lot.

I do, because despite 40 years of not reacting to anything, in the last few years I've starting to do so (things like my lips swelling up, or hives suddenly appearing on my wrists, legs and stomach, and then fading away a few hours later). None of this has been to do with hair dye, nor due to any evident trigger, but I'm not taking any chances!

When I dyed my hair in my teens and 20s, never bothered patch testing. It's not really a hassle to do it, but it does mean not spontaneously dyeing.