My hair is falling out in clumps, I dyed it this morning.

[DurhamDurham]

I dyed my hair this morning with my usual brand, Clairol's Nice & Easy, all went as usual. No itchy scalp or swelling etc. as I stepped out of the shower I noticed that there were a few strands of hair in the bath ( it only seems significant now, I didn't think much of it then)!

I combed my hair through and the. Dried it with the hair dryer, didn't notice any hair loss then.

While I was out for lunch I was sat at the table and happened to run my hands through my hair and masses of hair came out. My daughter laughed nervously and I did it again.....more hair fell out.

Just got back home and I only have to touch my hair and strands come out, just tried to call customer services at Clairol to see if they had any advice but it's only open mon- fri.

I don't know whether to wash my hair or leave it. I have long wavy thick hair and it terrified I'll wake up tomorrow to find loads of hair on my pillow.

Has anyone else been through this? Husband is trying to get me to go to walk-in centre but I feel fine ( sick with worry about loosing hair ) but otherwise well.

[Sian20]

I am now experiencing this and don’t know what to do I can’t eat or sleep. My hair falls out when I brush was touch, I woke up to around 50 hairs on my pillow this morning. Does this eventually stop ? What was your out come. Please help !!!! Much appreciated.

[NoisingUpNissan]

Take biotin. Its a vitamin, about a tenner in amazon..

[EstelleWalker74]

Please help. My hair has always been my pride and joy. I figured since it is pretty damn healthy, it could deal with some bleach damage. And I figured the master stylist who did all the color-corrections would know how much would be too much. I was wrong, and now I want to burst into tears every time I look at my hair or touch it. I just don't know what to do. My hair has also NEVER been shorter than this and it breaks and falls out. What should I do to regrow hair?

[Hairhelp179]

Can I ask what happened? I’m experiencing the same problem and have lost 40% of my hair so far. I’m terrified so any news on your story would be greatly appreciated.

[DurhamDurham]

I feel fine in myself and the hair loss has slowed down although it is still falling out. My colleague had to brush hair off my jacket at work today and when I woke this morning their were hairs on my pillow. I think it's calming down, hopefully it's trailing off to nothing.

I'll speak to Clairol as maybe they have to log these incidences as it helps to build a picture in case it happens to other people.

[InfinitySeven]

Clairol would usually give you the active ingredients and send you to A&E, as this sounds like an allergic reaction. As it's been a few days, there may now be nothing that they can do.

Has the hair loss slowed? Do you feel okay in yourself?

I'd agree that using hair dye again will be risky and potentially very dangerous.

[DurhamDurham]

I had an email today to say someone from from Clariol will speak to me tomorrow, I don't think they can help now. I know I won't be permanently dying my hair again so they've lost me as a customer already.

With Regis to other causes for the hair loss. It could be a coincidence but it would be a huge one wouldn't it?
The GP did ask about stress, I said I was a bit stressed as:
21 year old dd is going work in USA for the summer
Youngest is going to Uni and is moving in with her boyfriend at 17 (!!)
Our house will be going on the market soon as we are downsizing
I've applied for a new job within the charity I work for and I'm waiting to see if I've been short listed for an interview.

But to the fair, I never realised I might be a bit stressed it's just when I think about everything that's going to happen this year I get a bit overwhelmed.

However the most stressful thing to date was when I realised my hair was falling out on Sunday !

[sebsmummy1]

I stopped using permanent dye on my hair about 15 years ago as it started to sting and feel hot and I just knew if I carried on I was going to become allergic.

I went grey really early and have a mobile hairdresser about every three months to run three different colours through my hair. She uses foil so the colour never hits my scalp.

It might be time to rethink how you dye your hair OP.

[BigBroIsWatching]

This happened to me about the same time I dyed my hair. It was around 14 months ago.

I went to GP, had blood tests et and they put t down to hair loss due to a stressful year beforehand. It's only slowing down now!!! At it's worst I was losing hair like you're describing.
So maybe it isn't related to the hair dye?

[Alyosha]

I test behind my ear :) Just as long as it's out of the way and doesn't get wet, it's fine.

[FriskyMare]

Thanks!

[BlackNoSugar]

I test on my ankle. I always wear socks & trainers or boots so it's well hidden.

[FriskyMare]

Glad I saw this thread as I was about to dye my hair with the same brand, also never patch test. Can I ask those who do, where do you test? Behind your ear, arm or somewhere else??

Durham, I hope your scalp is feeling better!

[DurhamDurham]

GP visit was useful, he took some bloods to rule out other causes.

He said my scalp looks slightly 'inflamed' but as he doesn't know what it usually looks like he couldn't really be sure. Hair was falling out while he was examining it and he kept saying 'Oh Golly, you weren't exaggerating!'
Nothing much else he could do except he recommended some nourishing hair masks but to wait a week first.

I've taken another antihistamine today to be on the safe side.

No reply back from Clairol as yet so whatever advice they might give will be out of date by the time I get it.

I've been looking at alternative ways of dying hair and there are more natural ways of doing it but I have no idea how effective they are.

I know I will never use a permanent hair dye again.

Also thanks for the clarification re patch/strand tests, I always thought you had to mix the entire contents and either use the leftovers the next day or buy two boxes! Now I feel silly.......

[ToffeeWhirl]

HellKitty - oh, I wondered if it was something like that.

[Kittykat7]

Could it be coincidence that it's falling out due to another reason. Have you recently stopped using s birth control pill? Some can cause hair loss after discontinuing . Also it could be hormonal due to thyroid or low iron. Best to get some blood tests done to rule anything out.
There is a condition called chronic telegen effluvium where the fair goes into the falling out phase quicker. Also there is Androgenic Alopecia.
I suffer with this. My daughter is 11 now & 3 months after the birth my hair fell out loads & did not stabilise. My hair still falls out & is very thin around the hair line & temples. I have tried various medications but have had to stop due to side effects.
A reaction to hair dye would usually be blistering, redness & swelling. Breakage would be a chemical reaction but hair falling from the root doesn't seem it could instantly be from the hair dye.

[Owllady]

I have a patch test before highlights too!

[HellKitty]

Toffee, highlights don't touch the scalp, or shouldn't, so shouldn't be a problem.

[ToffeeWhirl]

My mum, on the other hand, has had her hair highlighted for years and has never been asked to do a patch test first. She is baffled when I do it and always says I shouldn't bother. Maybe you don't need to test before highlights though?

[ToffeeWhirl]

I agree with previous posters who say you must do a test each time. My hairdresser has very strict rules about testing. I have to wear a patch to test for 48 hours before I have my hair dyed by them. It's not worth risking an allergic reaction.

I hope your reaction has settled down, op, and that the GP is reassuring.

[HellKitty]

Op, just be warned that if this was a reaction to the dye then you will probably never be able to dye your hair again. I'm also pretty sure that any future tattoos (just in case you were planning!) would also give you a reaction.

[Owllady]

My hairdresser does a patch test 48 hours before if it's a new product

I hope your GP was helpful OP

[BlackNoSugar]

A patch test doesn't mean you mix all the dye. You take a tiny bit of the dye and a tiny bit of the developer, mix them together, and dab it on. The rest of the dye and developer stay in their separate containers. They're perfectly safe - they won't 'go off' once you open them, that only happens once they're mixed. It's the freshly mixed solution that you're supposed to use immediately and then discard.

It amazes me that hairdressers don't offer the option of having a patch test done prior to a 'professional' dye job. (Or do they? None of mine have ever offered it).

[Trooperslane]

You need to do a patch test every time op.

Manufacturers are always tweaking product - to make cheaper/more effective.

Pp is right - you use a tiny bit 24/48 hours before and makes sure there's no reaction.

I went to the same hairdresser and had the same brand and colour done for several years and had a really awful reaction - contact dermatitis for ages on my face.

[DurhamDurham]

But you are supposed to do a patch at least 24 hours before you dye your hair and you are supposed to use freshly mixed solution so and discard after use. Not sure I like the idea of using dye that I opened 24 hours previously.

However at this rate I don't think I'll ever be dying my hair again......this time next year I'll be a silver haired old lady !!