Scared by yet another hair dye reaction story in the press-any non allergic alternatives?

[ebbandflow]

Haven't used a dye for about a year now. I was wondering if anyone knows of any less potentially allergic hair dyes for brunettes, that are stocked in high street shops.

I have become allergic to home dyes , patch test comes up all red and blotchy.

Had an allergic reaction to having my lashes and brows dyed as well.

But I had my hair dyed at the hairdressers using foils so the dye doesn't come into contact with my scalp. Worked a treat ...but costs a fortune unfortunately/

Those stories are supposed to scare but how about hennna or veg based dyes? Or, make sure you to the tests before-hand?

There's a herbal dye that I used on my mum when her hair was growing back after chemo. I think you can get it from Holland and Barrett

I have seen a lot of people recommending the Lush henna on here, and am thinking of doing it myself.

herbatint

I have had reactions to hair dye, and to be honest the reactions have got progressively worse. When I first got a reaction it was only to the expensive home dye kits, so I knew I was ok using the cheap ones. Lately though even these have given me reactions. The last time I dyed my hair was with a Aldi hair dye and I ended up with scabs on my scalp and on the tops of my ears for about 3 weeks. , although my eyes didn't swell like they do with the more expensive ones.

I put up with no hair dyeing for about 6 months, then 2 weeks ago I decided to try the Lush Henna, and I love it, my hair looks and feels so healthy and shiny, it's covered my greys and best of all no reaction .

I must admit I wasn't to fond of the smell but other than that it's great and I'll be using it reguarly from now on.+

I am fancying the Lush henna; does it really cover up wirey white hair? My hair is thick and dark brown but I don't like the handful of white hair growing in around hairline. How easy is it to apply ?

First time applying does take a while, though it's due to being the first time, melting the henna, making sure it's the right consistency , making sure your hairs perfectly covered.

I got bored,lol I mashed the henna and water as much as I could, whacked a load of vaseline around my hairline and just stuffed the henna on, applying around the hairline and close to the scalp first and then the ends after.
To be honest if you've dyed your hair at home before then it's pretty much the same, apart from the henna's a bit thicker and smells of flowers and pot pourri lol.

I was very anxious about my greys/whites as over the past couple of months I have had the beginnings of a white streak start to appear , but the henna covered it well and it's just looks like lighter highlights. I only left mine on for an hour and a half, though next time I will leave it on for at least 2 hours.

did you use the brown one moonmother? I don't fancy red hair as it will clash with my red face!

I use either the brown or a mix of the brown and Marron ones one my dark brown hair, gives it a nice chestnutty glow. It turns my greys gold, I've only got random odd ones, not any in clumps together (yet). It makes it lovely and glossy.

My top tips are to buy a shower cap and a toweling turban from a pound shop to contain it all while it develops and when washing it out stand in the shower and rinse until all the grittiness is gone before shampooing, putting shampoo straight on doesn't work at all for me. Might go and do it in a minute actually.

This is quite a useful leaflet for people allergic to the PPD in hair dyes because it lists other things that you might also be allergic to.

Allergic reactions can change over time (sometimes becoming suddenly much worse) so always do a patch test.

Just fyi, people can occasionally be allergic to henna so you should still do a patch test first. And if you are allergic to PPD then you need to avoid henna tattoos to which it has been added.