Think I've become allergic to hair dye. Balls. What now?

[AlfalfaMum]

The last two times I've had my hair dyed, I've got an itchy rash. The first time I thought maybe it had just been on a bit long, the next time it was worse, really sore and itchy.
I have very sensitive skin so not all that surprising, but the thing is I have about 50% grey, I'm only 37 and not ready to be that grey. Waah..
What are my alternatives?
I used to get highlights, but my hair ended up too blonde for my liking, could always go back to that I suppose..

What colour are you wanting?

I love henna from lush. Bit messy and faffy but lovely, you can mix their colours too.

If you are having an allergic reaction to hair dye, you need to stop using it completely - that includes highlights. These reactions can change and become very serious very fast - there are a surprising amount of hair-dye related fatalities.

If you stop using hairdye altogether for a few months, you might find that you can then use it again without having a reaction - my sister had the same thing, a worsening rash that itched, and then was hospitalised when the reaction hit her lungs. She avoided hairdye completely in every from for 7 months, and now dyes her hair again every month without issue.

Do you have a hairdresser you can talk too about this? There is a few non-allergy hair dyes that they could test you with, or they will have other ideas for hiding the grey.

Honestly, I know it feels terrible, but please don't continue to dye your hair. These are big warning signs that you'd be ignoring.

Back to highlights I'm afraid. I tried to home colour but my scalp couldn't cope. My hairdresser matches the highlights to my hairdressers natural (non grey parts) colour.

Forgot to say my hairdresser makes sure the dye doesn't come in contact with my scalp.

Thanks Caja, yes a friend warned me its really dangerous to continue. I will keep away from the dye! Said friend thought highlights might be ok though because no PPD? Since last dye job (less than a month ago) I have had flu, laryngitis, and now have bad case of tonsilitis. Am usually really healthy, rarely ill. I'm suspecting a connection..

Cortana, thanks, can you get non-red henna?

Keepmoving, cheers, will investigate darker highlights, but will need to make sure there's no PPD involved.

Yes, you can get brown and black and can mix the two. It comes in blocks so easy to do the ratios. The assistants are really good at helping you a get a mix, it's very natural. You do a strand test obvs, but it's pretty much just henna and coco-butter I think.

My scalp became sensitive to hair dye after years of using it, and I've now been using Lush henna for about 5 years. My natural colour is dark brown with quite a lot of grey, and I find using the Noir colour keeps it a nice non-reddy dark brown (I've tried all 4 colours). It's great stuff and does nothing horrid to my skin at all. The only downside is that I have to keep it on my hair for 8 to 10 hours, so have to plan a day in the house where I can keep my head wrapped in clingfilm and towel (it's heavy too!), but would definitely recommend.

Holland and Barrett sell natural hair dyes which dont contain all the dodgy chemicals and parabens etc. I have very sensitive skin and use these and have been thrilled with the results. Naturtint I think it's called, loads of colours. Google it, lots of great reviews.

The way I see it you have two choices:

Use henna or similar; I used the Lush caca range for years with no problems

Or come and join us on the Going Grey Gracefully thread, a.k.a. Operation Silver 2013, and get some tips on how to manage the dreaded transition.

Link:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1641111-anyone-fancy-going-grey-next-year

As a temporary solution this stuff is great. You can get it on Amazon and ebay and does the trick very well.

Lush henna is very good.

same thing happened to me
I now have my hair dyed with foils at hairdresser with no contact on scalp

I have no problems with this

word of warning..don't even think about getting your eyelashes dyed...horrific!!