Was this a true allergic reaction to air dye? Should I risk it again?

[HettiePetal]

I did a patch test using Garnier Nutrisse a few months ago, and there was an immediate reddening & slight puffing on the place I put it which completely disappeared as soon as I washed it off (or within a few minutes).

I've been using this brand for ages & usually had a stinging sensation on my scalp which I could cope with because it stopped as soon as I rinsed and there were no added problems.

Now, since the patch test, I got a bit scared and stopped dying my hair altogether....so I have loads of greys at the moment which I fecking hate :(

I've read online that this was not a "true" allergic reaction because it came up instantly, didn't affect anywhere other than the place it touched, and went as soon as it was rinsed away.

I am willing to put up with stinging to get rid of my greys - so should I risk it?

I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would say 'go ahead' after knowing you had experienced a reaction of any sort!

Try another product and see if that is ok.

Not sure what a non-true reaction is - if it came up instantly I'd steer clear.

IMHO your body is not daft. It doesn't like what it doesn't like!

Yes, true, 50 and I know you're right.

But we can react to things without it being an allergic reaction - like throwing up on antibiotics, or an intolerance to food, rather than an allergy.

I won't use Nutrisse again, but I've become stupidly nervous about even doing another patch test with a different brand.

I'm an idiot, I know :(

You're not an idiot, you just want to cover up the grey without your hair falling out :)

Thank you, baby but that's a helpline for people with severe allergies. Whatever this was, it wasn't that. I will have a read of their site though.

I have been using a home hair dye by a brand called Naturtint for the last few years . It is organic/natural and I wasn't sure that it would work well but it is great !
You can get it in Holland and Barrett or online at Planet Organic and various other organicy websites. Actually Holland and Barratt often have it on offer buy 1 get 1 for a penny I do like a bargain .
I once ran out so just went to tesco and bought one of the more usual brands and I really regretted it . As soon as i put it on my head it started stinging and the smell was overpowering ! There is absolutely none of that with Naturtint . I use the permanent one but they do semi as well.
HTH

I personally wouldn't risk it. It sounds like an allergic reaction, and you can develop an allergy or intolerance to something over time.

I've heard of people that have coloured their hair with something they were allergic to (they didn't do patch tests) and their faces swelled up and had problems for weeks and months because the chemicals were in/on the skin for that long. Please don't take the risk.

Monkey, is the naturtint fab? I have been looking for something 'more natural' for ages - want to go a nice rich chocolatey brown.

Sont , I really like it . I had been using henna for a while but it was so messy and such a faff that I really wanted an alternative .

I use colour 5c which is golden chestnut (I think) . My hair is naturally mousy and this shade of dye makes it go a really dark reddy(slightly plummy) brown. It does start to fade after a month or so but it still looks nice . I don't have many greys yet so I can't say how it is for that but I'm sure it says it covers grey fine . They do quite a few colours but 5c is the only one I have used.

I also sometimes buy it from a website called mypure which usually has free postage . I would never go back to really 'chemically' hair dyes now .

I am allergic to hair dye.
I used to use it with no problems , then gradually I was noticing a really itchy bumpy scalp dyeing my hair but never thought much about it.

I had my eyelashes and eyebrows dyed and had an horrendous reaction (think if the omen) which took ages to go down, requiring steroids and antibiotics.

I had a patch test at hairdressers and the reaction was not instant but after a few hrs was raised and itchy hives.I still get my hair dyed at the hairdressers but she uses foils so the dye does not come into contact with my scalp.
Wish I could get my eyelashes and brows dried though.

So I would say don't slao dye on your scalp but you may be able to get away with foils being used.

if you are allergic to hair dye please be careful as naturtint is full of ppd which is the chemical which causes reactions.

I used naturtine a few times. It was good for coverage, but faded quickly and came off on towels each time I washed my hair for at least a week afterwards.

Have you looked at Lush henna? It is a bit more long-winded than hair dye, but covers grey brilliantly and leaves my hair in such good condition that I think the extra time spent doing it is worth it. Sometimes I put it on a night, go to bed with it on then wash it off in the morning. I really recommend it.

Agree, Naturtint had PPD in it which is the very worst chemical additive in ANY hairdye and THE most likely to caue a reaction.

I became allergic to hair dye and then I became allergic to henna super unlucky, so now I grey (well have some grey) and it is actually very flattering and no where near as scary as you would think

Which henna did you use Gobblers? Is that really unusual to become allergic to that?

Are there different shades with the Lush henna? I've fancied being more chestnut for a long time but don't want to go red!

Just Henna in general I think it is pretty unusual, but not unheard of, there are quite a lot of cases on the henna forums. I used to use Lush Marron and at first thought I had become allergic to the indigo in it as this is a far more common allergen, so swapped to the rouge, but was no better, so swapped to BAQ henna from Henna boy and concluded that I was just allergic to henna. All the time the allergy was getting worse and worse with each application.

It's worth pointing out that I don't think ANYONE has ever had an anaphylactic level reaction to henna, it is more of a rip your skin off type itching for days reaction, shit, but not truly awful.

Mairzy yes, they do a brown, a red, a dark red/brown and black. I usually mix them together with 2 parts marron (red/brown) and 1 part noir (black), which gives a darkish chestnut colour.

That does sound pretty grim Gobblers.

Just found this:

naturvital.co.uk/ppd-free-hair-color

I just googled 'ppd free hair dye' (assuming ppd is the issue?) May be worth calling the maker of the one you had the issue with and asking if there has been an ingredient change? If there has been, it might help you pinpoint the trigger ingredient.

My mum adores this stuff, says it's amazing and even her hairdresser concedes that it looks like professional colour when he cuts her hair (she does use the blonde though). I think their dye is free from PPD but you'd be best to call them and confirm that with them:

www.johnfrieda.co.uk/homecolour/precision-foam-colour/

I have heard PPD is more heavily concentrated in dark shades. Do you think you could lighten to cover your grey instead?

:)

Might also be worth reading this thread through that I found:

messageboards.makemeheal.com/cosmetics-makeup/hair-color-without-ppd-that-not-henna-t115045-30.html

have had a ppd allergy for years, very dark hair with loads of gray for years, it has been a nightmare but i have it under control now :) i use either clairol loving care (level one only) or the beautiful collection (not the one for gray hair it has ppd) these are both available on amazon. i have to leave on for over an hour but then washes off nicely and doesn't stain anything which is good i'm very messy with it. It does need done ever few weeks but i think my roots would probably need done that often now anyway. I would like to go gray, i love gray hair, i just cant figure out to go from dark brown to gray with out shaving it off :)

Oh I didn't know that about PPD !
Thanks for the info - I will start a new hunt for nice hair dye .

Logona and Lavera do premixed natural dyes (henna, indigo, walnut etc).