Huuuuge roots

[TallulahTwinkletoes]

After a severe allergic reaction in August I have been unable to have my hair done since. My hair is a very white blonde and my roots are dark brown.

This means that even straight after it's been washed it looks greasier than a chip pan.

Any tips on how I can stop this or at least make it better?

Hoping to finally get an appt with a dermatologist (paid for by the product makers) within the next two weeks but so far everything has been so slow...

If you've developed a sensitivity to peroxide, I think you will have to give up bleaching your hair.

The dermatologist won't be able to reverse your allergy.

Sorry !

Erm, well obviously but they can find out what is causing the allergic reaction and then I can use a dye that doesn't contain that...

Thanks for that tho

Could you call it baylage and tell people its intentional?
with your roots have you tried less conditioner at the root and more toward the tips or talc/batiste and sleep with it in?

Good luck with the dermatologist, they will surely point you toward a magic solution.

In the meantime, someone here will be along shortly and advise you on using dry shampoo and putting your hair in a pony tail.

Nouse, I don't condition the roots so that won't help. Dry shampoo/talc makes the brown look grey/have a tinge of white over it. Dry shampoo that's apparently for brown hair affects the blonde.

Not really sure what your problem is river...

Erm, problem?

Tbh I would get it cut into a pixie crop

Hair chalk the blond, so there is less contrast between the 2 colours?

Different hair style?

Wig

Could you do a patch test of a semi perm dye and do the blonde ends brown untill youve seen the dermatologist? Although that won't help the greasy roots..... sorry thinking aloud here

After what happened last time I daren't dye it until I've got the all clear from the dermatologist.

Nouse, there's no actual grease... Honest

Pixie cut wouldn't match my man face.

Hair up is either with fringe and therefore has problem. Scraped back doesn't look greasy BUT does make me look like a scumbag. Lesser of two evils I suppose

next thought, have you tried switching shampoo?

No need to be quite so abrupt with Riverland. If you've developed an allergy to PPD then it could indeed be lifelong (and potentially life threatening, though that's quite rare). It's in almost all commercial dyes and there won't be anything the derm can do about it. You might be able to find alternatives but then again you might not. I've done huge amounts of reading on PPD and henna over the years, as it's used to adulterate proper henna, and is in most of those 'henna' tattoos you get on cheap nasty street stalls and holidays. It's evil stuff for those sensitive to it, and the worst thing is you never know until it happens. One thing you could try is real pure henna, but only after you've grown the blonde out, that would add shine, depth and gloss to the brown. But never on blonde hair - it'll either go green on bleached, or neon orange on natural!

Invest in a really nice hat? It's autumn/nearly winter after all. A nice cashmere or ethically sourced angora one?

I don't think there is much you can do tbh. I can imagine it being highly annoying but aside from either living with it or trying to hide it there isn't much that can be done

You could go with the hair chalk and see how it looks?

If it is actually greasy change your shampoo. If it isn't I don't see how it can look like it is

Time... I'm unsure if it's bleach itself or toner ie ppd. I believe it's bleach as where the bleach touched is where the swelling started. Obviously the toner is what most people have a reaction to. Dermatologist will say. I pray for the good news that I can continue to cover the starts of my grey...

No it's not actual grease. My roots are very very shiny and soft. Also not helping...

yes, under a different name. was quite dramatic in the end and not something i want to repeat.

100 per cent that most days its not grease

Once you have a better idea from the dermatologist, my hairdresser uses this range which is free from PPD according to that page, so could be an option.

What could also help is having the colour applied in foils rather than directly to the scalp - obviously not an option if you are bleaching your whole head but could be an option to get the lighter stuff back to something close to your natural colour, and highlights could then be used to "blend in" the greys?

Statistically, that's fantastic. I love you! That range could be my saving grace. I'm unsure about applying the current product with foils though as I am so sensitive to it.

Yes, that's why I went back to blonde, to blend the grey. Then it was much cheaper to get it painted on rather than foils.

If your roots are dark brown it suggests they have to use the strongest peroxide(40vol) and leave it on a goid while to lift it up to a white blonde .
Your choices are highlights in meche or foil to avoid the skin.
Or to dye your hair a darker blonde thus using a lower peroxide that may not cause a reaction.
I am not sure what a demotologist can tell you tbh.
You must have a skin test before every scalp colour anyway and a reaction is common with strong bleach.

Vintage, I had a skin test before I first visited the salon (I think) but not each visit. This was my forth visit to this salon and third visit with it painted on. I'm not sure if previous salons used this same brand or this was only my third exposure.

The dermatologist will tell me what I am allergic to (hopefully) and then I'll know if I can use different products or no products. If it is PPD that I'm allergic to then there are many ways this can affect me away from hair dye.

Like I say, the reaction was severe so I won't be using anything containing that near my skin again.

Forgot these important points from your post I know it wasn't the strongest vol. I believe one step down or 20 vol rings a bell. Does that make sense? If not she may have said 6 or 9 per cent? I think 6.

I've been advised not to have foils as it will still touch my scalp while it's being washed. That could be enough.

You cant get blonde hair from brown hair without using a high level peroxide.It would go that orange shade.
Its hard to know not seeing your natural colour to know.
Every colour from red to bleach has peroxide in lower amounts in tint and obviously higher when using bleach.If you want a perm/grow out colour you have to use peroxide there is no avoiding it.
They could use an old fashioned cap.You would have a barrier then for rinsing off.
By having bleach on your scalp if it was left on to long it would burn.It is the harshest method of colouring available so its no wonder you had a reaction.

Ha! Yes it did go orange (or using hairdresser terminology 'had warm tones) so they used a toner after.

Cap could be a good idea.

I was itching like hell when it was on (second AND third exposure) but both times she said don't worry. That's what happens, it's fine. Turns out that was the localised reaction and the third time after a few hours I realised my head was swollen like a balloon. I felt the pain but hadn't looked in a mirror. Then it progressed 36 hours to the typical swollen eyes, cheeks, lips, inside of throat.